Comprehensive plan process enters another phase

Call it Sussex County comprehensive plan Phase 2.

Now that the county's planning and zoning commission has finished a draft of the plan, it's in the hands of county council. At its Nov. 7 meeting – on the advice of County Administrator Todd Lawson – council adopted a path forward to complete a final draft.

“We encourage you to dig in,” Lawson told council members. “And engage us if you have questions.”

Lawson said over the next two weeks, council members should review the draft plan and also direct questions and suggestions to McCormick Taylor, the county's consultants.

Council will have two 9 a.m. workshops on Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Wednesday, Dec. 13. Other workshops will follow. In addition, Lawson said, discussions could be placed on regular Tuesday meeting agendas.

Lawson said council should shoot for a final draft in April 2018 to allow enough time for possible amendments following a May public hearing and comments from state officials as part of the state's preliminary land use service and cabinet committee review.

Lawson said that would allow for a May public hearing, which is the last step before the plan goes to the Governor's Office – that deadline is June 30, 2018.

Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, said the timeline seemed aggressive. “There are a number of issues left out, and the commission has interpreted some things differently. I don't want us under the gun because we need time to look at it. I have a big list,” he said.

Lawson said more workshops could be added. “You will make that decision – you can adjust,” he said.

Specific chapters of the plan will be on each workshop agenda. All workshops will be advertised at least seven days in advance and posted at sussexplan.com.

Lawson said the workshops will follow the planning and zoning workshop format with one exception. He said the public will be asked to testify on the chapter listed on council's agenda. “We can't tell people what to speak on, but we can encourage the public to speak on topics at hand,” he said.

Councilman Rob Arlett, R-Frankford, asked how council will decide on changes to the goals, objectives and strategies in the draft plan. “Will it by by consensus?” he asked.

Assistant county attorney Vince Robertson said planning and zoning commissioners built consensus and did not make any motions or take any votes. “At the end of the process, you will have a vote,” he said.

However, Lawson said, there will likely be issues council members will not reach consensus on. “Those may have to go on the sidelines to the end and the chairman can certainly call for a vote,” he said.

Lawson also had this comment for council: “What stays in the draft, council must be willing to commit to.”

Cole, Arlett and Councilman I.G. Burton, R-Lewes, expressed concern about the timeline for ordinances as part of the plan. They agreed that the public has been critical of council over the years for not acting on many ordinances.

During the last process a decade ago, consultants presented ordinances after the plan had been approved. “In the past we have not drafted ordinances at the same time; it's not been on a parallel path,” he said.

Referring to the pace of growth, Burton said time is not on council's side. He suggested the ordinances should be drafted, the sooner the better.

Cole, who participated in the process to write the 2008 plan, said former council members did not have the fire in their bellies to follow through on implementation of sections of the plan and the majority of the proposed ordinances.

“I'd like to see the ordinances quicker. We can walk and chew gum at the same time,” he said.

What’s in the plan

Housing and economic development chapters – some of the future land-use, conservation and parks, recreation and open space chapter highlights were in a story in the Nov. 10 edition.

Housing:

• Consider an ordinance on rules and regulations for campgrounds.

• Consider development of a method to track dilapidated and abandoned structures.

• Consider a process to work with landlords with limited resources to bring properties to code.

• Consider ways to support redevelopment of vacant properties in an effort to reduce homelessness and displacement.

• Consider a community development fund to provide affordable housing assistance, creation and preservation.

• Consider a low-interest loan program to provide financing for affordable housing providers and developers.

• Evaluate how group homes and shelters are approved.

• Explore incentives to developers to construct multifamily and affordable housing.

• Review zoning code in regard to new housing styles such as tiny homes and co-housing.

Economic development:

• Work to increase operations at the county airport to qualify for additional Federal Aviation Administration funding.

• Explore and pursue grants for fiber optic expansion.

• Encourage redevelopment and reuse of existing business and industrial sites and central business districts, which are already served by infrastructure.

• Undertake a comprehensive analysis of county and local regulations to identify those inhibiting economic development.

• Make economic development part of the county’s decision-making process.

• Comprehensive examination of the county’s economic development process to identify areas for streamlining and ensure the economic development office has enough resources.

• Establish a Sussex County Business Resource Center to provide a one-stop shop for existing businesses and new businesses wanting to move to the county.

• Establish a working group of healthcare employers, educational institutions and county officials to identify current and future job training needs and develop programs to meet the needs of the rapidly growing healthcare sector.

• Provide an adequate supply of shovel-ready land for commercial and industrial uses, while encouraging development that is environmentally sensitive.

• Create a network, leadership and recognition, and a funding program for entrepreneurs.

• Establish voluntary agri-business areas around existing AR-1 zones in western Sussex County allowing certain important agricultural industries to develop.

• Ensure policies are in place to guarantee a separation of valuable agricultural areas from encroachment by residential development.

• Work with landowners and Delaware Forest Service to protect valuable forest tracts.

• Establish a Coastal Tourism Committee to advise the county on tourism issues.

• Work with tourism organizations to develop a brand that appeals to visitors and investors, and plan a marketing campaign.

• Consider expansion of specialty tourism – such as eco, agri, beer/food and history – working with Visit Southern Delaware.

• Establish a Specialty Tourism Advisory Committee.