Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting August 13, 2026: Majestic Hotel Extension Approved; Hearings Postponed
Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting – August 13, 2026
The Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals met on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Because of last-minute administrative issues, the Board postponed most of the agenda and acted only on the approval extension request for the Majestic Hotel. The two public hearings that had been scheduled for this meeting were continued to a future date.
Postponed Public Hearings
- BZA 2740 (#26-09300001): James E. LaRue, Inc.’s appeal of the April 9, 2026 zoning determination that the second floor of the dwelling at 103 Sea Lane is a habitable attic under Section 110-2 of the Ocean City Code. This hearing was postponed.
- BZA 2747 (#26-09300002): Mourning Wood Mushrooms, LLC’s appeal of the May 29, 2026 determination that indoor mushroom cultivation at 602 141st Street does not qualify as a permitted home occupation under Section 110-908. This hearing was postponed.
- Board members identified September 10 and September 24 as possible dates for the postponed appeals and asked staff to confirm availability with the absent board member, the attorneys, and the clients. The Board noted that these cases had already been rescheduled twice and that the next scheduled date would be a hard hold.
- Staff also noted that the August 27 meeting remains scheduled with two hearings: a special parking exception on Penguin Drive and a special yard exception at 125th Street and Assawoman Drive.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke for or against the Majestic Hotel extension request; the chamber was empty.
Discussion: Majestic Hotel Approval Extension (BZA 2726)
- Staff reported that Joseph E. Moore, Esq., on behalf of Majestic Hotel, requested a one-year extension of approvals granted under BZA 2726 (#25-09400010). The approvals relate to the redevelopment of the Majestic Hotel at 613 Atlantic Avenue, at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and the south side of 7th Street.
- The original approval granted a special yard exception allowing a setback of 22 feet from Atlantic Avenue. Moore explained that the exception had been based on a similar existing building set back 22 feet from the boardwalk.
- Staff confirmed that the department is actively working with the applicant on a new site plan application that is entering the technical review process.
- Keith Iatt, the architect and engineer of record, testified that there have been no changes making the project more detrimental, that amended drawings were expected early the following week, that the project was heading to the Technical Review Committee and then the Planning Commission in early September, and that the developer had reopened the hotel for summer revenue while redevelopment proceeds.
- The applicant emphasized that this was a request only for additional time for an active redevelopment project.
Key Outcomes
- The Board approved the one-year extension for BZA 2726 (Majestic Hotel) for good cause shown, based on staff’s and the applicant’s testimony about ongoing site plan and development activity. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition.
- The Board directed staff to coordinate scheduling for the postponed BZA 2740 and BZA 2747 hearings and stressed that the next scheduled date would be binding.
- The meeting adjourned without objection.
Meeting Transcript
Well everything I don't know that I've ever met our partner too. We've had some administrative uh issues arise at the last minute, so uh most of the agenda is going to be postponed until the uh next meeting or whenever uh we're able to get things rescheduled uh according to staff. Um but we are able to take up the approval extension request item number two on tonight's agenda. This is uh Joseph E. Moore Esquire for the Majestic Hotel, BZA case 2726, number 25-094-00010. Uh Mr. Phillips, you have the floor. This is a um a request has been made to our office to extend the approvals granted as part of Board of Zoning Appeals case 2726, file 25-094010. Uh these are uh uh the approval is related to the redevelopment of the existing Majestic Hotel, which is referenced as planning and zoning file 25-1810011. The property is located on the corner of Atlantic Avenue, the boardwalk in the south side of 7th Street, and it's locally known as the Majestic Hotel located at 613 Atlantic Avenue in the town of Ocean City, Maryland. Um so the applicant tonight is uh Mr. Joseph E. Moore. And I don't know if um everyone was here for that um for that uh previous Board of Zoning Appeals case. Um but it granted a special yard exception uh for the proposed hotel to have a distance set back of 22 feet from an Atlantic Avenue. Um the approval that's before the board tonight is for um another year. Um so with that said, uh before I bring Mr. Moore up, do you have any questions for staff? Any questions for Mr. Phillips? No. All right, no questions. Uh one note from the department. Uh we are actively working uh with Mr. Moore's um uh who he represents on a new site plan application. Uh so they're actively working with us. Uh they have submitted new plans. Uh we're about to go through the technical review process. So we are actively working with this applicant now uh to get this plans through approvals. All right, so noted, thank you. Um let's go ahead and recognize the applicant or the applicant's representative. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board on Joseph Moore. I guess I'm the applicant tonight. Uh Keith, why don't you come up? Uh lawyers aren't supposed to testify, so I've got Mr. Iod here to answer questions, but my address is um uh we have moved, so I think it's um 12800 hospitality way, which I think is a fascinating place for a law firm to be. But in any event, uh I am the applicant. I was here when we got the original uh yard exception based upon the fact that we proved that we have a building which is the uh excuse me, the hotel apartments that is similar in that it's it's uh set back 22 feet from the boardwalk, and under your code, that is the uh preception for a special yard exception when there is something either on the lot or the adjacent lot that is similar to that which you are asking for. So we are asking for nothing except a one-year extension, and I've got Mr. Ayot. Do you need to swear him in even though it's an informal hearing? Um if he's gonna testify, I'll do it anyways. Do Somnley swear from tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in front of the Board of Zoning Appeals. I do. Name and address. Keith Iatt, uh 310. 310 Hammond Street, Salisbury, Maryland. And Mr. Ihat, you are the uh the land development uh coordinator for this project, correct?
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