OCEAN CITY — The issue of short-term vacation rentals in the town’s single-family residential neighborhoods resurfaced this week as the Town of Ocean City closes in on its five-year update of the comprehensive plan.
Resort officials about three years ago began a debate about creating an R-1A zoning designation that would somewhat insulate the year-round residential communities after concerns arose over unruly renters disrupting neighborhoods. However, after considerable discussion, it was determined the issue would be better addressed in the town’s five-year comprehensive plan update, which is now nearing its conclusion.
In the interim, the focus changed from creating a new zoning designation to more stringent rental license requirements, maximum occupancy calculations and other policies including enforcing the sections of the code regarding short-term rentals already on the books.
Through the town’s Property Review and Enforcement Strategies for Safe Housing (PRESS) committee, the focus changed from considering a zoning change in the traditional year-round neighborhoods to R-1A, which would greatly alter the zoning codes in some neighborhoods, the focus changed to education and enforcement.
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Glad we sold our house before the crash in 2008. Feel bad for people that own homes and can't do as they please with them. Nanny city OC!
ReplyDeleteI am so tired of sounding like a broken record. Just look to Ocean City NJ. They don't have problems like this. Just to their south lies Wildwood. Or as I like to call it Ocean City MD North. A contrast in the right and wrong way to run a beach resort.
ReplyDeleteOC, NJ is a dry town, no bars = no drunks or riff raff.
ReplyDeleteGlad I chose DE in 2005. My newest next door neighbor is a 2nd gen OC family that relocated.
ReplyDeleteAs for NJ in general, that's where you find awful tasting steamed crabs and pay to walk on the beach.