OCEAN CITY—In the briefs this week, a dormant project got an extension, a vital piece of town infrastructure needs some attention, and outdoor display guidelines for the downtown area will head to OCDC rather than to a public hearing.
Cropper’s Landing Project Gets Extension
A 94-unit structure that is planned to be built on the Cropper’s Landing site at 309 1st street got another year’s extension on Tuesday by the Planning and Zoning Commission, with the only caveat being that the owners keep the site clean and presentable.
In 2007, the site was approved for the construction of 54 townhouses and 40 condominiums, but the site has remained a large pile of dirt since.
The unanimous decision for an extension on the property will run until November of 2010. The project has reportedly been stalled due to the poor real estate market, the economy, and pending estate issues.
OCDC To Rule on Outdoor Display Guidelines?
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to hold a public hearing that would authorize the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) as the entity charged with reviewing and approving outdoor displays in the downtown and upper downtown overlay districts.
Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith told the planning commission the issue, which had been delegated to the Board of Zoning Appeals for decision, might be better handled by OCDC with help from the Boardwalk Development Association (BDA)
“It was very seldom that anyone ever showed up for a public hearing other than the applicant and the board, so I think that for the continuity of growth for the downtown, and preserving and protecting the architecture, I think the BDA is the appropriate board to do this, and I think that BDA and OCDC have more hands on knowledge of what’s going on with that area of downtown,” said Smith.
Commissioner Lauren Taylor agreed with Smith’s recommendation and noted that OCDC Director Glenn Irwin’s intimate knowledge of the downtown area and its business owners would be a huge benefit.
“I think it’s very appropriate to do, and Glenn (Irwin) knows everyone personally and that makes it much easier to work with everyone down there,” said Taylor. “With OCDC handling it, we are more likely to get a good result.”
Smith noted that if the OCDC is granted this new task, the BZA would still handle any appeal or grievance filed.
“(The BZA) still have the authority to oversee any challenge that anyone brings up based on any decision made by the BDA or the OCDC”, said Smith.
Public Safety Uniforms Bid Shrinks From $300K
As per Mayor Rick Meehan’s request, the public safety uniform bid was trimmed from it’s asking price and budgeted $310,000 on Monday night, as council approved the new bid for uniforms for just over $259,000, thus trimming about $50,000 from the original amount.
Major Wastewater Clarifier Needs Repairs
A post-season inspection of the one of the town’s secondary wastewater clarifiers was found to be in disrepair, according to City Manager Dennis Dare this week. Dare said that the “highly critical project” will be prepared and presented to the Mayor and City Council next week.
“We found that parts of it had eroded to the point of failure, and we are going to have to fix this problem immediately, as this is a critical piece of our treatment process,” said Dare.
The clarifier in need of repair is known as the north secondary clarifier, which essentially means that while it is not the main wastewater clarifier the town uses, it is a vital piece of the wastewater puzzle when the town’s population reaches ‘summer’ levels.
The problem was reportedly found when the clarifier was taken off-line for the season.