Planning & Community
Development
Jesse C. Houston, Director

Organization Planning & Zoning Commission Building / Housing Code Board of Adjustments and Appeals
How to Contact Planning & Zoning Commission Agenda Board of Adjustments & Appeals Agenda
Staff Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes Board of Zoning Appeals
Zoning Code Index Board of Port Wardens Board of Zoning Appeals Agenda
Zoning Code Board of Port Wardens Agenda P & Z 2000-2001 Fees

The Department of Planning and Community Development consists of three divisions: planning, zoning and construction inspections. The department has a full time staff of ten and an operating budget in FY 2000 of $702,873.



The Planning Division, along with the Planning and Zoning Commission is responsible for preparing the Comprehensive Plan for the town. The Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act of 1992 mandates that local governments update their comprehensive plans and implementing regulations every 6 years. The last update of the plan was completed in 1998, and the zoning code is currently being revised.



The planning and zoning staff advises the Mayor and City Council on planning related issues, and serves as staff to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, which are citizen boards appointed by the Mayor and City Council. These boards conduct public hearings on various zoning issues and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council regarding planning and zoning related legislation. The staff also serves as staff liaison to the Downtown Association working toward the revitalization of downtown Ocean City, and represents the Mayor and City Council on the Management Committee of the Maryland Coastal Bays Management Program.



The Zoning Division is responsible for administering and enforcing the Town's zoning Code. Development plans are reviewed by the zoning staff for code compliance, and field inspections are conducted to ensure continuing compliance.



The Construction Inspection Division regulates building activity in Ocean City by administering the Southern Standard Building Code and its Housing Code. construction plan are reviewed by the staff for code compliance and inspections are made at various stages of construction. Because of Ocean City's location on the coast, higher standards are enforced to ensure that buildings are hurricane and flood resistant. The Construction staff serves as staff to the Board of Port Wardens (which regulates construction of piers, docks, and bulkheads), and the Building and Housing Code Boards of Adjustment and Appeals.

Home

TO REACH THE DEPARTMENT:

MAILING ADDRESS:

Department of Planning and Community Development
P.O. Box 158
Ocean City, MD 21843
410-289-8855 (phone)
410-289-8854 (phone)
410-289-7385 (fax)
ocplan@ococean.com (e-mail)

OFFICE LOCATION:

City Hall
Room 206
301 Baltimore Avenue
Ocean City, MD 21843

STAFF:





  • Jesse C. Houston, Director
  • R. Blaine Smith, Zoning Administrator
  • Margaret E. Fussell, Zoning Analyst
  • Wendy J. Efergan, Secretary
  • Ruth Ann Ludlam, Permit Clerk
  • Michael B. Richardson, Chief Building Official
  • Kevin R. Brown, Plans Examiner
  • Steven M. Brown, Construction Inspector
  • Kathleen DePetris, Construction Inspector
  • Ray Schmidt, Zoning/Housing Inspector


PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

Meeting Dates (All meetings begin at 7:00 pm and take place in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD):



Meeting Date Hearing Deadline Site/Subdivision Staff Review
January 9, 2001 12/15 12/19 12/28
January 23, 2001 12/29 12/29 01/11
February 6, 2001 01/12 01/16 01/25
February 20, 2001 01/26 01/30 02/09
March 6, 2001 02/09 02/13 02/22
March 20, 2001 02/23 02/27 03/08
April 3, 2001 03/09 03/13 03/22
April 17, 2001 03/23 03/27 04/05
May 1, 2001 04/06 04/10 04/19
May 15, 2001 04/20 04/24 05/03
June 5, 2001 05/11 05/15 05/24
June 19, 2001 05/25 05/29 06/07


Commission Members:

Correspondence to the Commission should be directed to the Department of Planning and Community Development (address and phone numbers above).

Home

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Meeting Dates (All meetings begin at 7:00 pm and take place in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD):

Meeting Date Deadline Meeting Date Deadline
January 11 12/18 April 5 03/12
January 25 01/03 April 26 04/02
February 8 01/16 May 10 04/16
February 22 01/29 May 24 04/30
March 8 02/12 June 14 05/21
March 22 02/26 June 28 06/04

Board Members:

Correspondence to the Board should be directed to the Department of Planning and Community Development (address and phone numbers above).

Home

BOARD OF PORT WARDENS

Meeting Dates (All meetings begin at 2:00 pm and take place in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD):

January 13, 2000

February 19, 2000

March 9, 2000

April 13, 2000

May 11, 2000

June 8, 2000

July 13, 2000

August 10, 2000

September 14, 2000

October 12, 2000

November 9, 2000

December 14, 2000 Board Members:

Correspondence to the Board should be directed to the Department of Planning and Community Development (address and phone numbers above).

Home

BUILDING/HOUSING CODE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS

The Board meets the first and third Thursday of each month as needed.

Correspondence to the Board should be directed to the Department of Planning and Community Development (address and phone numbers above).

Board Members:

Home

[ What's Happening | Sightseeing | Visitor Info | Calendar | Search | Council Agenda | Directory]
[ Clerk | Convention Center | Engineer | Finances | P & Z | Public Safety | Public Works | Rec & Parks]

Last Updated: December 5, 2000