Open-space board asks 10th Street Wharf owners to secure municipal support before preservation funding

The county open-space board on May 19 asked 10th Street Wharf LLC to seek a formal resolution of support from Ocean City before the board advances the property’s application for maritime preservation funds.

Jenna Pashley, manager for 10th Street Wharf, told the board the wharf provides public boat slips, “year round fuel for boats and cars, year round transient dockage,” and that Open Space funds would be used primarily to pay down the property mortgage so the site can remain open to the public and undertake repairs.

The request for municipal backing came after detailed questions from board members and staff about ownership, site-plan approvals, environmental history and repairs. Pashley said the property was condemned in 2013 and that cleanup began in 2016, when four new underground fuel tanks were installed; those tanks are now 10 years old and carry a 30-year warranty. She also told the board that floating docks for 23 slips were installed in 2019 and that a fuel dock was replaced in 2025 and can accommodate vessels up to 80 feet.

County Counsel Jeff Lindsay warned the board that a deed restriction that reduces the property’s market value could “lead to the bank calling in the mortgage,” an outcome the applicants cited as a reason for seeking county assistance. Planning Director Will Hanson said Planning staff had contacted Ocean City; staff was told the city would not oppose the application but had not provided the formal resolution the board’s process requires.

Tom Gill, the owner, and Pashley said the Open Space funding request covers the northerly lots where the fuel dock, some boat slips and the underground tanks are located. The applicants said remaining funds, after addressing mortgage liability, would allow them to repair deteriorated pilings; they reported having recent cost estimates completed within the last four to five months.

Board Engineer Andrew Shawl read his report and said the applicant had addressed his concerns, while staff asked follow-up questions about possible effects on parking and site circulation if the adjacent lots were developed in the future. The applicants confirmed the overhead monorail travel lift is not operable; they have estimates to repair or remove it and said there is no on-site boat storage.

The board did not approve funding at the meeting. Instead, it reached consensus to request additional information from the applicant, specifically that they secure a municipal resolution of support from Ocean City, and directed staff to continue follow-up under the Maritime Resource Preservation program.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of April 21 minutes: Motion to approve as amended by Neil Byrne; seconded by Commissioner Patrick Rosenello. Vote: 5 yes (Peter Lomax, Patrick Rosenello, Dr. Ira Niedweske, Neil Byrne, Ronald Simone); 0 no; 2 abstain (Commissioner Bobby Barr, David Craig).

- MP 25-02 (Cecil Creek): Board approved the marked-up existing-conditions survey conditioned on adding title, date and “prepared by” information. Motion by Commissioner Bobby Barr; second by Ronald Simone. Vote: unanimous.

- MP 25-03 (10th Street Wharf): Board reached consensus to request additional information from the applicant and to ask that the applicant obtain a municipal resolution of support; motion by Commissioner Bobby Barr; second by David Craig. Vote: unanimous.

What happens next

Planning staff will ask the applicant to obtain a municipal resolution of support and provide the additional requested materials. The 10th Street Wharf application will remain pending while the board awaits that documentation and any revised site-plan details.