GOP council candidates debate development, traffic

Managing growth and transportation are major issues for four candidates vying for nomination for the District 3 seat on Sussex County Council during the upcoming Republican primary.

Candidates Mark Schaeffer, I.G. Burton, Frank Shade and Kevin Burdette held court at the Manor House in Sussex East Aug. 23 to lay out their visions for the future of the district.

Hot topics were the controversial Overbrook Town Center and Gills Neck Village Center developments. A rezoning request for Overbrook was denied by council earlier this year, while a rezoning request for Village Center is currently under consideration. The person elected in November would not have a vote on either project.

When asked his opinion on Overbrook Town Center, Schaeffer said he believed county’s denial of the project was a bad decision and that the area has the water and sewer facilities needed to handle the development. He said the Village Center, proposed on Kings Highway at Gills Neck Road in Lewes, was out of place and the roads could not handle it.

“I don’t think we need it,” he said of Village Center.

Burton said he was against Overbrook as a planning and zoning commissioner because it did not fit in the county’s comprehensive land use plan. He said he was undecided on the Village Center project.

“We need to plan for growth across the county. We have to look at where we want growth, and we have to plan for it,” he said

Shade said growth brings jobs, but big malls are not the solution because large anchor stores have been leaving mall locations. He said county council must be aware of how its decisions impact infrastructure. He did not take a side on Village Center or Overbrook specifically.

Burdette proposed a landuse planning strategy that he called a bubble concept for large developments. He said this style of planning maps out certain areas and defines their uses, which would help give government agencies a better understanding of what type of development would come in and where it would go. Burdette said this strategy would help solve a lot of issues that have cropped up with Overbrook and Village Center.

Moderator Mike Bradley of WGMD radio asked the candidates what three elements of the upcoming 2018 update to the county’s comprehensive plan are most important to the district.

Schaeffer, former mayor of Smyrna, said the plan is a road map for development. He said the county should create transportation investment districts to go along with a land use plan. Schaeffer said that means the county should target transportation spending in areas likely to be developed.

“We are the largest economic engine in Sussex County. We generate the bulk of the revenue. I for one, am very frustrated that the revenue we generate is not spent here on our road systems,” he said.

In addition, Schaeffer said, the county needs to create additional opportunities for recreation and open space.

Burton said he would like to see the comprehensive plan address affordable housing and services for the increasing number of people moving to the district. He said people who are working here often live in other parts of the county because they cannot afford to live here.

Burton identified transportation as his second most important issue. He said everyone is frustrated with traffic, but there has been a disconnect between the county, which controls the zoning, and the state, which controls the roads. Burton said the plan can help and facilitate better cooperation between the state and the county.

Lastly, Burton said, the plan should address ways to preserve open space.

Shade, a former Democrat now Republican who later quipped that he’d “seen the light,” identified traffic, affordable housing and controlled development as the key issues.

“I think rampant growth is going to hurt us. I think it has to be a managed growth. Prior to occupancy, whether it’s commercial or residential, the infrastructure has to be in place,” he said.

Small business owner Burdette said the comprehensive plan is the coloring book for Sussex County. He identified traffic, environment - specifically water and wastewater - and keeping up fire and emergency medical services.

“We got environmental issues that are going to be coming up here. We need to be planning for those,” he said.

Burdette then rebutted a claim that Schaeffer made that he pushed through the first municipal comprehensive plan as mayor of Smyrna. He said Schaeffer’s claims were not true, leading Schaeffer to retort, “Kevin, as usual, you’re wrong.”

In further discussion on the large influx of development without adequate roads to handle it, Schaeffer said people are coming and they are going to come no matter what. He suggested having developers help pay for infrastructure improvements that go along with the development.

The candidates were asked if they would support raising property taxes. All four said no; Shade and Schaeffer supported giving additional tax breaks for seniors. Burdette said he would support a tax increase only in an emergency situation.

Finally, the candidates were asked how they would tackle the issue of heroin in the district. Schaeffer said the problem is extremely serious, but the issue is mostly in the hands of the state Legislature.

Burton said he did not know how to tackle the problem but he is willing to do whatever he or the county could to help.

Shade said the county could take some steps, such as better training for emergency medical services and lobbying for more funding from the state for treatment centers.

Burdette agreed with Shade that EMS services could be bolstered and suggested attacking places where drugs are sold. He said drug houses are typically rundown places with crumbling buildings and tall grass, things the county does have ordinances to enforce.

The District 3 Republican primary will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13. The winner will face Democratic candidate Leslie Ledogar in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 general election. The District 3 seat is currently held by Joan Deaver, who is not seeking re-election.