Ocean City Board of Port Wardens Meeting – September 11, 2025

The Ocean City Board of Port Wardens met at 2:00 PM on Thursday, September 11, 2025, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland. The Board approved the August 14, 2025 meeting minutes and acted on 14 port warden cases, including two continued cases and two cases with letters of objection. All motions were carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition; several approvals included conditions.

Consent Calendar / Routine Approvals

• The minutes of the August 14, 2025 meeting were approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Minor cases PW25-064 through PW25-067 were approved unanimously per staff recommendations:
  • PW25-064 – 10605 Point Lookout Rd: 60 ft of replacement vinyl bulkheading and reframe/redeck of an existing 9 ft x 60 ft walkway, max 18 in channelward.
  • PW25-065 – 202 Beachcomber Ln: 40 ft of replacement vinyl bulkheading and in-kind replacement of an existing 4 ft x 32 ft platform, max 18 in channelward.
  • PW25-066 – 162 Old Wharf Rd: 60 ft of replacement vinyl bulkheading, max 18 in channelward; TOC Public Works must be contacted due to a stormwater outfall pipe.
  • PW25-067 – 14117 Caine Stable Rd: 50 ft of replacement vinyl bulkheading, max 18 in channelward.

Public Comments & Testimony

• For PW25-069 (609 Bayshore Dr, Unit 39), an audience member questioned whether the 50 ft pier extension would reach toward a sandbar and affect navigation. Applicant J. Stacey Hart clarified the existing pier lengths and location; the Board approved the case.
• For PW25-075 (2003 Herring Way, Unit A), Tom O’Keefe requested a copy of the staff recommendation and asked the Board to clarify that PW25-071 had been approved with the 30 ft exception. The Board confirmed it had.
• For PW25-059 (770 94th St, Unit D), a letter of objection from neighbor June Robinson was read into the record. Robinson stated she had not received installation drawings, believed the float had previously hit her pilings, and did not approve the installation. Owner Kelly Barr testified that the float is 10 ft x 20 ft, his boat is 21 ft (not 23 ft), it fits within the 13 ft-wide by 24 ft-deep slip, and he could use tide-slide anchoring to prevent side-to-side sway.
• For PW25-074 (1207 Edgewater Ave, Unit 104B), Jerry Mullinix, secretary/treasurer of the Mariner’s Wharf Condominium Association and a 27-year resident of Unit 102, submitted and read a formal objection. The association raised concerns about channelward encroachment, congestion near the Ocean City Fire Department water access at 13th Street, increased traffic during the White Marlin Open, environmental and view impacts, and unresolved ownership/riparian-rights questions, and recommended that the number of boat lifts be restricted within the channel. The letter clarified that the association did not object to modifications to the finger pier itself. Sherry Mullinix also testified, emphasizing navigation and emergency-response concerns. Applicant Keith Fisher responded that he had met with neighbors, nearby slip owners did not oppose the project, and the work would use existing pilings and improve boat access by turning the vessel head-on in the slip.

Discussion Items

• PW25-068 (609 Harbour Dr): Board members noted a discrepancy between plan sheets showing waterway width of 500+ ft and 250+ ft, but agreed the requested 39 ft channelward extension remained within the 20% limit even under the smaller distance.
• PW25-071 (2101 Herring Way): Staff reported the bulkhead portion met standards, but the four boatlifts requested a 30 ft channelward extension, exceeding the TOC code allowance of 20% of 145 ft = 29 ft. The Board approved the case with a condition that all marine construction not exceed the 30 ft existing pilings.
• PW25-059: Staff corrected the written agenda packet, stating the application did not meet minimum specifications because only 86 ft of open water existed; 20% of 86 ft is 17.2 ft. The Board ultimately approved the float with a condition that it not exceed 20 ft channelward.
• PW25-062 (2205 Philadelphia Ave, Slip 53): This continued case had previously drawn an objection from a jet ski business operator across the waterway. That objector was not present at this meeting, and the Board approved the boat lift on existing pilings, max 23 ft channelward within the slip.
• PW25-074: Board members observed that the proposed work would not change the slip’s physical dimensions and that boat-size limits are enforced by the Harbor Master/City of Ocean City, not by the Board.

Key Outcomes

• Approved PW25-064, PW25-065, PW25-066, and PW25-067 (minor cases) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-068 (609 Harbour Dr) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-069 (609 Bayshore Dr, Unit 39) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-070 (118 Harbour Island) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-071 (2101 Herring Way) per staff recommendations, with the condition that all marine construction not exceed 30 ft beyond existing pilings.
• Approved PW25-072 (743 Laurel Ave) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-073 (10611 Point Lookout Rd) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-075 (2003 Herring Way, Unit A) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-062 (2205 Philadelphia Ave, Slip 53) per staff recommendations.
• Approved PW25-059 (770 94th St, Unit D) with the condition that the floating dock not exceed 20 ft channelward; the approved dock size is 10 ft x 20 ft.
• Approved PW25-074 (1207 Edgewater Ave, Unit 104B) per staff recommendations despite the Mariner’s Wharf Condominium Association’s objection.

Standard staff conditions applied to most approvals, including MDE approval at the building-permit stage, completion of all marine construction within 18 months, maintenance of 5 ft setbacks or submission of letters of no objection, and contacting TOC Public Works where stormwater outfall pipes were present.