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Mini-marina hearing keeps public comment period open

From Staff ReportsCumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission agreed to leave the public comment period open for two weeks — until Oct. 8 — following a public hearing Tuesday on William Meagher’s request to amend the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance to add a new category of use for boat rentals not offering any services associated with a marina.

During the standing-room-only public hearing, 10 people spoke in opposition of the proposed text amendment to the ordinance, according to Bob Hoffman, president of the Property Owner’s Association of Deep Creek Lake. Meagher and his attorney, John Coyle, spoke in favor of the proposed text amendment.

Susie Crawford, vice president of POA, who spoke in opposition to the amendment, noted that it would undermine the integrity of the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance and denigrate public health and safety. She also noted that it would create the potential for unintended consequences without further public review.

“The POA’s principal concern with the proposed text amendment is that, if passed, the new usage will become a permitted use in the zoning districts and on those parcels that meet the zoning criteria in the watershed ordinance, the primary impact of which will be in the Town Center Zoning District,” writes Hoffman in a Sept. 16 email to the commissioners. “The door would be wide open for multiple such uses without a case-by-case analysis of each application.”

In the email, Hoffman also urged the commissioners to keep the record open to, “allow sufficient time for meaningful input from the different agencies and organizations with an interest in the matter as well as from the newly appointed DCL (Deep Creek Lake) Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee to assist you in making your decision.”

Chairman Bob Gatto recused himself from the public hearing and abstained from the proceedings based on the fact that Gatto Electric, which he is the primary owner of, completed electrical work for Meagher.

In addition to the POA, the Aquatic Center Inc. as well as local marinas oppose the proposed text amendment to the ordinance.

In July, the Garrett County Planning Commission voted to recommend that county commissioners endorse Meagher’s request.

“We don’t need this kind of operation in Deep Creek Lake. It’s in an unsafe location, it’s too congested there, those watercrafts don’t even have reverse,” said Phil St. Moritz, owner and president of Bill’s Marine Service LLC, during the July meeting. “I’m more concerned with the integrity of the lake. No way is it safe. I think under no circumstances should this mini-marina be allowed to open again.”

Phil St. Moritz initiated the original legal action to close down Meagher’s mini-marina. During a hearing in June in Garrett County Circuit Court, Judge Jim Sherbin found that a previous zoning amendment that allowed Meagher to run the mini-marina was of no legal effect and ordered that the decision by the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals to issue Meagher a permit be reversed.

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Jay Ferguson

Who I Am My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service! Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well. I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’. Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you. Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about! Honesty. Integrity. Results.