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In a surprising eleventh hour vote the Worcester County Zoning Board today voted 3-2 to deny a special exception for the proposed YMCA off Gum Point Road. The vote probably dooms chances for a YMCA at the Gum Point Road location as it would take a Circuit Court ruling to override the board decision.
Attorney Mark Cropper represented the YMCA at the hearing held this evening. Beginning at 6:30 PM, the board heard testimony until nearly eleven in the evening from the applicant's attorney and a number of expert witnesses called to testify, as well as from opponents. In the end, however, it was Attorney Robert McIntosh representing opponents of the YMCA location who prevailed.
Traffic issues at Route 589 and Gum Point Road and concerns of residents along Gum Point Road appeared to be the deciding factor for the three board members voting to deny the YMCA's request for a zoning variance.
McIntosh made it clear the opponents were not opposed to a YMCA, just the location. Should the YMCA not be built the property would become owned by the Ocean Pines Association.
OPA President Dan Stachurski and General Manager Dave Ferguson were in the audience. Interestingly, no one form OPA testified at the hearing -- either for, or against, the requested zoning variance.
OPA resident and member of the Ocean Pines Budget & Finance Committee Beth Gismondi who is also a member of the Worcester County Zoning Appeals Board was one of three board members voting to deny the YMCA request.
