By: Mike Kennedy October 7th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, News

DNR Deep Creek Lake Manager Carolyn Mathews reports that her office is pursuing several civil cases in circuit court involving activities on certain buydowns that are in violation of the provisions of the Conservation Easement. The most difficult situations appear to be grading and filling of the buffer strip, especially after new home construction.

DNR is also adopting a new policy that any maintenance to existing and approved improvements on the buffer strip requires the prior notification and possibly the approval of the Deep Creek Lake management office. The DNR may require a new Special Permit to be applied for and be issued before maintenance may occur.

This is a departure from historic practice and many property owners routinely provide for ongoing maintenance of structures and improvements that have been permitted. Garrett County Board of Realtors Government Affairs Director Paul Durham recommended to DNR staff that they consider modifications to their permit language to better inform property owners of this new policy. This may also require changes to the lake regulations to better and more specifically articulate DNR’s maintenance permitting requirements.

DNR is enforcing this policy through the issuance of criminal citations. Violations of the lake regulations are a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1000 and the potential for imprisonment of up to one year.

By: Mike Kennedy October 3rd, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake, News

DNR Lake Manager Carolyn Mathews reports that it will soon release the proposed changes to the lake regulations dealing with how and where personal watercraft (PWCs) may be stored or moored at dock permit sites on Deep Creek Lake. DNR’s goal is to eventually remove all PWCs from being beached on the buffer strip and to set standards for how many may be kept at a dock.

Several recommendations to DNR and the Policy and Review Board were made at its October 2007 meeting of things to consider in drafting the new regulations. These included addressing restricted Type-A permits, existing common docks, setting a reasonable “grandfathering” time limit for the removal of existing permitted PWC stands.

DNR reports that the public comment period will be in early October and that the PRB will meet on October 3 to take comments and to discuss the proposal.

By: Mike Kennedy August 27th, 2008 Category: Garrett County News, News

The Garrett County Maryland Commissioners and the Planning Commission held a joint hearing on the draft comprehensive plan on August 21st at the Garrett College auditorium. The hearing was lightly attended and most of the comments centered on the planned housing project next to the Garrett County airport, the Oakland Maryland bypass and just general questions.

The public comment period is still open and written comments will be accepted through September 4th. Any person who owns real estate at Deep Creek Lake or in Garrett County is encouraged to become familiar with the plan. The draft can be reviewed on-line at:

 http://www.co.garrett.md.us/PlanningLand/PlanningZoning/Planning.aspx

By: Mike Kennedy August 18th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Events, Garrett County News, News

For those of you who own real estate or property at Deep Creek Lake or in Garrett County, Maryland - please note there is an important meeting this Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Garrett Community College Auditorium concerning the draft of the new Garrett County Comprehensive Plan. The proposed draft of the plan can be found here. This meeting is to solicit public input before the county commissioners vote to adopt the wording in the proposed plan. The current plan is over 10 years old and a new plan is needed that takes into consideration changes in social and economic developments that have occurred since the last plan was adopted.

This meeting is one of the few opportunities that property owners at Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County have to voice their opinions on issues that may affect the long term value of their property or the quality of life found here.

We must point out and call into question why these meetings - that will certainly have an effect on second home owners at Deep Creek Lake - are always held on weekdays instead of weekends? Can’t a special exception be made in these instances to make it more conducive for the Deep Creek Lake property owners since most live out of the area and might only be able to attend such a meeting on the weekend? Especially since this segment of our property owners contribute an extremely large share of the county’s tax revenues and don’t use many of its services.

By: Mike Kennedy July 30th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, News

Deep Creek Lake Manager Carolyn Mathews recently announced the DNR’s intention to address a number of easement violations through court action. Most cases involve alleged illegal dumping or fill on the buydown parcel. The cases are a civil matter and action will be through circuit court.

Ms. Mathews reported that they are experiencing an increasing number of cases involving improper construction of drains, pipes and improvements that are prohibited by the DNR’s easement. The Office of the Attorney General will represent the DNR in court.

If you own lakefront real estate at Deep Creek Lake please note this may affect you. DNR does go around and makes period checks of the buffer strip and buydown parcel in between your house and the water. Any improvements or cutting on the buffer strip or buydown parcel need to be approved first by DNR. The conservation easement placed on the buydown parcel is very prohibitive and all DNR guidelines should be followed.

By: Mike Kennedy July 3rd, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake, News

DNR Deep Creek Lake Manager Carolyn Mathews reports that their internal review of a number of regulation changes that effect how and where PWCs may be kept at dock permit sites on the lake has been delayed by about a month. The review was scheduled to be sent to Annapolis for review in July, but that time frame has been extended to August. Those that own real estate or houses at Deep Creek Lake will have an opportunity to review the proposal once it is made available for public comment.

 Ms. Mathews did say that the goal is to change the regulations to prohibit the storage of PWCs on the buffer strip and to instead allow a limited number to be moored at docks, in addition to any other permitted powerboats. Commercial sites will not receive any additional PWC mooring rights over what they are already permitted.

 The effect on property owners could be positive or negative depending on the number of PWCs they have traditionally stored on shore at their permit site. On the positive side, from what we have heard, the proposal is to possibly allow each Type A dock permit holder the right to be able to moor two PWCs at their dock. However, on the negative side it is very much unclear what will happen to those property owners who do not have a private dock and currently have 1 boat slip in a common dock. Many lake access property owners in the various subdivisions around the lake keep their power boat moored in the 1 slip they are allocated in their common dock - and then keep their PWC stored on the shoreline. DNR also intends to phase out the previously permitted PWC stands that some property owners use.

 Also, on The Deep Creek Blog, Becky Sciullo writes that DNR has stepped up their patrols on Deep Creek Lake and intends to keep doing so all summer long to crack down on dangerous boating activities.

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By: Mike Kennedy April 23rd, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County News, News

Be on the lookout for some new businesses and restaurants to pop up around the Deep Creek Lake area this upcoming summer season.

• A Ledo Pizza is going in the McHenry Plaza on the northern end of Deep Creek near the Wisp Resort. Ledo’s is one of the larger, more popular pizza chains in the Washington D.C. area. They are projecting an opening date sometime in June 2008.
• The cabins behind the proposed Aqua Mountain Resort indoor water park are now being constructed. The site for this proposed indoor water park and rental cabins will be along Rt. 219 in McHenry right beside the Garrett County Fairgrounds.
• Sorellees Pizza Pub and Ice Cream Parlor is now open for business. Sorellees is located south of Deep Creek Lake on Rt. 219 right across from Little Sandy’s Restaurant near Sand Flat Road. Very good, fresh tasting pizza. They also sell groceries and ice cream.
• A new boat cover, upholstery, and canvas repair shop is opening south of the lake as well. This new business is going to be called Deep Creek Canvas and will be located on Spring Glade Road near Oakland, Maryland. Call (301) 501-0676 if you are in the market for a new boat cover.
• Cedarworks of Deep Creek Lake is moving offices to our old sales office near the Rt. 219 Bridge. They sell complete Lindal cedar home packages.   

Unlike other real estate markets - people looking to buy or rent a vacation house at Deep Creek Lake usually take into consideration the quality and diversity of the restaurants in the area. Restaurants are important features in a resort market like ours. Any new restaurants and attractions, such as the proposed indoor water park, will certainly help continue to bring more and more visitors to the Deep Creek Maryland area.