Alley Gating Bill Introduced

An alley gating bill (Council Bill 05-0034) was introduced at City Council by Council President Sheila Dixon on behalf of Mayor O'Malley on February 14th which would allow communities a streamlined and easier process for neighborhoods to gate alleys in order to keep your communities safer.

This legislation will be a tool that communities can use to deter illegal activity such as prostitution, illegal dumping, and drug sales in alleys (a place where visibility is greatly reduced). Currently, drug dealers are gating alleys themselves with bulk debris and mattresses to make it impossible for police to chase and apprehend them through an alley. This legislation allows for the installation of real gates which drug dealers cannot penetrate, thus restricting access to these very effective get-away routes. This bill allows communities to gate alleys which, without this legislation, would have cost them upwards of tens of thousands of dollars simply for finding title, advertising in public hearings, and liability insurance through the closing of a right-of-way process outlined in the city code.

Council Bill 05-0034 also invites the potential for alley greening in this legislation, further helping to promote the quality of life of Baltimore City residents if there is consensus that an alley should be gated. By allowing the area in between blocks to be turned into a linear park, neighborhood blocks have the ability to create a more community oriented atmosphere for residents.

The Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods has been working with the Law Department and DPW on putting forth a solid ordinance with which the agencies and communities will be happy. The Mayor would also like to extend his thanks to Delegate Pete Hammen who introduced legislation last year (HB 1533) at the State level which created a charter amendment allowing the city to begin the enabling ordinance process for alley gating and greening.

The Planning Commission will be the first agency to hear the bill. We welcome communities and neighborhoods to come out and be heard on this piece of legislation. Tentatively, Planning Commission will hear this bill on April 7th at the 8th floor of 417 E. Fayette Street around 1:30p.m. Thanks for your support and for Believing in Baltimore!

PDF of Bill