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Record of Proceedings

Board of Port Wardens Meeting - August 13, 2026: Bulkhead, Dock, and Dredging Permits Approved

Mayor and City Council & Boards — Thursday, August 13, 2026
BodyOcean City, Maryland
SessionMayor and City Council & Boards
DateThursday, August 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:33

Original source
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0:48

Oh, they pulled that one.

0:54

Same.

0:56

Everybody ready?

0:57

No, not yet.

0:57

Okay.

1:00

We're good now?

1:01

Oh, okay.

1:07

Calling to order the board of wards meeting for Thursday, August 3rd, 2026.

1:12

Council, can you please swear on the staff?

1:16

Sean Nave, Chief Building Official.

1:18

Do you hear about a clear and affirm under the penalty?

1:23

I do.

1:24

And that'll buy to applies to Fort Warden cases PW 26-036 through PW2 26-043 as advertised and posted.

1:38

Okay, I'm gonna ask for uh approval to um to approve the minutes from July 9th.

1:43

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes.

1:45

Mel second, second.

1:47

Joe or Billy, all in favor?

1:49

Aye.

1:49

Aye.

1:50

Motion passed.

1:52

Okay, we'll start with the mall.

1:53

Oh, are there any uh are there any c cases that are continued, Christine, or any letters of objection?

2:00

Um there are no letters of objection.

2:02

We have one case PW 26038 that will be carried over the applicant requesting.

2:12

Okay.

2:15

So we'll start with the minors.

2:17

Request been submitted to install 20 2750 linear feet of replacement, final bulkheading, not to exceed 18 inches channel word.

2:26

The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 401 14th Street, 427 14th Street, parts 3459-7 through 3486-6 in the town of Ocean City, Maryland.

2:40

The owners of Harbor Island Condo Association, care of Jane Heil, president, and the applicant is J C Hart and Associates.

2:48

This is PW 26-036.

2:51

Staff recommendations.

3:20

Okay, discussion questions from the board.

3:23

Anyone in the room like to say anything on this case?

3:30

Stacy Hart, you lock six no hill two and eighty six three.

3:34

I declare an affirm under the penalties of Persian.

3:38

Yes.

3:39

I'm requesting that the ocean city building permit um provide in with the uh in line with the state and federal programming.

3:50

In conjunction with it.

3:51

Yes.

3:51

Okay.

3:52

So that because it's such a a large project.

3:54

And I can provide a schedule.

3:58

But I know that we have the indeed on it right now.

4:01

The uh expiration date is May 11th of 2029.

4:05

I also have it on my calendar, and I can extend this one to the other.

4:11

So I just want to make sure that we have the running at the same time.

4:17

Is that okay with you, Mr.

4:17

Marbraster?

4:18

That's fine.

4:19

We can keep it.

4:19

We'll continue it on with that.

4:21

No worries.

4:21

Okay.

4:23

Everybody?

4:24

Uh let's just structure that into the wording of the motion.

4:29

How long?

4:32

What was the date?

4:33

I I would like for it to just run um in the current.

4:38

I think we need a time.

4:39

We need to follow time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████86%
Procedural██████11%
Public Safety██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Port Wardens Meeting - August 13, 2026

The Board of Port Wardens of Ocean City, Maryland, met on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Blake McGrath. The board considered eight marine construction cases (PW 26-036 through PW 26-043), including one major case that was denied by staff but approved with modifications by the board. No letters of objection were received for any case. All votes were unanimous.

Minutes & Administrative

  • The minutes from the July 9, 2026, meeting were approved unanimously.
  • Staff was sworn in by the Council for the cases being heard.
  • One case, PW 26-038 (229 N. Heron Drive – Ring/Kaminski), was carried over at the applicant’s request.

Discussion Items

PW 26-036 – Harbour Island Bulkhead Replacement (401-427 14th Street)

  • Applicant J. Stacey Hart (sworn in) requested that the board’s approval run concurrent with state/federal permits, noting the state permit expires May 11, 2029. The board agreed to set the approval expiration to May 11, 2030, to align timelines.
  • Staff recommendation included a condition to submit a construction schedule due to the large scope (2,750 LF of vinyl bulkhead).

PW 26-042 – The Angler / Bay Front Property, LLC (312 Talbot Street) – Pier & Dredging

  • Staff recommended denial of the proposed pier reconstruction (8 ft wide x 150 ft long) because the 8 ft width exceeds the Town’s 6 ft maximum for piers. However, the maintenance dredging and floating dock relocation were deemed acceptable.
  • J. Stacey Hart (applicant) presented documents including a 1991 street-end agreement and MDE approval, arguing the existing pier has been 150 ft long for decades and that the 8 ft width is a safety standard for commercial piers used by sunset dinner cruise passengers. Board members expressed support for the 150 ft length and 8 ft width, citing safety for pedestrians and the commercial nature of the operation. The board voted to approve the application as applied for.

Map Error Noted

  • For case PW 26-041 (109 Newport Bay Drive), the board noted that the submitted map was from the Heron Drive site rather than Newport Bay. No further action was taken.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to approve minutes – Passed (voice vote, all aye).
  • PW 26-036 – Approved per staff recommendations with the added condition that board approval remains valid until May 11, 2030. (Motion by Jordan, second by Wiedorfer; vote 5–0).
  • PW 26-037 – Approved per staff recommendations. (Motion by Staehle, second by Jordan; vote 5–0).
  • PW 26-039 – Approved per staff recommendations. (Motion by Jordan, second by Wiedorfer; vote 5–0).
  • PW 26-040 – Approved per staff recommendations. (Motion by Milewski, second by Brucki; vote 5–0).
  • PW 26-041 – Approved per staff recommendations. (Motion by Wiedorfer, second by Jordan; vote 5–0).
  • PW 26-042 – Approved as applied for, allowing the pier to remain 150 ft long and be 8 ft wide, and approving the relocation of floating docks per staff specs. (Motion by Staehle, second by Wiedorfer; vote 5–0).
  • PW 26-043 – Approved per staff recommendations. (Motion by Jordan, second by Brucki; vote 5–0).
  • Adjournment – Motion passed; meeting ended at 2:25 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Oh, they pulled that one. Same. Everybody ready? No, not yet. Okay. We're good now? Oh, okay. Calling to order the board of wards meeting for Thursday, August 3rd, 2026. Council, can you please swear on the staff? Sean Nave, Chief Building Official. Do you hear about a clear and affirm under the penalty? I do. And that'll buy to applies to Fort Warden cases PW 26-036 through PW2 26-043 as advertised and posted. Okay, I'm gonna ask for uh approval to um to approve the minutes from July 9th. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Mel second, second. Joe or Billy, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Motion passed. Okay, we'll start with the mall. Oh, are there any uh are there any c cases that are continued, Christine, or any letters of objection? Um there are no letters of objection. We have one case PW 26038 that will be carried over the applicant requesting. Okay. So we'll start with the minors. Request been submitted to install 20 2750 linear feet of replacement, final bulkheading, not to exceed 18 inches channel word. The site of the proposed construction is described as being located at 401 14th Street, 427 14th Street, parts 3459-7 through 3486-6 in the town of Ocean City, Maryland. The owners of Harbor Island Condo Association, care of Jane Heil, president, and the applicant is J C Hart and Associates. This is PW 26-036. Staff recommendations. Okay, discussion questions from the board. Anyone in the room like to say anything on this case? Stacy Hart, you lock six no hill two and eighty six three. I declare an affirm under the penalties of Persian. Yes. I'm requesting that the ocean city building permit um provide in with the uh in line with the state and federal programming. In conjunction with it. Yes. Okay. So that because it's such a a large project. And I can provide a schedule. But I know that we have the indeed on it right now. The uh expiration date is May 11th of 2029. I also have it on my calendar, and I can extend this one to the other. So I just want to make sure that we have the running at the same time. Is that okay with you, Mr. Marbraster? That's fine. We can keep it.

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