Healthcare: Developer wants medical offices near Ocean Pines
by NANCY POWELL for Ocean City TOday
(Dec. 31, 2010) Developer Palmer Gillis proposed to build a 20,000- square-foot medical office building at a site near the Ocean Pines North Gate, although he is under no obligation to build medical offices there. He has said, however, that he is only interested in developing a medical office site. The property is zoned as a neighborhood commercial district.
The 22-acre property had been proposed for a suburban residential designation in the 2009 comprehensive rezoning, but Gillis requested a commercial designation and got it. County staff had been opposed to the designation, but the Planning Commission gave it a favorable recommendation, although the vote was not unanimous, and the county commissioners agreed.
LOOKING BACK …
¦ June 16: Gillis tells the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors he would use an existing entrance off Route 589 and create an access road to Ocean Parkway by circumnavigating the southeast corner on the existing pond. He also proposes to build a new bridge at the North Gate to make his project more viable.
He says he would enlarge the North Gate entrance from one lane to two lanes and would enlarge its exit from two to three lanes. He would further improve the ornamental features of the entrance and widen Route 589.
He wants Ocean Pines to annex the 22 acres where his medical office complex would be. The annexation Gillis is requesting would be needed for the second phase of the project, which would include another medical office complex. Gillis offers to pay for a referendum so Ocean Pines property owners could decide about the annexation.
If Ocean Pines voters agree to the annexation, the homeowners association would get association fees of approximately $75,000 per year.
¦ Aug. 12: The Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals grants a special exception so Gillis may develop four neighborhood retail and service establishments on a single lot, each up to 5,000 square feet, or one 20,000- square-foot building.
Some residents voice opposition, but do not prove adverse environmental impacts, the only condition the BZA could consider if it denied the special exception.
¦ Oct. 7: The Planning Commission votes to recommend the inclusion of developer Palmer Gillis’ property in the Ocean Pines sanitary service area for water and sewer service.
The Ocean Pines wastewater treatment plant has adequate available sewer capacity to handle the addition of flow from Palmer’s proposed medical complex.
