Cartwright’s home daycare gets green light; Ramirez secures privacy fence approval on corner lot.
The Pocomoke City Board of Zoning Appeals convened on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at City Hall to consider two applications: one for a conditional use permit for a home daycare and another for a variance to install a privacy fence on a corner lot.
Conditional Use Permit Approved for Home Daycare (Agenda Item 2 – Case #OCC 119-2025)
Mariah Cartwright received unanimous approval to operate a licensed family daycare from her home at 809 Eighth Street, located in an R-2 residential district. The daycare will serve local families in need of accessible child care, an issue Cartwright emphasized during testimony.
Planning Director Dan Brandewie presented the staff report, recommending approval with three conditions:
• Installation of a rear-yard fence
• Compliance with state childcare licensing
• Acquisition of a city business license
Cartwright confirmed she is actively pursuing the required state license and agreed to the conditions. The board received no opposition to the proposal. After closing the public hearing, the board voted unanimously to approve the permit with the recommended stipulations.
Fence Variance Approved for Corner Lot (Agenda Item 3 – VAR#120-2025)
The board also approved a variance request filed by Daniel Ramirez to install a six-foot privacy fence at 1514 Cedar Run, a corner lot in the Cedar Point subdivision.
Under city code, fences in front yards on corner lots are typically limited to 2.5 feet in height. However, the board found the request justified due to:
• Safety and privacy concerns raised by the applicant
• Support from adjacent property owners (four signed statements)
• Similar fencing already present across the street
• The unique shape of the lot, which restricts usable backyard space
Board members carefully reviewed the legal criteria for granting a variance and agreed that the conditions were met. A motion to approve the variance was passed unanimously.
