The Worcester County Planning Commission voted to recommend amendments to the county comprehensive plan that will (1) reflect Ocean Downs’ planned replacement of an elevated steel water tower with a 50,000-gallon bolted steel ground-level tank and (2) add several capital projects and planned interconnections intended to improve redundancy and effluent disposal among the county’s northern water and wastewater systems.

County representatives explained that Ocean Downs determined rehabilitating the existing elevated tank was financially and operationally unfeasible and proposed a ground-level tank with pumps to supply hydrants and fire protection. Staff noted the Ocean Downs site is designated as a Priority Funding Area and that changes should be reflected in the plan. Commissioners asked whether the tower might be preserved as a landmark; staff said the owner had found keeping the tower untenable but indicated the owner might consider architectural elements in future redevelopment.

The second amendment adds four projects to the capital list: an interconnection of Mr. Carver and Bridal Farm water systems with a Herring Creek water main interconnection; transfer of Mystic Harbor treated effluent to Riddle Lagoon; a Sunset Avenue relief sewer (a 2,685-foot, 6-inch force main to provide backup capacity); and rehabilitation of the Mystic Harbor water plant and building. Staff said these initiatives are intended to add redundancy for maintenance and peak flows and to reduce reliance on constrained disposal methods (injection wells and limited spray irrigation areas).

Staff emphasized the interconnection projects would be implemented on denied-access treated-effluent lines where specified and that the intent is not to add new users or expand service areas; any future extensions outside the currently designated sanitary areas would require separate plan amendments. Commissioners and staff discussed operational issues at the county’s Mystic and Bridal plants, including inflow-and-infiltration (I&I), equipment lead times and the need for improved solids handling; staff characterized the plants as operational but less efficient than desired and said capital work and parts procurement remain priorities.

Commission members also discussed ongoing negotiations with Ocean City about capacity sharing; staff noted statutory and agreement-based obligations that can make incremental capacity transfers possible and said negotiations were active. After discussion, a commissioner moved and the body voted to find the proposed amendments consistent with the comprehensive plan and to recommend them to the County Commission for adoption.