OCEAN PINES— The design for the road that will connect Wal-Mart, Home Depot and the proposed Ocean Landings II business development via a service road is complete, according to Worcester County Commissioner Judy Boggs.

The announcement came as part of last week’s town hall-style meeting, when Boggs updates constituents on what has happened recently at the county level.

Boggs told the audience that the service road will be the only way in and out of the complex when the work is completed, doing away with the need for traffic lights that control the Wal-Mart entrance along that stretch of Route 50.

Boggs also told attendees that there is no plan to connect King Richard Road to Route 589 or Gum Point Road through the development owned by Marvin Steen, known familiarly as the Steen property.

Last month a planning board petitioner asked for consideration to allow development of a medical office park between Route 589 and the Steen property that abuts Ocean Pines. During testimony, the applicant pointed to an already platted road that would connect King Richard Road and Route 589 through both the Steen property and the proposed medical offices.

The plan was endorsed by Steen at the public meeting but the application was withdrawn.

“The people on King Richard Road are OK with this,” she said. Adding that the residents have requested a traffic study and that in an emergency people should leave early rather than wait for the evacuation rush.

As part of her report to constituents, Boggs renewed her vow to keep property taxes in place.

“It gets harder to cut when we’ve been cutting the budget for three years,” she said. “I can promise you that we will not raise your property taxes.”

Boggs pointed out that while all the other prices were going up for everyone else, the county’s plan to continue to cut revenues and costs was the way to go. She cited high unemployment as the reason not to increase taxes or lay off anyone.

The first of the meeting’s two speakers was Jack Ferry Jr., program director for the Worcester County Developmental Center. He spoke about the WCDC’s mission and promoted the group’s new facility both as a place to visit and hold events.

The WCDC works with residents with intellectual disabilities, providing job training and employment services for its clients. In addition to promoting the WCDC’s capital campaign, Ferry reminded the audience of the upcoming golf tournament in support of the WCDC.

He also invited anyone who is interested to visit the facility Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. for a tour.

For further information about WCDC, to register for the tournament or to be a sponsor, contact WCDC at 410-632-2382 or on the Web at www.wcdcservices.org.

The second speaker was Brian Garrett, executive director of the Delmarva Discovery Center in Pocomoke. Garrett said that during the center’s first full year of operations it had 8,500 paying customers and gave 10,000 free tours.

Garrett said the Delmarva Discovery Center now offers discounted family and grandparent memberships for Ocean Pines families. Membership includes free admission for up to four — two adults, two children — and half price admission for members’ guests. 

Garrett also reported that the town was planning to open a restaurant next door to the Delmarva Discovery Center. The restaurant, he said, could open as early as next spring. For more information, visit www.delmarvadiscoverycenter.org