Planning commission backs neighborhood‑commercial rezoning for Route 611 parcel; recommends county consideration

The Worcester County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the county commissioners approve a rezoning request for a 1.66‑acre parcel on Route 611 (rezoning case 452), after accepting a broader neighborhood definition and the staff's written findings of fact.

Petitioner Hugh Crawford, the attorney for the property owner, asked the commission to adopt a neighborhood definition the county commissioners had proposed and argued the case as a change in the character of the neighborhood rather than a challenge to the 2009 comprehensive rezoning. Crawford told the commission the neighboring parcel had been rezoned in 2017 and that recent changes — including the Ocean City Airport acquiring and clearing about 9.27 acres previously intended for neighborhood commercial use — reduced nearby commercial capacity.

Crawford and the land planner highlighted six findings of fact the commission must consider: population and housing growth (noting Sea Oaks Village and other infill projects), the availability of public facilities and EDUs (the parcel lacks onsite septic and EDUs were not available), transportation and ingress (the applicant proposes a rear entrance), compatibility with adjacent commercial and airport overlay uses, and the constrained parcel size that limits future intensity. The applicant argued that even under C‑1 the allowable uses are limited by size and setbacks and that an office use of about 2,500 square feet would be appropriate.

Property owner Aaron Finney, who identified himself for the record and said he is CEO of TR Group, told the commission he intends to use the site for a modest office and confirmed the rear entrance would be workable for ingress and egress.

Commissioners voted to accept the neighborhood definition in the amended exhibit, then to accept the staff's findings of fact, and finally to issue a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners on the rezoning request. A commissioner recorded opposition during the final motion, but the recommendation carried.

The matter will move to the county commissioners for a final decision; the planning commission record will include the adopted neighborhood definition and the accepted findings of fact.