Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - March 12, 2026
Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - March 12, 2026
The Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals convened on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The meeting addressed administrative items from the previous meeting, including approval of minutes and findings of fact, and a public hearing for a special yard exception request for an enclosed sunroom at 14000 Sea Captain Road. The board voted unanimously to approve the exception.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of February 12, 2026: The board reviewed and approved the minutes with a motion by Emily Nock and second by John Moran. The vote was 4 in favor, 0 opposed, with 1 abstention (Sean Buckley absent).
- Findings of Fact for BZA 2733 (Logan and Peter Buas): The board reviewed and approved the findings of fact for the February 12, 2026 hearing regarding a special yard exception for an attached garage at 707 Baltimore Avenue. Staff noted corrections made to the document (adding specificity on page one and adding item five in the applicant's case). Motion by Dan Stevens, second by John Moran. The vote was 4-0-1 (Sean Buckley absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jeffrey Rosenkilde (Applicant): Mr. Rosenkilde testified that he and his wife are second-generation owners of the property at 14000 Sea Captain Road, which has been in the family since 1976. He requested approval to enclose an existing open deck into a sunroom, using the same footprint to add living space. He noted the adjacent property at 14002 Sea Captain Road already has a similar enclosed porch at 14.79 feet from the front property line. He reported no negative feedback from neighbors.
- Mary Ann Lemay (Neighbor from 14006 Sea Captain Road): Ms. Lemay initially expressed disagreement, believing the proposal would extend five feet beyond the existing deck. After clarification from the board that the sunroom would remain within the existing deck's existing footprint at 15 feet from the property line. After clarification, she withdrew opposition. She stated she was not against the request.
- No other public comment or written opposition was received.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing for BZA 2734 (Jeffrey and Michelle Rosenkilde): The applicant requested a special yard exception under Section 110-94(3)(a) to permit an enclosed sunroom 15 feet from the front property line, instead of the 20-foot minimum required in the R-1 Single Family Residential District. The property is at 14000 Sea Captain Road, Lot 21, Block 7, Section K, Caine Woods Plat.
- Staff (Chase Phillips, Zoning Analyst) presented evidence that the existing deck is open and complies with a six-foot encroachment allowance, but enclosure requires a setback variance or exception. The adjacent property at 14002 Sea Captain Road received a variance (BZA 1724) in 2000 for an enclosed porch at 14.79 feet, which was legally permitted and constructed. Staff noted that the proposed sunroom (15 feet) is farther from the property line than the adjacent structure, creating a similar nonconforming condition that qualifies as a special exception under Section 110-94(3)(a).
- Board members discussed the similarity to the adjacent property and confirmed no adverse impact on neighbors. The board found that the exception would not substantially affect adjacent or neighboring properties.
Key Outcomes
- Motion and Approval for BZA 2734: Motion by Emily Nock to approve the special yard exception for the enclosed sunroom to be 15 feet from the front property line. Seconded by John Moran. The motion was amended by John Moran to include the basis that the board found no substantially adverse effect on adjacent or neighboring properties under Section 110-93 and that a legally nonconforming similar exception exists on the adjacent lot under Section 110-94(3)(a). The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Staff Updates
- Sabrina Hecht, Zoning Administrator, has retired. Bill (last name not provided) is serving as interim zoning administrator. Board members were advised to contact Bill for zoning questions and Chase Phillips for BZA matters.
- The next board meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2026, with two hearings: a special parking exception for Embers restaurant and a special yard exception for private residents. Board attendance was confirmed: all except Emily Nock will be present, ensuring a quorum.
Meeting Transcript
All right. All right, good evening, everyone. I'd like to call to order tonight's Town of Ocean City Board Board of Zoning Appeals meeting for Thursday, March the 12th, 2026. We've got two administrative items before we get to our public hearings. Item number one, we're gonna take a look at the minutes from the February the 12th meeting. These are in your packets board members. The floor is open for discussion and a motion. I reviewed and I didn't see any issues. I have no changes to the minutes. I would motion to approve the minutes. Okay, we have a motion for approval. Is there a second? Second. Second by Mr. Moran. All in favor of approval of the minutes signify by saying aye. Aye. All are you abstaining? No, I said I. You did here last week. Two is okay. All right. So we've got four in the affirmative and one abstention. Okay. All right. On to the next item. We have the findings of fact for BZA 2733, Logan and Peter Billis. These are also in your packets. The floor is open for discussion and a motion. No problem. Yeah, I have no issues either. Yeah, I was gonna say, are we recording? Yes. Okay. Um just a couple of changes that were made since the packet was posted. There was a correction in the first paragraph on page one on page three, number five was added. And then there was a small typo that was corrected as well. So in the on the page one, we added rather than five feet as required by town code. That was not in there before, so just add some more specificity. And then number five was in the applicant's case, was not there at all, and number five was added in its entirety. Wanted to point those out. All right, so noted. Any further discussion? I make a motion that we accept the findings of fact for the February 12th, 2026 meeting for BZA 2733, 260 26-09403. All right, we have an affirmative an affirmative motion. Is there a second or discussion? All right, second by Mr. Stevens. All in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye. Aye.
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