Elaine BlaisdellCumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — A decision has not yet been reached regarding William Meagher’s mini-marina on Deep Creek Lake.
On Oct. 15, the Garrett County Commission re-viewed 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 and decided to take the matter under advisement, according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.
On Oct. 21, the commission met with John Nelson, director of the county Department of Planning and Land Development, Gorman Getty, county attorney, and Michael Koch, director of the county Department of Economic Development, and weren’t able to reach a consensus.
A public hearing on Meagher’s request was held in September and the public comment period was held open until Oct. 8. During the standing-room-only public hearing, 10 people spoke in opposition of the proposed text amendment to the ordinance. Meagher and his attorney, John Coyle, spoke in favor of the amendment.
In July, the Garrett County Planning Commission voted to recommend that county commissioners endorse Meagher’s request.
A date for additional discussion on Meagher’s re-quest hasn’t been proposed and when the commission is ready to make a decision on the request it will be placed on the public meeting agenda, according to Pagenhardt.
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.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
