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Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

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Developers making plans and overtures for commercial sites

BERLIN—The new year could bring with it new commercial developments based on recent activity in the Berlin Planning Office. The second phase of a new office business building is slated for property on North Main Street and eastbound Route 50, according to Planning Director Dave Engelhart during a Nov. 12 Town Council meeting.
The developer of Berlin Main Place is refreshing an original site plan that was approved in 2009 for four building along Route 818, near Route 50. Phase one of the project has already been built.
The developer has recently obtained a permit packet to start on the second phase, with a building that would be located at the site of a former gas station.
During the meeting, Engelhart also discussed plans that were in progress for the former Ames Plaza, at Route 346. He said the owners of a Rent-A-Center store at the plaza had made inquiries about a possible expansion of the existing store. He also said representatives of the farm equipment chain Tractor Supply Company had expressed interest in leased commercial retail space on the end space of the shopping strip, nearest the Calvin B. Taylor Bank branch.
Engehart said he had received inquiries from the developer Main Street Homes about several dormant properties on Tripoli and Bay streets. “Let’s see where that goes, he said.
Gibbons completed pipe work on a submerged gravel wetland and planned to seed the area and was in the process of paving the road top on Maple Avenue.
Also during the council meeting, Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence said town officials are working with officials in the State Highway Administration on a project to relocate Victorian-style street light poles in front of the Atlantic Hotel. The project involves moving the light fixtures from the sidewalk area to inside the fenced boundary of the hotel’s courtyard, to make the sidewalk compliant with requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which aimed at making public areas more accessible to wheelchairs and individuals with physical disabilities.
On Nov. 15 ground was broken at the site where the wind turbine will be installed, Lawrence confirmed later. The generator had been received, he said, and workers dug the hole and inserted the flange pipe that will secure the pole the turbine will be attached to at the former Raynes sand and Gravel property on Old Ocean City Boulevard.
Lawrence also told the council his staff was working on installing the town’s Christmas lights.