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Don’t rezone Lewes parcel to B-1

August 26, 2016

I am writing to request that you deny the Village Center B-1 rezoning application of JG Townsend and Company. I attended the Sussex County Council public hearing on Tuesday and left convinced that the proposed 75,000-square-foot shopping center would be far too massive for the Gills Neck corridor it is purported to serve.

Such a venture would depend on traffic from other regions in order to remain viable. And the last thing that this gateway to historic Lewes needs is more traffic. Gridlock is already a regular occurrence along this portion of Kings Highway due to traffic from the ferry and Cape Henlopen High.

Aside from traffic concerns, I don't see how county council could in good conscience approve B-1 zoning knowing that such zoning allows the placement of gas stations and dry cleaning operations, and that the proposed location is smack dab in the middle of the protected wellhead area from which the city of Lewes and surrounding communities draw their drinking water. JG Townsend says its plans don't include gas stations or dry cleaners, but they could sell the site at any time, with B-1 status leaving the wellhead area vulnerable to the whims of new owners. We can't afford to take such a risk.

A much smaller cluster of stores would seem appropriate, and I urge the council to do the right thing. Deny this zoning request and work with the developers to create something truly beneficial to the area it would serve.

Mary Jo Powell
Lewes

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