Lewes council limits planning commission to residents only

Lewes Mayor and City Council has limited the planning commission to full-time residents of the city. 

For many years, the mayor had the option of appointing nonresidents to the panel pending council approval.

“I simply think [a nonresident’s] perspective is different than those who live in the city and pay taxes and want to hold their commission or their council accountable,” said Councilwoman Bonnie Osler, who serves ex-officio to the planning commission.

Even part-time residents would have a difficult time contributing to the commission, she said. 

“I had a house here, but I was elsewhere for years and years, and I can tell you that being a part-time resident is simply not the same as being here full time,” she said. “You just aren’t as involved in the community.” 

Council voted 4-1 Feb. 13 to limit the planning commission to full-time residents of the city. Councilman Rob Morgan was the lone vote against; however, Deputy Mayor Fred Beaufait was also critical of the move. 

“I have not heard a compelling argument to make the change,” he said. The purpose of the commission is to look toward the future. Whether we want to admit it or not, the people who live along Gills Neck Road, Kings Highway and New Road, they’re going to impact the future of this city, and it wouldn’t hurt to let them have a voice on a rather large commission.” 

The planning commission may have up to nine members, but no fewer than five. 

Other commissions and committees in Lewes allow nonresident members, including the historic preservation commission, parks and recreation commission and the historic byways committee. 

“The vast majority of volunteers for Lewes in Bloom don’t live in the city, but they make this city the beautiful city that it is,” Beaufait said. “They have some stake in our city.” 

Osler said the planning commission is not the same as the city’s other commissions.

“In the historic preservation context, we simply don’t have that many architects in the city and we don’t have many people who have a solid background in historic preservation,” she said. “If there is someone from outside the city who has that very, very unique skill set, I can see where council would want the option to include those people.”

Despite his concerns, Beaufait voted in favor of the change because, he said, council can always alter the commission’s requirements again in the future.