Page 22 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch November 22, 2013 New Life For Campground Proposal By TRAVIS BROWN STAFF WRITER SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commission showed some tentative support for changes to campground enclosures when they voted unanimously to table the issue so that a redraft of the proposal could be developed. The original amendment called for the allowance of “soft plastic” porch enclosures at cooperative campgrounds. Currently, porches at the campgrounds can only be enclosed by insect screening. Both the county planning staff and Planning Commission have given the proposal an unfavorable recommendation, citing concerns over safety, intensity of use and permanency. This isn’t the first amendment to appear before the commission seeking the allowance of alternative porch enclosures at cooperative campgrounds. Attorney Mark Cropper, who submitted the amendment on behalf of Bali Hi Cooperative Campground, acknowledged the history behind the subject but asked that the commission judge the proposal based only on the evidence. Cropper disagreed with planning commission’s argument that allowing soft plastic screens around porches would drastically impact the use. “I don’t get that. I don’t get how allowing plastic, in addition to the insect screening, increases the inten- sity or permanency of the unit,” he said. “To me, permanency is that you could reside in these units yearround, 12 months, which is completely not allowed by our code. This doesn’t change that.” There wouldn’t be a great change to the porch if soft plastic was added on top of the established insect screening, Cropper continued. “It’s not hard, it’s not structural,” he said of the plastic. Plastic panels on porches could lead to an increase in intensity, allowing the space to be used during times when the weather would typically prevent it if there was only insect screening in place. This was one of the points that Ed Tudor, director of Development Review and Permitting, made. “That is one of staff’s biggest concerns with these types of enclosures, that you basically set it up as additional living space,” he told the commission. Whether or not that would happen, Cropper asserted that the owners of the units should be allowed to use them however they wish during the nine months of the year that they can legally be occupied. If the extra space means extra people to the degree that water and sewer services were affected, that would be Bali Hi’s problem, said Marlene Dranzo, who sets on the campground’s board of directors. “I feel like I’m fighting for my life SEE NEXT PAGE Wicomico & Baltimore Ave. Downtown Ocean City 410-289-POUR(7687) Happy Hour Wednesday All Day & Night Thursday-Friday 3-7 p.m. Sunday 9 p.m.-Close w/ $4 Fireball $2.50 Dom. Pints $2.75 Dom. Bottles $3.25 Rail Drinks $3.25 House Wine $5.00 Wings $6.95 1/2 # Steamed Shrimp THE FINEST SEAFOOD, S T E A K S A N D P O U LT RY Locals’ Favorite For 57 Years The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel 15th St. & Baltimore Ave. Ocean City, Md. For Reservations: 410-289-7192/7191 captainstableoc.com Join Us For Thanksgiving 1 p.m.-8 p.m. 75% OFF SALE Shop The Area’s Largest Selection Of Designer Swimwear Including: WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT: Friday DJ Moonshine 8 p.m. Saturday Buffet Featuring Hand-Carved Turkey And Ham, Fried Oysters, Baked Salmon Breakfast Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch Saturday-Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Dinner Monday-Thursday 5 p.m. Friday-Sunday 4 p.m. The Runner Ups 9:30 p.m. Wednesday Happy Hour All Day Phil Perdue On Piano Thursday, Saturday & Sunday Large Parties Welcome Betsey Johnson & Tommy Bahama Gottex • ABS • Juicy • Kenneth Cole • Magic Suit Maryan Mehlhorn • Sunsets • Swim Systems • La Blanca Nanette Lepore • 2 Bamboo • Lauren And Many More! Happy Thanksgiving Closed NFL Sunday Food & Drink Specials CHILDREN’S MENU EARLY BIRD MENU 4-6 P.M. HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3-7 P.M. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY $2 BLOODY MARYS AND MIMOSAS OPEN 5 DAYS A WEEK • 302-537-1444 Closed Monday & Tuesday 1010 Coastal Highway (At Corner OF Essex Street) In Tax-Free Fenwick Island $25 GIFT CARD FOR $20 BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL $10 OFF $15 OFF ANY $50 CHECK ANY $75 CHECK Cannot be combined with other coupons/EB/Discount • Exp. 11-27-13 Open Wednesday-Sunday