Ocean City’s mayor said he is disappointed with a local group’s message regarding new short-term rental regulations, but the group’s organizer said there has been no effort to mislead the public in their efforts to bring the legislation to referendum.
At the end of Monday’s regular meeting, Mayor Rick Meehan addressed what he believed to be a misrepresentation of an ordinance the Ocean City Council recently passed to ban short-term rentals in the R-1 residential and MH mobile home districts by 2027.
He said a group of residents starting a petition to bring the ordinance to referendum had signs implying the ban applied to all zoning districts in town.
“I am concerned that the message that’s being portrayed is very misleading,” he said. “If you read the signs, they say ‘Sign the petition. Say no to short-term rental ban.’ They nowhere indicate this only applies to R-1 and MH districts, appealing to everybody and, really, I think, scaring people to think this is relevant to all areas in Ocean City. And it just is not.”
While acknowledging that he supported the group’s right to petition, Meehan said he wanted the group to share “accurate information” regarding the newly adopted ordinance.
“We are not banning short-term rentals throughout Ocean City,” he said. “In fact, we’re not even banning them in the next few years in Ocean City in the R-1 and MH districts. This is very misleading, and I’m very disappointed in those that are leading this petition. I really hope they get out the relevant message, let people know exactly what it is they are signing.”
Control of the owners’ rights and generation of tax revenue are the only things keeping this issue going!
Should be fun in OC this summer
No seasonal cops
No safety officers
No Tram
And THUGS from New Yoke, New Josey, Baltimoe tearing shit up on the boards
I know of many homeowners selling their properties trying to get out before all hell breaks loose
Rickie says HE is disappointed? States what the majority is screaming about is falsehoods. Surprised with a man of his ilk, years of service and supposedly having the ear of the locals.
Bullship. If he would listen with both ears and read with both eyes – more regulation long term leads to eventual govt (city) dominance. There is so much regulation over the last 30 yrs it is either ignored (tram regulations) or read legally by eyes that agree with the council. When the council is sued due to error, city settles with taxpayers monies.
Less than 150 votes was the winning score by Rickie in November. More Generational change is needed and it can’t happen (Nov 2026) fast enough.
Move over Beerinhan and give the reins to someone you will listen to the people, not the select 4 or 5.