The Pocomoke City Mayor and Council took up a wide-ranging agenda Tuesday night that included a proposed temporary moratorium on data centers, plans to give the city’s Beautification Commission a larger role, approval of a Wawa annexation amendment, the purchase of strategically located property and renewed concerns over environmental issues at the Great Pocomoke Fairgrounds.
The September 8 meeting also included the first reading of proposed zoning regulations for accessory dwelling units, discussion of a new city storytelling campaign and questions about the city’s budget and street traffic patterns.
City approves $15,000 land purchase
The council approved the purchase of property identified as Tax ID 01-024884, Parcel 1464, from Hartley Hall Inc. for $15,000. Mayor Todd Nock described the property as having strategic value and said the purchase would allow the city to regain control of the property as part of its long-term planning.
Greg Frostrom, president of the board of directors of the Hartley Hall Foundation, addressed the council following the vote. He said the property was discovered during research of the deed while the organization was preparing to sell it and that the deed required the property to first be offered back to the city.
Frostrom said he believed the property was a good opportunity for the city and expressed a desire to see it eventually developed in a way that benefits the community. He also asked that the sale be expedited, saying the organization had continued paying property taxes on the undeveloped property.
Wawa annexation agreement amended
The council approved an administrative amendment to the Wawa annexation agreement concerning water and sewer access for the proposed Wawa property. City staff explained that the amendment clarifies which water and sewer piping the property will connect to and the process for making those connections.
The original language was described as ambiguous regarding water and sewer access. Officials said the amendment does not change the substance of the agreement and that all expenses associated with the connection will be paid by the property owner.
The amendment was approved without opposition.
Maryland Department of Planning report
The council approved the city’s annual report to the Maryland Department of Planning covering calendar year 2025.
Planning Director Kristen Tremblay reported that eight residential permits were issued during the year. She also noted that the entire city is incorporated within a Priority Funding Area. The report identified six ordinance changes during 2025, including changes involving murals, urban design and building codes.
The discussion also addressed Maryland’s Sustainable Growth Planning Principles, which Tremblay said had been signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore in April 2025. She said she had distributed the state’s Sustainable Growth Implementation Guide and related information.
The city’s comprehensive plan was also discussed. Tremblay said the city was beginning to revitalize the plan.
The council also discussed training requirements for members of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. Tremblay said many Board of Zoning Appeals members had completed the required Maryland Planning Commissioners training course, while some Planning Commission members had not. She explained that members have six months from the date they begin serving on the board to complete the training.
Nock emphasized that completing the training is the responsibility of the individual board members rather than the Mayor and Council.
The council subsequently approved the annual report.
Accessory dwelling unit regulations receive first reading
The council heard the first reading of Ordinance 2027-O-1, which would amend the city’s zoning code to establish regulations governing accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. The proposed changes are intended to bring the city’s zoning code into alignment with state legislation concerning accessory dwelling units.
The ordinance would add definitions for accessory dwelling units and housekeeping facilities and establish standards governing ADU density and development. It would also allow accessory dwelling units as principal permitted uses in the city’s R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts.
Tuesday’s action was a first reading. No final adoption of the ordinance occurred during the meeting.
Council introduces proposed data-center moratorium
The council also received the first reading of Resolution 2027-R-1, which would establish a temporary moratorium on data centers in Pocomoke City.
The proposed resolution cites concerns about the potential public welfare, environmental, energy and land-use impacts associated with data-center development. It also references a 2025 Maryland law requiring a statewide analysis of the environmental, energy and economic impacts of data centers. Under the proposed moratorium, the city would temporarily stop accepting, processing, reviewing or approving certain applications involving data-center uses.
The proposed pause would last until the earlier of one year after adoption of the resolution or the effective date of comprehensive city legislation addressing the placement, construction and operation of data centers. The proposed resolution specifically distinguishes a data center from a server room used by a single business, school or organization. The measure also would prevent applications involving data centers from being processed for certain Board of Appeals determinations or zoning text amendments during the moratorium.
The resolution was presented as a first reading and was not adopted during the meeting.
‘Reimagine Pocomoke’ aims to reshape city beautification efforts
The council discussed a new initiative called, “Reimagine Pocomoke“, which Mayor Nock said was inspired by a social-media post depicting Willow Street in its current condition alongside an image showing how the street could look after beautification.
Nock said the idea led him to conclude that the Mayor and Council could not undertake the entire effort on their own.
The city’s Beautification Commission, which Nock said was created around 2019 but had not previously had a clearly defined role, is now expected to become more active in identifying and recommending improvement projects.
Senior Planner Benjamin Zito explained that the five-member commission serves in an advisory capacity, developing recommendations for infrastructure improvements ranging from short-term projects to longer-term initiatives. Zito said planning staff would work with Public Works, residents, the commission and the Mayor and Council to identify projects and determine what could be funded. The goal, he said, is to have projects already identified and vetted when funding becomes available.
Nock said he and Zito will present a PowerPoint presentation on the initiative during the next Mayor and Council work session, scheduled for the fourth Monday of September. He said the goal is to have the Beautification Commission operating before the city’s budget discussions so officials can determine how much money should be allocated toward the initiative.
Nock also announced that Ben Jelley had agreed to fill an open seat on the Beautification Commission. He said Jelly would be sworn in at the next Mayor and Council meeting.
‘Home Is Here’ storytelling campaign planned
The council also discussed a proposed Pocomoke City storytelling campaign sparked by the recent bridge closure.
Nock said Maurice Waters of The Brand Digital Media had produced a video about Pocomoke that prompted him to consider a broader effort to tell the city’s story through the people who live and work here.
The campaign is expected to be called, “Home Is Here.” Nock said the project will include interviews with downtown businesses, city officials and residents, including people who moved to Pocomoke and now consider the city home.
He described the campaign as both a storytelling and economic-development effort, saying it would be used to help attract businesses and residents. Nock said the campaign would highlight what he described as the best of Pocomoke while also acknowledging the city’s shortcomings.
Horse-track user challenges $500 fine
During public comments, a user of the city’s horse track and stalls challenged a $500 fine he received for dragging the track without watering it first. The individual told the council that he had used the track after it had drizzled and believed there was not enough dust to warrant a violation. He also said he had not previously received the rules and regulations governing use of the track. He argued that he should have received a warning rather than a $500 fine.
Nock responded that the city had received complaints about dust from the track and that cameras had been installed at the property. He said the footage showed the individual dragging the track without watering it.
City staff said signs had been installed at the barn and track entrance requiring the track to be watered before use. Nock said staff reported that the sign at the track entrance had been installed on July 1. The horse-track user continued to question the fine and said he had used the facility for many years.
Nock maintained that the requirement to water the track was already in place and that the fine remained applicable.
Questions raised about 7th Street
Another member of the public asked how the city determines whether a street should be designated one-way or two-way, specifically raising concerns about 7th Street. The discussion noted that 6th Street is one-way while 7th and 8th streets are two-way.
Planning staff explained that the width of the travel way is one factor in determining whether a street can accommodate two-way traffic along with parking. Nock said he would ask Zito to examine the issue and prepare a report concerning one-way streets.
Council raises budget-monitoring concerns
During council comments, Councilman Michael Hall asked about the possibility of receiving regular reports on the city’s budget. Hall questioned whether the council should be reviewing the city’s financial position on a quarterly basis.
Nock said financial statements could be provided and that the council could request a work session if members wanted to review the budget.
Hall said he was interested in receiving that information.
Council members also encouraged residents to support upcoming community events, including an open-mic event scheduled at the Pocomoke Public Library on September 25.
Mayor raises concerns over Great Pocomoke Fair
The most extensive discussion during the mayor’s comments concerned the Great Pocomoke Fair and the city’s fairgrounds. Nock said he, City Manager Brandy Matthews and Amanda Russell recently met with members of the Great Pocomoke Fair Committee.
According to Nock, several issues were discussed, including the fair’s finances, the length of the upcoming fair and alcohol permits. Nock disputed a claim that the Great Pocomoke Fair was $60,000 in debt, saying he determined that the statement was not accurate. He said the fair did not have a lot of money but also did not owe a large amount of money.
He also said he had expressed concerns about an eight-day fair, noting that Pocomoke had historically held fairs lasting three or four days.
Nock said he had also been told that Worcester County would require the fair to obtain a full liquor license because of the number of events requiring alcohol permits. He said he subsequently contacted county officials and was told that was not the case.
Nock said the city wants to help the fair succeed but that he had concerns about communication among members of the fair committee.
Environmental concerns at fairgrounds raise questions about future activity and taxpayer costs
During his comments, Mayor Todd Nock raised concerns about an August 31 inspection by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) at the Great Pocomoke Fairgrounds. Nock told the council that MDE had returned to the property regarding a previous environmental violation and that a new Title 4 violation had also come into play.
The MDE Compliance Evaluation Report from that August 31 inspection provides additional detail on the issues Nock discussed with the council. The inspection was conducted as a follow-up for noncompliance and covered both sediment and erosion and nontidal wetlands. MDE listed the site’s compliance status as “Noncompliance.”
New earth disturbance identified
According to the report, MDE observed additional earth disturbance since its previous site visit. The disturbance consisted of a shallow excavation covering approximately 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. The inspector said the purpose of the earth disturbance was unknown at the time of the inspection, however, it appears to be the mud bog pit.
MDE also reported that sediment remained in a position “likely to pollute waters of the State,” with earth disturbances leading directly to waters of the State. The report identifies this as a violation of Title 4 of the Maryland Environmental Article and directs that earth disturbances directly upstream of waters of the State be stabilized immediately. Other disturbed areas are also to be stabilized under Maryland’s 3/7-day stabilization standard.
The report further states that an approved erosion and sediment control plan would be required if the earth disturbance reaches 5,000 square feet. MDE also advised that state law provides for penalties for Title 4 violations for each day a violation continues and that the department may seek those penalties.
Photographs included in the report show the additional earth disturbance, including exposed soil and standing water, as well as an area MDE identified as needing additional stabilization.
Previous wetlands violation remains unresolved
The August 31 inspection also addressed a separate Title 5 violation involving nontidal wetlands and the associated 25-foot buffer.
MDE reported vigorous vegetative growth within the wetland area and pond and said the inspector did not observe indications of further unauthorized impacts to the nontidal wetlands and associated 25-foot buffer during the inspection. However, MDE said it did not have an updated status regarding the effort to obtain compliance with the existing violation. The department requested a written status update and a timeline for obtaining compliance.
The report identifies the Title 5 violation as “Unauthorized impacts to Nontidal Wetlands and associated 25-foot buffer.” MDE said compliance would require either obtaining authorization for the impacts or restoring the unauthorized impacts. The report also states that no further impacts to the wetlands or buffer should occur.
Mayor calls for caution as costs become an issue
Back at the council meeting, Nock said he believed the city should forego events at the fairgrounds until the full scope of the environmental issues was known. He said the fairgrounds are city property and that the city needs to determine what is happening at the site. Nock specifically said there would be no mud bogs on September 26 and no track riding for the time being.
Nock acknowledged that City Manager Brandy Matthews wanted to allow a concert at the property to proceed, but said he personally believed activity should be suspended until the environmental situation was better understood. The discussion also turned to the financial burden these issues have placed on the city.
A member of the audience expressed concern about the amount of taxpayer money that had previously been spent addressing environmental problems at the fairgrounds, arguing that the city should not continue paying to address such problems. Nock agreed that the city could not continue absorbing those costs. He said the current matter would be placed in the hands of the Great Pocomoke Fair Committee.
The discussion also included a proposal to involve Worcester County officials in determining what needs to be done at the property. Nock suggested bringing together county officials, including county environmental personnel, along with county commissioners and city staff to determine what corrective action is necessary.
The MDE report notes that the department may seek penalties for both Title 4 and Title 5 violations for each day the respective violations continue.
No formal vote to suspend all fairgrounds activity was recorded during the meeting.
Samaritan Ministries donation discussed
The council also discussed a $10,000 payment to Samaritan Ministries during consideration of the city’s bill list.
A council member questioned why the money was being provided as a direct donation rather than through the city’s grant program.
Nock explained that the council had reached a consensus during an August 24 work session to provide the organization with a donation rather than restrict the money to the requirements associated with the city’s grant program.
He said the city’s grant program was designed around community-facing activities and required recipients to track how the money was spent, while the Samaritan Ministries donation could be used toward operating costs.
Nock said the city had allocated more than $90,000 for grants and donations and that the Samaritan Ministries payment would come from that funding.
The bill list was subsequently approved.
