By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Several Ocean Pines homeowners have recently received violations citing yard leaf accumulation as the winter season ends and spring commences.

The notices have created a stir among residents, many of whom claim the infraction letters are unfair and a disruption to maintaining the neighborhood’s wooded beauty.

The conversation surrounding leaf violations began at a March Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors meeting. OPA resident Amy Peck spoke during the public comments portion of the gathering, arguing that the meeting packet was unnecessarily “filled with leaf violations.”

“For proper drainage, the ditches need to be kept clean, but there is a question regarding leaf maintenance in yards,” Peck said. “The primary objective of the ARC (Architectural Review Committee) guidelines remains to ‘preserve the natural beauty of Ocean Pines.’ Please note the words natural beauty.”

The homeowner continued, stating that Ocean Pines was not meant to imitate communities like Glen Riddle, a neighborhood that adheres to a more manicured and polished aesthetic.

“The majority of our Board of Directors have yards or condos with very few trees; however, for over half a century, Ocean Pines’ wooded landscape has always been a defining feature, attracting residents who value its natural beauty and wildlife,” Peck added. “Again, please note the words natural beauty and how that is the primary objective of the ARC guidelines.”

The board chose to address the leaf discussion a month later at its April 26 meeting. Here, Kevin Middleton, a former ARC member, provided a presentation on leaf violations as described in the ARC guidelines. These standards were revised last year.

A press release issued in July 2024 upon the modified regulations said that the alterations were made to “enhance the community’s aesthetic appeal, while ensuring that all property modifications comply with the highest standards to maintain property values.”

Middleton added that the recrafted guidelines aimed to “provide health, safety, and goodwill for the community” and used federal, state, and Worcester County requirements to provide clear instructions for property owners.

Compliance, Permit, and Inspections (CPI) violations have been issued to residents based on leaf accumulation to maintain welfare and avoid potential fire hazards.

“I am a homeowner here as well,” Middleton said. “…I have other properties, and this one’s [insurance] increased more than any other property. I called the insurance company to ask why, and they said it had to do with replacement costs for destruction … They said fire … We got fires within 100 miles in New Jersey. We have wildfires in Pennsylvania. Maryland is under an extreme drought situation and has been for over a year.”

The former ARC member noted that these violations have been issued in the spring because it is the busiest wildfire season in Maryland, along with autumn.

“You’re probably going to see these violations again in the fall,” Middleton said. “They are following the guidelines of the state.”

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service, most Maryland wildfires are surface fires that burn fallen leaves, twigs, and debris on the ground.

Middleton said that leaves must be disposed of properly, especially now, as the state is experiencing “unusually hot and dry conditions, or drought, that can turn a mild fire season into a serious problem.”

OPA Board of Directors President Stuart Lakernick echoed the former ARC member’s fire concerns.

“This is about fire hazard and keeping your home, so it doesn’t burn down,” he said.

Middleton noted that while leaf maintenance is about aesthetics and ensuring property owners keep a clean and tidy yard, it is also vital in protecting a house and its inhabitants.

Still, some residents disagreed with the idea that leaf accumulation violations are issued based on fire risks.

On April 29, Peck took to the community’s online forum to share a letter she sent to the OPA Board of Directors, further expressing her grievances with the leaf violations.

“It is disconcerting to note that the justification for the new guideline has shifted from a longstanding emphasis on community aesthetics to a purported focus on fire safety,” she wrote. “A review of previous Board meetings clearly indicates that fire safety was never raised as a primary concern regarding leaf accumulation. For example, during the February 22, 2025 meeting…the discussions centered on properties maintaining a neat appearance…There was no mention of fire safety. Director Elaine Brady talked about ‘the mess lawns look like.’ Lakernick stated, ‘We were elected to make sure this place stays nice.’ Director Rick Farr stated ‘homeowners need to understand the requirements of beautification.”

The correspondence continued, noting that OPA has historically never mandated complete leaf removal, and that a decision in 2018 to permit fire pits contradicts the fire prevention concerns.

“While it is understandable that some Board members may view this issue from the perspective of urban maintenance as they live in condos or sunny clear lots, for over 50 years, the majority of Ocean Pines residents reside in woodland settings and deeply value the natural character and aesthetics of our environment as did the founders of Ocean Pines,” Peck’s note adds.