By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer
(July 6, 2023) When the future of Heron Park came up for discussion at the June 24 mayor and council meeting in Berlin, some members of the public seemed unsure of the details included in Coastal Ventures Properties’ proposal for the property’s development.
That is about to change, as the mayor’s office has said the town will add a public work session on Heron Park at 6 p.m. to the agenda of their July 10 meeting. There will be an opportunity for public comment at that time.
Palmer Gillis, who heads Coastal Ventures, agreed that a good public vetting will clear up any misconceptions about what his company proposes to do with the parcel.
“There seems to be some thoughts in a part of the public that believes that there is some form of secret conspiracy that is occurring behind closed doors,” Gillis said. “Let’s open the doors.”
Heron Park is located at the former Tyson Chicken Processing Plant. The land and buildings were purchased in 2016 by the town of Berlin for $2.5 million and has been used as park land since then. The town currently owes $2.3 million on the property.
The July 10 meeting will be the first of two to three town meetings expected to take place in August.
During the public comment segment of the June 24 meeting, residents discussed various options for the site, including a pollinator garden, solar panels, EV charging stations, amphitheater, and a garden center.
“What was a bit challenging for us was almost everything that the public was desiring to happen at Heron Park are exactly what we want as well,” Gillis said.
The proposal by Gillis stated: “We visualize a vibrant and lively multi-use commercial building(s) providing a home for a plethora of businesses, events, and community to exist here.
“Our goal is to create a stronger public use by providing a new roadway from Old Ocean City Boulevard directly to the entrance of Heron Park. Not only do we want the community to continue the use of the park and lagoons, we want to help foster this use and provide greater amenities for the public.”
The plan goes on to identify some of the potential uses for the land, including a public amphitheater, restaurants and eateries, garden center, multi-use fields, bike racks and offices.
The proposal outlines a plan to use the $500,000 demolition grant to remove sections of the industrial processing building and leave roughly two 25,000 square foot sections that would be renovated into multi-use commercial buildings.
The proposal states, “it is also of our utmost priority to maintain and enhance the public usage of Heron Park and the existing lagoons for the community.”
“It’s way okay with us if the town decides to reject our proposal and move in a different direction. While some may not believe this, Sandy [Gillis’s wife], I and our family want what’s best for the town as well,” Gillis wrote in an email to Mayor Tyndall and others on the development subcommittee.
“I am confident that what we have presented is of best value and an excellent solution for the town. If implemented, you will be standing on the street corner three to five years from now and be proud, just like we will be, of what has been accomplished.”
Gillis is familiar with the property: his company, Gillis-Gilkerson built portions of the chicken plant. The buildings include a processing plant, an office, cafeteria and wastewater treatment plant.