Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting – September 10, 2026

The Board of Zoning Appeals met on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, Maryland. The meeting included administrative matters, a public hearing on a zoning appeal, and board/staff comments. The transcript for this meeting is not available; this summary is based on the agenda and the pre‑meeting staff report.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from August 27, 2026: The board was scheduled to review and consider approval of the minutes from the previous meeting. The outcome of this review is not recorded in the provided materials.
• Findings of Fact for BZA 2750 (Bradley Construction Company, Inc.): The board was scheduled to review and consider approval of the findings of fact related to the special yard exception granted at the August 27, 2026 meeting. The outcome is not recorded in the provided materials.

Public Hearing: BZA 2740 – Appeal of Zoning Administrator’s Determination (103 Sea Lane)

The board held a public hearing on an appeal filed by Quinn McGinnes, Esq., on behalf of James E. LaRue, Inc., concerning property at 103 Sea Lane (Lot 977, Section 5B, Montego Bay Mobile Home Park). The appeal challenged the Zoning Administrator’s determination dated April 9, 2026, which denied an amendment to Permit 25‑1995 on the grounds that the second floor of the dwelling is defined as a habitable attic under Section 110‑2 of the Ocean City Code and is therefore subject to the requirements for habitable attics.

Applicant’s Position: The applicant argued that the second floor should not be classified as a habitable attic and that the Zoning Administrator’s determination was in error. The applicant’s legal argument (Applicant Exhibit #1) was submitted as part of the record.

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommended that the board carefully review the application materials, accept testimony, and determine whether the Zoning Administrator’s April 9, 2026 determination is correct.

No public comments were recorded in the staff report or agenda for this hearing. The outcome of the board’s decision is not available in the provided materials.

Discussion Items

No additional discussion items beyond the consent calendar and the public hearing were listed on the agenda.

Board/Staff Comments

Board members and staff provided comments, including a reminder from Chase Phillips that the September 10 meeting required five members due to the appeal nature of the case, as noted in the August 27 minutes.

Key Outcomes

• The board’s decisions on the approval of minutes and findings of fact from the August 27 meeting are not documented in the provided materials.
• The board’s decision on BZA 2740 (the habitable attic appeal) is not recorded; the transcript is empty and no minutes for this meeting are available.
• The meeting adjourned at an unspecified time; the agenda indicates adjournment after board/staff comments.