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JULY 30, 2021
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Annual tournament kicks off Monday. Payout distributed to winners could reach $7.5M – Page 68
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Schools still formulating opening plan Covid-19 mitigation steps evolve along with situation
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SUNDAES IN THE PARK
Hundreds of people gather with their blankets and chairs at Northside Park on 125th Street this past Sunday for the weekly Sundaes in the Park, featuring live music and ice cream treats.
Draft of city agreement with BikeFest OK’d By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (July 30, 2021) The Ocean City Bike Festival is on track to return with its heavy metal thunder in September, after City Council members approved a draft of terms on Tuesday. Scheduled for Sept. 15-19, OC BikeFest is expected to attract between 150,000 and 175,000 motorcycle en-
thusiasts to the resort area, making it one of the richest weekends of the year for hotels and restaurants. This year, BikeFest is expected to attract several national recording artists like Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Brett Michaels, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, and Foghat. BikeFest was canceled last year because of covid-19 restrictions, though
bikers still invaded the resort area in decent numbers and boosted the economy. But despite the huge influx of tourist spending BikeFest generates, city officials still had their concerns. Mayor Rick Meehan questioned the hours organizers want for their Boardwalk Parade that Saturday as See BIKEFEST Page 14
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (July 30, 2021) In a couple of weeks, Worcester County Public Schools students should have a clear directive for learning in person in the name of covid-19 mitigation when they return for the fall semester. The updated responsible return plan, as officials call it, will map out distancing, masking and other recommendations and directives for the return to schools in September. This criteria will be based on the latest guidance from the state education and health departments, said Annette Wallace, the district’s chief operating and academic officer for grades nine through 12. “We’re updating our responsible return for a couple of reasons,” Wallace said. “The first reason is that we want our families and our students and community to have the best details we can give them in the moment around what our plans are for reopening in the fall. And secondly it is a requirement, in order to receive [federal] grants, that we have our reSee SCHOOLS Page 14
Developers of Phillips parcel seek assurances from council By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (July 30, 2021) Developers were granted permission from the mayor and City Council on Tuesday to proceed with an application to develop two parcels of land between 13th and 14th streets that are split by a cityowned alleyway. Bill Neville, the director of planning and community development,
said the applicant is looking to develop a hotel conference and restaurant complex at the former Phillips Beach Plaza property. The two properties have a combined 85,200 square feet, though the applicant is looking to develop them as one. The challenge, Neville said, is Washington Lane splits the two properties, and the applicant wants to know whether the alley can be part of
the plan. “We see this as a benefit for the town,” Neville proposed to council. City code permits properties that are 90,000 square feet or bigger to be combined and rezoned, though if they are split by a street, they may not be consolidated. But across an alleyway, they can be combined. As the owners of the street, the mayor and City Council would need
to be on the application as the owner of the strip of land. “It’s as simple as your agreement, in moving forward,” Neville said. Councilman Matt James said agreeing to move forward will set a dangerous precedent, while Councilman Mark Paddack said the alley would have to be considered to remain open for traffic because it is inSee COMPLEX Page 3
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JULY 30, 2021
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Developers requested permission from the Ocean City Mayor and City Council to begin the application process of combining two properties east of Baltimore Avenue between 13th and 14th streets that are split by a town-owned alley, to construct a hotel and conference center.
Complex would take over block Continued from Page 1 cluded in a bike route. Additionally, parking spaces along Baltimore Avenue would need to be removed because of improvements being made to underground utilities there. Hugh Cropper, an attorney representing the applicant, said his client supports the utility upgrades and acknowledged that the city owns the first 32 feet into the parking lot along Baltimore Avenue. Cropper also noted that he has been involved in other projects like this, mentioning that Bonita Beach – a property owned by the Carousel Group at 81st Street – was con-
structed in a way that the hotel goes over a city-owned alleyway that cuts between 81st and 82nd streets. City Attorney Heather Stansbury said the council was being asked to make an informal acknowledgement that the project is in the works, and if the city has no intention of abandoning the alley for the development, this was an opportunity to let the developer know ahead of time. Ultimately, council voted 6-0 in favor of allowing the developer to move forward with the application process. James abstained from the vote because he stepped away for a moment to take a phone call.
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