OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
AUGUST 5, 2022
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
WHITE MARLIN OPEN
PAGE 69 FREE
Mayor vetoes parking plan Code change would permit bumper-to-bumper setup Margaritaville must have By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Aug. 5, 2022) Mayor Rick Meehan’s staunch objection to a change in the language of a zoning code amendment that allows large developers to incorporate stacked valet parking in project plans has become an official veto. On Tuesday, Meehan sent a letter to Council President Matt James and City Clerk Diana Chavis vetoing the council’s 6-1 amendment approval on July 18. The vote allowed developers
of projects in the downtown and upper downtown districts that require 100 spaces or more to meet 20 percent of their parking obligations with stacked spaces manned by a designated valet and comprehensive parking system. And while Meehan did not object to the overall spirit of the Rick Meehan amendment, which came about through a request from the developers of a Margaritaville resort planned for the oceanside of 13th and 14th streets, he had a problem with a change that was made during See MEEHAN Page 10
Sportsplex lives on with 4-3 vote to study access MALLORY PANUSKA/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Isaiah Glen Shields poses for a picture Tuesday on the Boardwalk near Second Street. Shields is traveling on foot across the country with nothing but a push cart, which displays the name of his YouTube channel, “You do You,” on the front. The cart is loaded with camera and video equipment and some essential items and has been with him during the entirety of his year-plus journey.
Taking it in stride
Cross-country walker began journey with idea of just seeing what he could see
By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Aug. 5, 2022) Isaiah Glen Shields was hard to miss on the Ocean City Boardwalk this week.
Among the typical tourists dressed in shorts, tank tops and bathing suits, the 28-year-old U.S. traveler was dressed much more rustic on Tuesday afternoon as he took in some shade under a small tree near Second Street. He wore a light button-up shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, dark See WALKER Page 4
Absence of funding plan not seen as impediment to purchase of property By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (Aug. 5, 2022) Despite not having a funding mechanism to produce the $7.15 million needed to buy a 95.6acre parcel on Route 50 for a sports facility site, the Worcester County Commissioners will continue to move forward with a study to get the ball rolling on the project. In a 4-3 vote, the commissioners agreed to spend $28,523.62 to have the engineering firm Wallace Montgomery evaluate access options from the site to Route 50. The firm’s find-
ings would then be presented to the district office of the State Highway Administration office for review. Commissioners Chip Bertino, Ted Elder, and Jim Bunting opposed the measure. The property is located just west of Stephen Decatur High School along Route 50, and in July it was revealed that money bonded for cannot be used to purchase the parcel, as originally planned. The purchase is being disputed by a group of petitioners in Ocean Pines which collected enough signatures to challenge the acquisition at referendum in November. Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young introduced the proposal to the commissioners, which Bunting See COUNTY Page 6
