On October 9, 2025, Ocean City’s City Council met at the Free Public Library to handle overflow attendance and, once again, the Gillian’s Wonderland Pier hotel concept took center stage. The primary keyword is Ocean City zoning, and this update explains what changed, what didn’t, and what to watch next if you follow boardwalk-area development.

What changed at the Oct. 9 meeting

No vote advanced the hotel plan. Instead, Council President Terry Crowley Jr. announced a new Boardwalk Zoning Subcommittee to study the master plan before any changes are considered. The subcommittee includes Dave Winslow, Jody Levchuk, Sean Barnes, Michael Allegretto, Dean Adams, and Jim Kelly—names locals will recognize from ongoing civic roles.

This step followed weeks of procedural back-and-forth. A late-September attempt to vote on a rehabilitation designation was tabled. In August, a motion to send the Wonderland site to the Planning Board as a formal “redevelopment area” failed. Those sequence details matter because they control what standards apply if a hotel proposal resurfaces.

Why the subcommittee matters for boardwalk redevelopment

A subcommittee review signals City Council wants to digest zoning first, then consider project paths. That’s a reset—slowing the process to align any future action with the Boardwalk Master Plan rather than racing toward a single project decision. For property owners near 6th Street and the boardwalk corridor, this means any zoning adjustment will likely be linked to wider policy, not just one parcel.

At the meeting, Boardwalk Merchants Association President Wes Kazmarck respectfully asked Council to revote and send the matter to the Planning Board. Merchants are trying to keep all options on the table, including a Planning Board hearing on merits and impacts. That’s typical when proposals touch tourism, seasonal traffic, and year-round quality of life near Asbury Avenue and the core boardwalk blocks.

What the recent votes mean for next steps

Because the August motion failed and the late-September vote was tabled, the subcommittee’s recommendations now become the bridge to any future action. Council would receive that report, and only then could they decide to forward amendments or a site-specific referral to the Planning Board. That adds a transparent, stepwise approach to a high-interest site near Wonderland Pier.

Locals tracking development should expect process, not headlines. The path forward is likely: subcommittee study → recommendations to Council → potential Planning Board consideration → any implementing ordinances if warranted.

What Ocean City zoning review typically covers

A boardwalk-area review often looks at height, massing, setbacks, ground-floor activation, loading and service access, and how hospitality uses interface with year-round residents. If the subcommittee aligns recommendations with the master plan, expect clarity around where mixed-use or lodging fits, and how it impacts parking and crowds along Atlantic Avenue, 6th Street, and the commercial stretch down Asbury.

How this could intersect with real estate decisions

When a high-profile corridor is in play, timing can matter. For buyers and owners near the 9th Street Bridge gateway and Bay Avenue corridor, zoning stability tends to favor predictability. If the subcommittee tightens consistency with the master plan, it can reduce uncertainty for block-by-block decisions, including renovations or teardowns on nearby streets.

“As a rule, Ocean City has a balance you don’t find everywhere—it’s family-friendly, but it also works for investors,” said Mike Sutley, Team Leader at Lexy Realty Group. “That mix keeps demand steady year after year.” — Mike Sutley, Lexy Realty Group

Micro-FAQ

• Will the Planning Board hear a hotel application right away?

Not unless Council forwards something after the subcommittee’s review. The Oct. 9 meeting took no final action.

• Does a subcommittee slow everything down?

It adds a step. The intent is to align any decision with the Boardwalk Master Plan so policy leads, not just one project.

• Where can I follow updates?

Watch City Council agendas and Planning Board postings; both are public and typically updated before meetings.

Sources: City of Ocean City (meeting), Ocean City Patch