Council Revokes Coastal Cottages Concept

OCEAN CITY – After tabling a final decision three times prior, at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting May 26, council voted 5-1 to revoke the Coastal Cottages concept as a conditional use in what is known as the Drive-In Business (DB) Zone. 
Councilman Wilson, who owns a property in the Drive-In Business Zone, recused himself from Thursday night’s vote.
The Coastal Cottage concept, approved by council in 2013, was designed to promote year-round families in reasonably-priced single-family houses as defined by city standards. The concept was part of the city’s master plan that the administration wanted to implement.
When the ordinance to revoke the Coastal Cottages was introduced during the Feb. 25 meeting, city officials said part of the goal of the proposed ordinance was to take a pause on the concept to examine specific issues, including the possibility of implementing some of the suggested improvements, including decks and some maintenance design issues.
“This is an opportunity for us to look at it, make some decisions and bring it back and do it right,” Councilman Antwan McClellan said.
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said that a grandfather clause in the passed ordinance and state law will allow for any Coastal Cottages projects to proceed if their developmental applications have already been submitted and approved by the planning board.
Prior to council’s vote, four residents spoke on the issue, including a new resident of Ocean City who moved into a cottage and is happy with it, as are most people who live there, he said.
Another resident spoke out against overbuilding in Ocean City while another said the presence of the present cottages enhances flooding problems and further complicates the parking issue in the area. There are 18 Coastal Cottages homes built in the area of 13th Street and Haven Avenue. Twelve of those 18 homes have been sold.
One resident, John Flood, a former council member who said he was representing developers of Coastal Cottage projects reiterated his opposition to the proposed ordinance to revoke the concept and reminded council he has filed a petition that includes the signatures of at least 20 percent of the property owners who currently live in the area in which the cottages stand, and that he has filed a lawsuit against the city to challenge the proposed ordinance.
It appears the battle may not be over. As Councilman DeVlieger stated before the final vote was taken, “I’ve looked at all sides and made my decision, but irrespective of what I decide, this will end up in another venue for someone else to decide. It’s been my experience that when something is left in someone else’s hands, both sides will lose.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.