The Boardwalk Subcommittee’s final report deserves credit. While the subcommittee did not provide the level of public engagement it originally promised, the report itself rests on a solid factual foundation—business inventories, hotel and occupancy data, parking and beach tag revenue, comparison communities, and stakeholder input. That's the kind of groundwork that should inform any zoning decision, and the Subcommittee should be thanked for doing this work.

Many of us who care about the future of Ocean City are looking forward to the final report from the Boardwalk Subcommittee, which was charged with evaluating the future of the boardwalk, including the former Wonderland Pier site, and developing recommendations to guide its long-term success. When the report is released, we hope it reflects the principles previously suggested by Ocean City 2050: that any zoning changes are tied directly to meaningful public benefits; that the future of the Wonderland property receives careful and deliberate consideration; and that the subcommittee presents unified recommendations that move us beyond division and toward a shared vision for Ocean City’s future.

It has been some time since the public received an update from the Boardwalk Subcommittee that was formed last year to help chart a path forward for the Ocean City Boardwalk. Councilman and Subcommittee Chairman Dave Winslow promised a robust process and significant public engagement for what is one of the most important planning efforts of our city, its character, and its economic future.

Wonderland was not the only issue on voters’ minds. The public conversation — particularly on social media, which has effectively become the city’s primary communication channel — reflected growing concerns about the overall direction of Ocean City: overdevelopment, parking, congestion and the city’s rising debt burden.

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.