The Biancaniello case presents a dilemma for OPA and ECC/ARC. View the complete video and see why. Biancaniello made one or more major mistakes in building a porch addition without ECC approval. He was wrong, plain and simple. No question. As Paul Harvey always said, however, there is “the rest of the story.”  OPA Board member Ray Unger aptly summed it up when he said, “OPA is imposing the death penalty for a traffic violation.”

This is a video every lot owner should view. However, if you look at nothing else, look at the segment linked as “Rakow Comments.” Board member Bill Rakow articulates what I believe is the thinking of a vast majority in Ocean Pines, and exhibits a leadership capability and common sense approach that is undeniable. Would that we had seven board members with such leadership ability, even if Rakow doesn’t always agree with me.

Let me make a disclaimer. Bill Rakow is a friend. That doesn’t mean we agree on every issue. To the contrary, we often disagree, very often. There will always be disagreement among reasonable people, but view the video clip and you too, I’m confident, will see the leadership ability of the man and his understanding of what really is at the heart of the Biancaniello case. It isn’t Biancaniello. It is how OPA and ECC and CPI deal with all association members.

View the entire video and see how ECC is concerned with arbitrary and invented numbers like 4.3% or 6.5%. Rakow believes the emphasis should be on people, equal treatment, and reasonable enforcement of the Declarations and associated Guidelines. Listen to ECC people say that if Biancaniello tore the roof off his porch addition it would magically become compliant with ECC’s guidelines.

Meantime, OPA is going to court to seek virtually absolute trespass rights for CPI inspectors to poke around on your property and every other private property in Ocean Pines. The Biancaniello case remains in limbo as the board took no action today.