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Tuesday, June 09, 2015

Proposed zoning change regarding short term rentals in Ocean City

Currently, efforts are underway to encourage Planning and Zoning for the Town of Ocean City to consider making another attempt to restrict Ocean City rentals – similar to last year’s effort which was fortunately defeated. This is a violation of your property rights. Planning and Zoning needs to hear from you – REALTORS®, Property Managers, Ocean City Property Investors, and/or individual homeowners/landlords! Additionally, voice your opposition by attending their public hearing on June 16 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, in Ocean City. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The guise this year is for P&Z to create a new zone, R-1A designation, which would prohibit short-term rentals, allowing for only long-term, annual rentals, like last year’s effort. An existing neighborhood could then apply for rezoning, to be voted on by the Mayor and City Council. Should rezoning be approved and your investment property and/or summer home is within that neighborhood, your property rights have just been circumvented! 

Planning and Zoning wisely determined last year that increased enforcement and education was the solution rather than an overall zoning change. Just a few weeks ago, the Town held a successful, day-long seminar on various topics – occupancy limits, noise violations, etc. – and the room was filled with REALTORS® and property managers. This process is working and has been effective in helping property management and owner landlords comply. It should be given adequate time to work effectively. 

An R-1A Zoning Designation for existing neighborhoods is just another attempt to restrict property rentals in Ocean City. It’s a bad precedent and would cause serious ramifications for property rights and tourism.

8 comments:

  1. OC is a funny place.

    Hotels got too expensive. So people started getting weekly condos. Nobody wanted to leave near the rentals, so they left town. Anything that didn't cater to tourons started failing. This made more condo rentals.

    Then they built up too many hotel rooms.

    Now that OC has realized that their residents have left the community and the hotels aren't maximizing profits, they're trying to take the rentals away.

    I'm so glad I don't live in that town. It used to be a pretty nice place. But now there's a few bars on every block and all the blue sky is gone because of the high rises.

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  2. this is a bad idea. This will be only the start if it passes. I would expect this to have a negative effect on tourism.

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  3. Nothing will deter tourism.Records will be set this year and every subsequent year.

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  4. 1:58 Ocean City is a Hell Hole

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  5. Funny this is focused on Mallard Island, homes of the last wanna be rich and famous, including the new city manager, toothless council women wanna be brainless Knight, and all the Mayors friends. It's been going on for years in the other communities, but not in their back yard.

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  6. 4:04. Not just Mallard Island it also includes the neighborhood on 17th street and the bay, little Salisbury (94th street area), Heron Harbor (120th st. area), Caine Woods (136th to Del Line) and possibly Montego Bay. Also, How do you know the city manager lives on Mallard Island. Does he own or rent?

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  7. More government interference with property rights ala Obama.

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  8. We don't need no stinkin' free markets

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