OCEAN CITY — Business leaders expressed support for a proposal to revisit a key vote regarding the future of the former Wonderland Pier site.
On Nov. 20, Councilman Jody Levchuk requested that a bid to refer the matter to the Planning Board be added to City Council’s next meeting agenda. (See related story)
In August, City Council voted 6-1 against referring the property to the Planning Board to get its recommendation on whether it qualified as an area in need of rehabilitation. Councilman Pete Madden cast the sole yes vote.
Caitlin Quirk, president of the Downtown Merchants Association, said the group met recently and decided unanimously to continue supporting rehabilitation of the former Wonderland site, specifically with a hotel.
“I didn’t have a single person speak out against it,” she said.
Quirk said development of the site on the corner of Sixth Street is vital to the future of the business community.
“Whether anyone wants to say it directly or not, our community is facing a fork in the road with two different futures lying ahead. One future keeps our business community intact in the size it is today, the other leads to contraction, a smaller boardwalk presence and a quieter, less-dynamic commercial district,” she said.
Quirk said she had to disagree with Susan Cracovaner, who argued that it would take at least three years to build a hotel, ‘devastating’ the merchants in the meantime.
“Even if this does take three years, which is probably the case, moving forward with the project sends a signal not only to our business community but also to anyone who vacations here that we are moving forward, we are not staying stagnant,” Quirk said.
She thanked Levchuk and Councilman Tony Polcini for reconsidering their vote.
“Changing your mind is not a sign of losing integrity. It’s often a mark of gaining wisdom,” Quirk said. “Realizing you were wrong doesn’t mean you lack judgment. It means you lacked knowledge. Opinions are what you think today and growth comes from staying open to revisiting your views tomorrow.”
Wes Kazmarck, president of the Boardwalk Merchants Association and a member of the subcommittee formed to study the entire boardwalk, said like himself, Levchuk is a lifelong boardwalk business owner who knows what’s at stake.
“I think he’s done his due diligence. I respect you for coming out tonight to talk about this,” he said.
Kazmarck added that the best idea for the boardwalk right now would be to generate some excitement about the future.
“All these other things that people suggest, they don’t understand the boardwalk and how the tourism economy works. And it’s OK to express your opinion, but it’s just that and it would be not effective on the boardwalk.”
Cracovaner was among those proposing alternatives, rejecting the idea that quick action was needed and supporting the work of the subcommittee as more comprehensive.
She thanked council members who supported formation of the subcommittee for “staying the course” while faced with a request for a revote. On Sept. 25, Madden asked his colleagues to reconsider the 6-1 vote not to refer the matter to the Planning Board.
“Your perseverance shows your commitment to planning for the future of a vibrant and family-friendly boardwalk,” she said.
Cracovaner said the latest request was based on a false premise.
“The rationale provided tonight and in the past is that business is down and as a result, tenants could be lost. But this is a misleading argument. Construction of a hotel does not happen overnight,” she said, noting the process would involve negotiations between the owner and the city, could result in litigation as well as construction, weather and material delays.
“The effect that that will have on the businesses at the north end of the boardwalk will be devastating,” Cracovaner said. “So, a revote will do little to resolve the concerns currently being voiced by merchants.”
She urged City Council to let the subcommittee “gather data to understand the present so they can make informed recommendations for the future of the boardwalk.”
In the meantime, she said, it must be a priority to develop and implement a comprehensive summer program that draws residents and visitors to the north end of the boardwalk to support local businesses and restore vitality to this end of the boardwalk.
Cracovaner suggested activities that focus on celebrations such as the carousel turning 100 years old and America’s 250th anniversary and attracting more sports tournaments to the high school stadium
“This requires the leadership like that exhibited with the establishment of the boardwalk subcommittee. I respectfully ask that you take the lead and bring together local government representatives, chamber of commerce members, business leaders, nonprofit organizations and residents to create opportunities that will bring energy, activity and economic opportunity back to the north end of the boardwalk,” she said.
On this matter, she said, it is important to act “now in order for plans to be ready for this summer.”
“Together we can make this happen, but it’s incumbent upon your leadership and commitment to get the ball rolling,” Cracovaner said.
Jim Kelly, spokesman for advocacy group Ocean City 2050 and a member of the boardwalk subcommittee, said City Council made a good decision to form the panel.
Referring to Levchuk’s comments, Kelly said the councilman is just one of the nine members of the panel that consists of “accomplished individuals with vast business experience, in city planning, land use and people who are dedicated to Ocean City and what’s best for Ocean City. Don’t forget about the eight other members.”
Kelly agreed with Levchuk that City Council is in control of the situation and has the necessary tools to negotiate. However, he asked that council give the subcommittee time to reach its conclusions before acting.
“A month and a half is not a chance. It is haste and it is rushing a decision that shouldn’t be rushed,” Kelly said.
The group issued a news release two days later.
“Just as the city was finally calming down — and just as we had a solid, fair, fact-based process in motion to determine the future of the Boardwalk — Councilman Levchuk decided to blow it all up,” it stated. “So much for the impassioned speech he delivered on Aug. 21 about how a rehab designation for one property was unfair to every other boardwalk owner. He seems to be yielding to outside pressures, rather than focusing on what’s best for the boardwalk as a whole.”
“This matter now appears headed to the Dec. 4 council meeting, where, if it’s allowed on the agenda, the council will vote on sending it to the Planning Board. Contrary to the suggestion that this would simply open up more options, the move would instead strengthen the developer’s position.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff