Teamwork wins in council’s approach with Master Plan Subcommittee

Originally published in the print version of The Ocean City Sentinel
November 5, 2025
by George Bauer

I was extremely pleased by our City Council coming up with a winning team approach when they created a Master Planning Subcommittee representing the varied and sometimes opposing interests in the Wonderland situation. Let us all support them in accomplishing their objective in a timely manner and trust their findings. I have faith in their ability to work with careful urgency but with enough patience to explore all pertinent facts and potential outcomes.

A little background.

At a recent City Council meeting some business owners requested a revote on the decision not to grant the former Wonderland property a rehabilitation designation. While their specific request may take us backwards, and would be a detriment to progress, their concerns deserve respect. These are the people who run the shops, lodging and amusements that give the island its heartbeat and their concerns about the boardwalk are real. The loss of Wonderland — an anchor that once drew thousands of visitors daily — has hurt. In a three-month economy, a year or two of reduced foot traffic can be critical to a small business’s survival.

Supporting our business community is essential and so is recognizing that Ocean City’s strength comes from many voices. Residents and visitors help shape the shared vision for our island’s future. Interestingly, these different stakeholders appear comfortable with City Council’s decision to move forward with a deliberate, fact-based Master Plan process.

Why the difference? Timing is important.

The business owners’ priorities tend to lean toward quick action. As someone with a lifetime of business experience, I can understand this point of view; survival often depends on next summer’s rent and payroll.

Residents’ and homeowners’ priorities are that they put down roots and want the character and spirit of Ocean City to last for decades.

The good news is that we can respect the needs of both groups. We must continue to move forward with the Master Plan, which will allow the City Council to update zoning on the boardwalk. It can also implement changes in an efficient, equitable and transparent manner, not a parcel-by-parcel approach. It can also avoid the risk of litigation, allowing us to advance the interests of merchants and residents alike. The Master Plan Subcommittee also brings together members of the City Council, Planning Board and residents combining expert opinion with community input in an open process.

Continued suggestions for a revote is backward-looking and detrimental to this progress. Please let’s not entertain that progress killer.

Importantly, however, we should also take immediate steps to find creative ways to activate the north end of the boardwalk, and restore foot traffic, in the near term. This is critical to merchants. The simple reality is that nothing permanent can rise quickly at Wonderland. Any change will take years to be completed. That is why the administration, working with the chamber, the Tourism Board and the community, should plan short-term activation efforts, ensuring they meet the business community’s needs while complementing their long-term Master Plan.

This intelligent approach balances immediate action with long term planning in a time sensitive manner. Again, congratulations to our City Council for moving in this direction and then following through by implementing these recommendations.