Back in early 2021, the Ocean Pines Association obtained something called a "text amendment" from Worcester County. This text amendment allowed the placement of up to eight digital, electronic signs in the Ocean Pines subdivision. The initial purpose of obtaining the text amendment was to replace the existing Ocean Parkway median strip event notification signs with electronic versions.

However, the approved text amendment came with a rather serious restriction. According to Jennifer Keener, Director of Development Review & Permitting for Worcester County, no electronic signs can be placed within the road right-of-ways, thus precluding digital replacement of nearly all the current signs.

Now, the OPA Communications Committee is proposing to replace one sign at the North Gate entrance with an electronic one. Committee liaison Steve Jacobs has a discussion item on the board agenda for this Saturday. It could evolve into a motion to approve the purchase of a 36" x 60" sign for around $21,000.

The information on the sign could be changed remotely via computer. This would be seen only by drivers entering Ocean Pines by the North Gate. The location appears to be outside the road right-of-way. This lit sign would not be visible from homes in the area.

However, this does not provide for the elimination of all the current median-placed signage and the costs and dangers associated with manually changing text messages on those signs.

The Jacobs-proposed board discussion, as requested by the Communications Committee, states: "The Committee notes that if this is an effective means of communication, placement of additional signs should be considered."

The question, of course, is where could those signs be placed to comply with Worcester County regulations? With the elimination of any possibility of digital signs within the road right-of-ways, effective options are extremely limited.

As is too often the case, the board is being asked to look into this with no specific planning suggestions from the Communications Committee. Frankly, the committee has been somewhat obsessed with the issue of electronic signs for years.

Without a complete plan for review, the Board of Directors should do nothing -- other than ask the Communications Committee for a reasonable plan to transition to electronic signs. Or perhaps even tell the committee to stop pushing the issue.

One possible plan would be to eliminate all the existing wood announcement signs in the community. Then find a way to provide an electronic sign at several strategic locations so that any vehicle entering and/or leaving Ocean Pines would see the signs, but not be visible from homes. The proposed north gate digital sign would cover that entrance. Two more signs, one at the Manklin Creek Road entrance and another at the Cathell Road entrance would provide such coverage. However, it is possible the county would need to become involved again with the latter two locations due to the commercial zoning of the park between Manklin Creek Road and Cathell Road.

The other two options are to do nothing and leave all the Ocean Parkway signs as is, or simply remove all the old sign structures and rely on that new and innovative communication system called Email.

Perhaps the Communications Committee or other association members can come up with better options.

Importantly, however, OPA needs a plan before the board votes to do anything, especially approving an expenditure of over $20,000 with a single bid and no plan in place -- as the Communications Committee apparently desires.