“The tale of two Ocean Cities: What scale and connection to environment reveal about urban planning”

Originally published in The Shore Local Newsmagazine
by Bill Merritt

Urban planning expert Edward T. McMahon once said, “Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how.” 

Ocean City, New Jersey faces a critical moment of decision-making as it considers the future of its Boardwalk and the former Wonderland Pier. A few weeks ago, Ocean City Council President Terry Crowley Jr. announced the formation of an autonomous subcommittee whose job is to make recommendations to the Planning Committee regarding a Master Plan and the city’s next steps for boardwalk development from Fifth to 14th streets.