(Jan. 5, 2017) More than 100 people, including several standing in the open doorway, squeezed into the small assembly space in the Ocean Pines Library last Wednesday night for the first meeting of a new group, only about two weeks old, calling itself “Save Our Ayres Creek.”
On the agenda was one item – the proposed redevelopment of the former Pines Shore Golf Course near the corner of Route 611 and Route 376 into more than 300 campsites, which the full house uniformly opposed.
Organizers Joan Jenkins and Donald Bounds said the redevelopment could affect as many as 1,600 residents in the county by greatly increasing traffic on the way to Assateague and displacing local wildlife.
Before anything else could happen, Bounds said county planning and zoning and the county commissioners would have to approve a zoning change from E-1 estate to A-2 agricultural. Then, the board of zoning appeals would have to approve a special exception for a campground. Each step would require a separate public meeting.
Bounds cited four specific sections of the 2006 Worcester County Comprehensive Development Plan that he said were in conflict with this type of redevelopment. Moreover, he said there were already about 1,400 campsites in the immediate area, including 585 sites at Frontier Town, 394 at Castaways and 498 at Assateague.
“In my opinion, I think that’s enough campsites along Route 611,” he said, adding that even more could be built on the former Bay Club property in Berlin. “Do we want Worcester County to be known as a county of campgrounds?”
Jenkins said she “almost dropped dead” when she heard a developer wanted to encroach on what was, literally, her own back yard at Ayer Creek.
“[When] we found out that something was going on, we wanted let the neighbors know. That’s what this meeting is basically about,” she said. “I feel like it would overload the area … They’re going to use the resources and the roads, and does it really benefit the community? I don’t think it does.”
During a lengthy period of public comments, one man stood up and offered to write a check for $500 on the spot in order to help the effort. Although no one in the room could accept the donation, he encouraged others to follow suit.
“That tells the tale. That’s what will get their attention and that’s what will let them know you’re serious,” he said to loud applause.
Michael LeCompte, president of the South Pointe Association and an Ocean City firefighter, said the frequency of accidents on Route 611 had risen “dramatically” during recent years. He worried that any new development would only make that situation worse.
“Every one of those are personal injury accidents, and the State Highway [Administration] really looks at that strongly,” he said. “Safety is going to be the number-one thing that’s going to change their minds. We can talk about the environment, we can talk about how it’s going to impact our homes, but safety [is key].”
He said statements that the frequency of calls to campsites were minimal were “totally false.”
“Berlin Fire Company and Ocean City responds to Assateague on an average of once a day,” LeCompte said. “Route 611 is a very dangerous highway … probably one of the most-dangerous in the state of Maryland.”
Suzy Taylor said the voices in the room could be a power tool of opposition – so long as they continued to speak out.
“If each individual who’s here directly contacts their commissioner through an email or letter … there’s 100 separate voices,” she said. “I think that would be very impactful.”
Jenkins encouraged everyone to contact their county commissioners and county planning and zoning officials, and to stay involved by joining the “Save Our Ayres Creek” Facebook group.
When she asked if anyone was in favor of the redevelopment, Jenkins was met with silence, followed by nervous laughter.
“We really have to look ahead … and make it be known to our commissioners how we all feel,” she said.
Commissioner Bud Church, in attendance during the meeting, said afterward that he was there see what all the fuss was about.
“I was here to listen,” he said. “I learned a lot. I understand their concerns, and we’ll have to let it go through the process.”
In an interview last week, developer Todd Burbage said the absence of the zoning change would not necessarily mean the 99-acre parcel could not be used for other purposes. Under its current zoning designation, the property could accommodate about 50 single-family homes, he said.
On the agenda was one item – the proposed redevelopment of the former Pines Shore Golf Course near the corner of Route 611 and Route 376 into more than 300 campsites, which the full house uniformly opposed.
Organizers Joan Jenkins and Donald Bounds said the redevelopment could affect as many as 1,600 residents in the county by greatly increasing traffic on the way to Assateague and displacing local wildlife.
Before anything else could happen, Bounds said county planning and zoning and the county commissioners would have to approve a zoning change from E-1 estate to A-2 agricultural. Then, the board of zoning appeals would have to approve a special exception for a campground. Each step would require a separate public meeting.
Bounds cited four specific sections of the 2006 Worcester County Comprehensive Development Plan that he said were in conflict with this type of redevelopment. Moreover, he said there were already about 1,400 campsites in the immediate area, including 585 sites at Frontier Town, 394 at Castaways and 498 at Assateague.
“In my opinion, I think that’s enough campsites along Route 611,” he said, adding that even more could be built on the former Bay Club property in Berlin. “Do we want Worcester County to be known as a county of campgrounds?”
Jenkins said she “almost dropped dead” when she heard a developer wanted to encroach on what was, literally, her own back yard at Ayer Creek.
“[When] we found out that something was going on, we wanted let the neighbors know. That’s what this meeting is basically about,” she said. “I feel like it would overload the area … They’re going to use the resources and the roads, and does it really benefit the community? I don’t think it does.”
During a lengthy period of public comments, one man stood up and offered to write a check for $500 on the spot in order to help the effort. Although no one in the room could accept the donation, he encouraged others to follow suit.
“That tells the tale. That’s what will get their attention and that’s what will let them know you’re serious,” he said to loud applause.
Michael LeCompte, president of the South Pointe Association and an Ocean City firefighter, said the frequency of accidents on Route 611 had risen “dramatically” during recent years. He worried that any new development would only make that situation worse.
“Every one of those are personal injury accidents, and the State Highway [Administration] really looks at that strongly,” he said. “Safety is going to be the number-one thing that’s going to change their minds. We can talk about the environment, we can talk about how it’s going to impact our homes, but safety [is key].”
He said statements that the frequency of calls to campsites were minimal were “totally false.”
“Berlin Fire Company and Ocean City responds to Assateague on an average of once a day,” LeCompte said. “Route 611 is a very dangerous highway … probably one of the most-dangerous in the state of Maryland.”
Suzy Taylor said the voices in the room could be a power tool of opposition – so long as they continued to speak out.
“If each individual who’s here directly contacts their commissioner through an email or letter … there’s 100 separate voices,” she said. “I think that would be very impactful.”
Jenkins encouraged everyone to contact their county commissioners and county planning and zoning officials, and to stay involved by joining the “Save Our Ayres Creek” Facebook group.
When she asked if anyone was in favor of the redevelopment, Jenkins was met with silence, followed by nervous laughter.
“We really have to look ahead … and make it be known to our commissioners how we all feel,” she said.
Commissioner Bud Church, in attendance during the meeting, said afterward that he was there see what all the fuss was about.
“I was here to listen,” he said. “I learned a lot. I understand their concerns, and we’ll have to let it go through the process.”
In an interview last week, developer Todd Burbage said the absence of the zoning change would not necessarily mean the 99-acre parcel could not be used for other purposes. Under its current zoning designation, the property could accommodate about 50 single-family homes, he said.