CUMBERLAND — Donelly Bohrer has a vision for how to develop the 40 acres of land along the C&O Canal he bought at auction last year.
The property, which includes a renovated five-bedroom home, is a perfect place for a campground catering to users of the towpath, Bohrer believes. And the house would make a fine “park center,” including a bed and breakfast and meeting place for local groups.
“It’s a beautiful site,” Bohrer said of what used to be known as The Pony Farm, which lies within the authorized boundaries of the C&O Canal National Historic Park.
“They talk about Canal Place being a ghost town,” Bohrer said. “I think this would do nothing but help Canal Place. Canal Place is right up the road.”
But Bohrer’s plans have hit a snag. Although city planners believe an outdoor campground is suitable for the site, they say zoning regulations prohibit turning the house into an inn or conference center.
The home, located at 1 Elizabeth St., could only be used as an office and/or single-family home, city staff has said. Portions of the site also fall within the 100-year flood plain.
“The conservation district is very restrictive,” city planner Dave Umling wrote in a March 29 decision, denying Bohrer’s application to use the house for “lodging” or “special events.”
Uses allowed in the conservation district include agriculture, forestry, public and private parks and recreation areas.
The National Park Service was approached about buying the house and land — assessed at around $625,000 — when it came up for auction last spring, but funds weren’t available.
Bohrer, who paid around $200,000 for the property, said he can’t move forward with the campground project unless he’s permitted to use the house for lodging and hosting events.
“I wanted to have a small store in there, too, and bathrooms for the public,” said Bohrer, who is calling the site Canal-Tunnel-River Park.
In a request for a hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals, Bohrer said he feels “threatened and discouraged in the use of the property.”
The Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to consider the matter at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com.
Local News
Related Photos
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Owner Donelly Bohrer envisions this home and land beside the C&O Canal as a bed and breakfast and meeting place. Steve Bittner/Times-News
Property owner wants ‘park center’ on his C&O Canal property
Planners say campground OK, but zoning prohibits other proposal
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