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County shows updated plans for Cove Road Beach: expanded shoreline access, parking and stormwater controls
Summary
Parks staff presented an updated plan to expand Cove Road Beach after the county acquired adjacent parcels. The design clusters parking away from neighborhood properties, adds accessible walkways and stormwater treatment, and aims to minimize wetland impacts while improving visitor amenities.
Wicomico County recreation and planning staff presented an updated park-development plan for the recently acquired property adjacent to Cove Road Beach at a Jan. 21 open work session.
Lede: The plan consolidates parking at the end of Cove Road, expands the accessible beach area northward away from private residences, adds accessible walkways and viewing platforms, and includes stormwater management features designed to treat runoff before it discharges to tidal waters.
Why it matters: The county said the acquisition and plan aim to reduce conflicts between visitors and neighbors, provide safer and ADA-accessible access to the beach, and manage runoff to protect tidal wetlands and water quality. Staff emphasized that new construction must comply with FEMA and Maryland critical-area rules and noted constraints on building fixed structures in the tidal buffer.
Key elements presented: - Parking and circulation: A new paved lot adjacent to the existing lot is proposed (about 58 spaces total once developed), plus a stone lot in the FEMA-restricted parcel the agency will preserve as per FEMA guidance. - Stormwater and environmental controls: The design uses submerged gravel wetlands and other stormwater controls to capture and treat runoff from the new impervious surfaces; staff said the project captures existing impervious runoff as well. - Beach and access features: The plan includes three stabilized, bulkheaded access walkways for ADA access, two small open gazebos and picnic seating (all designed to be minimal, water-passable structures to meet critical-area rules), and rehabilitation of an existing fishing pier. - Outreach and approvals: Staff said they conducted public outreach with the West Side Task Force and held town-hall style meetings; critical-area and stormwater construction plans are under agency review and have only minor comments to date.
Questions raised: Council members asked about dune preservation, impacts of existing offshore breakwaters, parking footprints, the materials proposed for the parking surfaces (asphalt for the main paved lot; stone on the FEMA-limited parcel) and a timeline for work. Staff said construction documents and stormwater designs are complete or near complete and that they expect to use the $700,000+ that council previously budgeted for initial development; they estimated an earliest realistic opening next summer if permitting and reviews proceed on schedule.
What’s next: Staff will continue critical-area and stormwater reviews and return with final permitting and a construction schedule once state approvals are complete. The county will not request additional funding at this meeting; staff said they will proceed with the funding already appropriated and with available state grants if needed.
