OCEAN CITY – Discussions on a code amendment to define non-accessory employee housing highlighted a recent work session of the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission.
Last week, commission members met with Ocean City Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville to flesh out the details of a proposed code amendment allowing for non-accessory workforce housing. With several proposals from local businesses and organizations to construct employee housing, Neville said the town was seeking a way to make those projects a reality.
“We got to this point through a process where there were several proposals to provide employee housing in town that we wanted to support but our code didn’t allow because the proposals were for dormitory style structures, freestanding as a project, that were not tied to the employer who would be providing the housing …,” he explained. “Today our code allows for accessory employee housing in the building, on the lot with the employer. We felt that by creating non-accessory employee housing, it would open the door to these projects that were being proposed.”
Last year, the commission recommended a proposed code amendment that could help address the shortage of seasonal workforce housing in Ocean City. While the existing code defines employee housing as an accessory use – or living quarters with a portion of a main building or an accessory building located on the same site to be used by individuals employed on the premises – officials are looking to include employee housing as a non-accessory use.
The proposed amendment, which included other changes relating to workforce housing, was brought to the Mayor and Council before it was ultimately remanded back to the commission for revision.