The grounds of the Tracks and Yaks operation is located on Baker Street near Harrison Avenue. Above, a pop-up tent that was used to shied a port-o-potty on the site is pictured blown across the railroad tracks last summer.

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

A railbike excursion business in Berlin has negatively impacted residents with a rise in public indecency, drug use, parking issues, and an unsightly property, town citizens claimed during the public comments portion of a meeting this week.

The Berlin Mayor and Council held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 14, where business owners and residents came forward with complaints about Tracks and Yaks. This railbike company operates on Broad Street via a lease agreement with the Maryland and Delaware Railroad. The town locals cited public urination, drug use, an unkempt yard, parking violations, loitering, and stress on other companies within the municipality limits as their concerns.

Adam Davis, owner of the Berlin Beer Company on Broad Street, was among the residents who spoke at Monday night’s meeting. His concerns centered on the impact Tracks and Yaks was having on his business. According to Davis, the railbike property does not have restrooms for staff or guests, which has led to individuals using his business’s facilities.

“We have had issues with them coming in and using our facilities, whether that’s to come in and ask for water or using our bathrooms,” Lauren Georgevich, also of Berlin Beer Company, noted. “That is putting undue stress on our staff, so there’s more cleaning and more utilities.”

Baker Street residents and Councilman Steve Green echoed these remarks, adding that employees and guests have resorted to public urination in the surrounding tree lines and yards due to a lack of proper restrooms. Last summer a port-o-potty was available on site. Concerns from residents about having to look at a portable toilet from their homes were heard, leading the town to realize the john was not permitted by code for long periods of time.

Tracks and Yaks have also negatively affected parking, as many of the railbike business’s customers have taken to using spots designated for Berlin Beer Company. According to the town’s economic and community development director, Ivy Wells, beginning in mid-May, people who buy tickets for the rail excursion will be given an address for West Ocean City off Route 50, where the business will operate the kayak portion of its model, then a shuttle will transport them to Berlin.

Georgevich argued that this plan was unrealistic.

“I think that is a fantastic pipe dream,” she said. “The reality of that, I don’t see it happening. If you’re coming from Bethany or Rehoboth, you’re not going to drive to Ocean City to get bussed into Berlin to get bussed back into Ocean City.”

This plan would also impact any potential tourism benefits. Instead of customers coming for Tracks and Yaks and spending money at other Berlin establishments, they are instead taken directly back into West Ocean City. Additionally, while Georgevich said that this could alleviate some parking concerns, the business’s impact extends into other aspects of Berlin life.

“[Tracks and Yaks] yard area is very disheveled,” she said. “There’s trash out there, there’s upturned chairs. It’s derelict looking … it’s not becoming for the town of Berlin.”

Georgevich noted that she does see some ecotourism value in Tracks and Yaks but does not believe the location is suitable. Wells maintained that conversations have been had to relocate the business, but these discussions ultimately fell through. Tracks and Yaks currently has a lease agreement with the railroad owner.

Residents from Baker Street also spoke out against the business.

Citizen Sara Simon said the employees are often seen smoking marijuana in their cars, loitering on the streets, and using residences and other businesses as their own personal access points.

“[Tracks and Yaks] has a business model that does not support their guests or their employees,” Simon said. “I appreciate the effort to shuttle them into town. Shuttling them into town does not help the employee who doesn’t have a restroom, a source of water, or any type of electricity. They seek the neighbors. They come into our yards, empty their bladders, use our hoses, use our trash cans … Understand that parking is one component. There is a much larger problem occurring that a shuttle will not solve.”

Davis added that the owner of the operation lives in Frostburg, which has been another point of contention, as there is no manager on duty to oversee that responsible procedures are taken.

The Berlin Mayor and Council agreed that Tracks and Yaks is having an unfortunate effect on the town.

“I am frustrated,” said Councilman Steve Green, who lives nearby. “There were seven cars parked there today, jammed in there. It looks like total trash. We, up here, should not tolerate it. Whatever we have to do, whether it’s sending a letter to the railroad company or Tracks and Yaks, we can’t continue to tell these folks, ‘You have to live with it.’ That is not fair of us to ask … they shouldn’t be there … I think it’s time for the business to move out of Berlin.”

In the meantime, Councilman Dean Burrell, along with other officials, asked the residents to call the police so the reports can be documented. Burrell also questioned whether the town could regard the business as a “public nuisance,” a point town attorney David Gaskill will research.

Green added there is likely specific language in the lease arrangement between the Maryland Delaware Railroad and Tracks and Yaks the town does not have access to, as it is a private contract, that would place the railbike company in violation.

Ultimately, town officials voted to summarize the residents’ concerns, send a letter to Tracks and Yaks, copy the Maryland and Delaware Railroad, and send a separate letter to the Maryland and Delaware Railroad to address the issues raised this week.