Ocean City 'Master Plan' Update Nears Completion

The Ocean City Planning Board is in the final stages of updating the city's Master Plan, a massive document that guides zoning and land-use decisions, has been kicking around in some form since 1961 (in its current form since 1988) and has been in the process of being overhauled for more than a year.

For everybody who buys or sells a home, runs a business, insures property, enjoys an unsullied view, misses a long-gone neighborhood business or does just about anything else in Ocean City, some piece of the Master Plan is likely to have a direct effect.

At a workshop on Wednesday night (Sept. 5), Planning Board President John Loeper outlined the ways the public can read the Master Plan, see proposed changes and provide feedback.

The plan and various re-exam updates are posted on Planning Board pages of the Ocean City municipal website. Loeper said all new documents from Wednesday's meeting will be posted on Thursday.

He said a dedicated web page will be set up and will allow the public to submit comments. Wednesday's workshop was the first Planning Board meeting to be filmed, and the tape will air on public-access Channel 2.

At a Sept. 27 meeting, the Planning Board will present proposed changes to City Council. And an open public meeting on the plan is scheduled for Oct. 3.

The schedule works toward an Oct. 17 vote in which the board could adopt the new plan.

"This is a living document," Loeper said.