From an Old Wawa to Homes on the Beach, Master Plan Redefining O.C.

Ocean City's Master Plan update continues to take shape as it moves toward final approval in October.

The document guides zoning and land-use decisions, and in some way affects most aspects of residential and commercial life in Ocean City.

Planner Randy Scheule presented to City Council on Thursday an addendum of recent changes made based on council feedback. The changes discussed at Thursday's meeting reflect the breadth of the Master Plan, and some include:

• Rezoning the former Wawa property at Fourth Street and West Avenue to allow duplexes and a mixed-use property with commercial use on the first floor and residences above. By mixing residential and commercial uses, the plan attempts to attract a new business to a property that has failed to sell.
• Rezoning a half-block of Haven Avenue (near 13th Street) to allow two single-family units to occupy a single lot between the street and the alley. The zone would require open space around the units and is seen as a new concept to provide an affordable option to bring families into Ocean City. The two single-family homes would occupy a space typically taken by a duplex. "Something like that is needed in that area of town," Second Ward Councilman Antwan McClellan said. "It's perfect."
• Rezoning to allow multi-family apartments on the bay side of Simpson Avenue between 15th and 17th streets.
• Providing conditional uses to protect Brown's and Oves, two Ocean City Boardwalk institutions that are nonconforming.
• Redefining the Beach and Dune Zone that includes seven pre-existing homes on the beach.

Visit the city's Master Plan Re-Examination Report page to see the proposed changes and accompanying documents.

The Ocean City Planning Board will host a public meeting on the Master Plan update 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Ocean City Free Public Library. The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the report. The report could potentially be approved at a final public hearing scheduled for Oct. 17.

The citizen-run Ocean City Community Association is holding its own presentation on the Master Plan 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 29) at the Ocean City Free Public Library.