Overview

• In a 6-1 decision, City Council rejected sending Icona Resorts’ proposal for the former Wonderland Pier to the Planning Board for redevelopment review.
• Icona CEO Eustace Mita said the company will put the property up for sale and exit Ocean City’s hotel plans after the vote.
• Officials are steering toward a comprehensive plan for the entire boardwalk, signaling a pause on site-specific redevelopment while public feedback is gathered.
• Because Ocean City’s zoning bans new boardwalk hotels, a redevelopment designation was required to negotiate terms that could have allowed the 252-room project.
• The proposal kept the Ferris wheel and carousel and faced organized opposition, including a Rutgers/Eagleton poll showing 53% opposed and a petition with thousands of signatures, while the lone yes vote warned the site could sit idle.