The comprehensive plan project in Ocean Pines continues to be comprehensively confused, as neither the planning committee nor the board of directors seems to know where this effort is heading.
This isn’t anyone’s fault, but is the result of trying to adapt a process required of government entities for use in a community built according to specific deed restrictions.
The development of most towns, by contrast, began with no restrictions on land use until population growth dictated that rules were needed to bring order to their expansions.
The original Maryland law, passed in 1927, that granted localities zoning authority did not even apply to Worcester’s towns because they were, in the eyes of the new law, too small.
Further, the function of comprehensive planning, according to the state law passed in 2006, is to “address the impact projected growth will have on infrastructure, water resources, schools, libraries and public safety.”
Some of these requirements do not apply to Ocean Pines, courtesy of the community’s original developer, Boise Cascade, which detailed what would and could go where with its deed restrictions and precise developmental blueprint.
As a result, the growth of Ocean Pines over the years has been more orderly and refined than any other population center in the region.
That said, there is nothing wrong with determining what residents want or believe they need via a survey. Also helpful to community leadership would be a planning document, based on demographic projections, that addresses the futures of the public services and amenities that it provides.
This, however, is not necessarily a comprehensive plan but more of a master facilities or marketing policy, as was suggested by Ocean City Planning Director and Ocean Pines resident Bill Neville during last week’s planning commission meeting.
Because the planning committee appears to be on the brink of collapse, the board of directors should rethink this project and then take on the task itself and get it going in the right direction.
This isn’t anyone’s fault, but is the result of trying to adapt a process required of government entities for use in a community built according to specific deed restrictions.
The development of most towns, by contrast, began with no restrictions on land use until population growth dictated that rules were needed to bring order to their expansions.
The original Maryland law, passed in 1927, that granted localities zoning authority did not even apply to Worcester’s towns because they were, in the eyes of the new law, too small.
Further, the function of comprehensive planning, according to the state law passed in 2006, is to “address the impact projected growth will have on infrastructure, water resources, schools, libraries and public safety.”
Some of these requirements do not apply to Ocean Pines, courtesy of the community’s original developer, Boise Cascade, which detailed what would and could go where with its deed restrictions and precise developmental blueprint.
As a result, the growth of Ocean Pines over the years has been more orderly and refined than any other population center in the region.
That said, there is nothing wrong with determining what residents want or believe they need via a survey. Also helpful to community leadership would be a planning document, based on demographic projections, that addresses the futures of the public services and amenities that it provides.
This, however, is not necessarily a comprehensive plan but more of a master facilities or marketing policy, as was suggested by Ocean City Planning Director and Ocean Pines resident Bill Neville during last week’s planning commission meeting.
Because the planning committee appears to be on the brink of collapse, the board of directors should rethink this project and then take on the task itself and get it going in the right direction.