Council Tables Coastal Cottage Ordinance

OCEAN CITY – This resort’s City Council met May 12.
The first resident’s complaint focused on the pace of efforts to curb flooding during normal rain occurrences. The resident asked council to hasten pump installation at Sixth Street. 
“We are months away from construction even if you started today, and we are certainly nowhere near shovel-ready,” said the property owner.
Another resident said she has experienced health issues because of herbicides and pesticides used by a neighbor’s landscaper. “We all know that living on an island the runoff water becomes contaminated with these pollutants that also become quickly airborne. They are harmful to people, wildlife, and nature.”
Business Administrator James Mallon responded that there is a wealth of information at City Hall and various locations that can explain the city’s position on the use of those materials.
Ordinance Tabled
An ordinance to revoke the “Coastal Cottage” concept, designed to promote year-round families in reasonably-priced houses as defined by city standards, was up for second reading and hearing.
Several residents opined that houses built as “affordable” were still at the $500,000 plus level, that they were “too tall and narrow, prone to flooding” and that “most of the public was opposed to these homes and no one wanted to see any future construction ‘grandfathered in’” under the proposed ordinance to revoke the concept.
Supporting continuation of Coastal Cottages was a builder who said he had constructed those homes for the owners but had, himself, no financial interest in the projects.
“Everyone is really happy there, these homes are beautiful, we sell them before the first piling goes in. It’s like the old-style Ocean City neighborhood I grew up in, and for Ocean City, these homes are affordable and have sufficient space between them.”
John Flood, a former council member who said he was representing developers of Coastal Cottage projects, noted “This ordinance is a solution in search of a problem. I have submitted a petition with signatures supporting the project as well as our intent to file a legal claim against the city if this revocation goes forward to the city. 
“The Coastal Cottages concept was part of the city’s master plan that the administration wanted to implement and council approved. So why the change? I also believe that there are conflicts of interest or the appearances of conflicts from two members of the council that is affecting this action.” 
Flood’s project was approved unanimously voted by the planning board in December 2015. It granted preliminary approval to construct Coastal Cottages on a lot at 16th Street currently used by a car dealership. That dealership, Perry-Egan, has a five-year lease on the property so any new construction would be years away. Thus, the notion of “grandfathering in” any proposal becomes another issue of critical importance.
Council then considered how to proceed, ultimately deciding to table further consideration until its May 26 meeting. Council member Pete Wilson recused himself from these deliberations. Council Chair Keith Hartzell said, “I spoke to Mr. Flood today, and have consulted my own attorney. This issue has been going on long enough so we will figure out our options.”
Mechanical Parking Lifts
Council introduced an ordinance that provides for elimination of mechanical parking lifts in the Hospitality Zone while retaining them in residential zones.
The ordinance was amended before passage at the request of Council member Pete Guinosso by raising the allowable height limit to 15 feet from 14.5 feet to accommodate larger vehicles.
“Use of these lifts will still be permitted in residential zones, R-1 and R-1 single family and duplex areas, although they will not satisfy any requirement for a number of necessary parking spots,” said Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson.
Second reading and public comment will be at the June 9 meeting.
Lease Agreement Modified
Council approved upon first reading an ordinance which authorizes modification to the lease agreement between the city and the Hangar Association which has buildings at the municipal airport.
This lease was originally signed in 1988.  It provides for the city to retain ownership of the land upon which the hangars sit and which are owned by the Association. The current lease expires 2030 and the extension requested by the administration is until 2045 which will facilitate bank lending and financing to the Association.
Celebrate City Surfing
A representative from the Historical Museum board said that it had organized a special exhibit on a variety of surfing-related memorabilia which has been supported by local surfing luminaries.
“It’s fantastic that the city has this long-time history with surfing. In 1915, so over 100 years ago, Duke Kahanamoku in Hawaii, started the popularity of the sport, competing in the Olympics for swimming as a five-time medalist, and getting to know Jack Kelly who competed in the Olympics as a star rower. Duke even came to visit Jack here in Ocean City. We’ve been named one of the Top 10 best surfing beaches in the country and our high school has a surfing club. So this exhibit and its attractions are really going to be amazing.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.