Q&A with Ocean City mayoral candidate Pete Madden
Talks of ‘hard decisions’ coming up, support for hotel, need for change OCEAN CITY – City Council Vice President Pete Madden is running for mayor against four-term incumbent Jay Gillian and longtime city Councilman Keith Hartzell, who unsuccessfully challenged Gillian in the last election. The three-term at-large councilman made his announcement at the end of […]
Ocean City Council delays hiring planner for Wonderland site
Some members question timeline, want more information; citizens critique plan OCEAN CITY — Ocean City Council had enough votes to hire a professional planner specifically for the former Wonderland Pier property during the meeting Feb. 19, but at the last minute decided instead to table the matter to ensure all council members were comfortable with […]
Mita’s hope for decision in 30 days doesn’t appear likely
Crowley, Winslow say they will wait for boardwalk report in late April, May OCEAN CITY — Eustace Mita, still smarting from the Planning Board’s split vote over Wonderland Pier, hopes the issue will be back before council within 30 days, but it may not end up there until late spring. Talking to the Sentinel on […]
Witnesses for Mita lay out why boardwalk site meets two criteria for rehab designation
OCEAN CITY — Eustace Mita’s attorney and four witnesses spent nearly an hour testifying before the Ocean City Planning Board on Jan. 7, trying to justify that his boardwalk property qualified as “an area in need of rehabilitation.” It is a step Mita needs to move forward with his proposal to build a 252-room hotel […]
Ocean City Planning Board splits 4-4, doesn’t approve rehab designation for Wonderland property
Mita said he’ll have decision in five days after conferring with his attorney, but won’t if he’s forced to wait months, he’ll sell property OCEAN CITY – In a marathon meeting Wednesday evening, the Ocean City Planning Board failed to advance the Wonderland Pier property as “an area in need of rehabilitation.” There was nearly an […]
Wonderland property on Jan. 7 Planning Board agenda
Report appears to indicate property may meet rehabilitation criteria OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Planning Board will take up a review of the Wonderland Pier property at a Jan. 7 meeting at the Music Pier. Ocean City Council voted Dec. 4 to refer the home of the former amusement park at 600 Boardwalk to […]
Editorial: Business community’s narrative worked
Council didn’t want to appear indifferent to business fears Some in the audience at the Dec. 4 City Council meeting were surprised by the reversal of the August vote on the Wonderland Pier property that is home to a defunct amusement park. Others were shocked. We weren’t shocked. We didn’t know exactly how it was […]
Mita’s hotel thrown a lifeline
After marathon meeting, Ocean City Council reverses course from August, sends Wonderland to planners Editor’s note: This is an updated version of the story that appeared online Friday at ocnjsentinel.com OCEAN CITY — After three hours of public comment Thursday night, City Council members spent another hour providing excruciatingly detailed rationales before they voted 4-3 […]
Ocean City Council throws lifeline to hotel project, boardwalk merchants
4-3 vote reverses 6-1 decision in August; Wonderland parcel will be sent to Planning Board for review OCEAN CITY – After three hours of public comment Thursday night, City Council members spent another hour providing excruciatingly detailed rationales before they voted 4-3 to refer the Wonderland Pier parcel to the Planning Board to determine if […]
Last-minute Wonderland effort: Business leaders ask City Council to act
Mita says if referral vote not approved, hotel project is done OCEAN CITY — Developer Eustace Mita and representatives of all of Ocean City’s business groups made a last-minute pitch to have City Council vote Thursday evening to refer the Wonderland Pier site to the Planning Board to determine whether it’s “an area in need […]