Sussex officials seek vision for new plan

As discussion begins on updating Sussex County's comprehensive land-use plan, debate over a vision statement for the document is front and center.

Planning and Zoning Commissioner Marty Ross questioned why creating a vision statement was not the first item on the agenda. “We are going out of order,” he said. “First, you have a vision and then you write goals and objectives to achieve that vision.”

He noted the 2008 plan did not even have a vision statement.

County council members and planning and zoning commissioners gathered during a Feb. 7 workshop to hammer out that vision and goals and objectives as they work toward writing the elements that make up the plan. It appears coming to a consensus on the vision will take time.

Consultant Alexis Williams of McCormick Taylor said a vision statement is not required by the state, but she stressed creating one is an important step. She said a vision statement sets the overall tone and the direction of the plan and reflects a picture of what officials and residents want the county to look like in the future.

County Council President Mike Vincent said they would stick to the agenda and discuss the vision statement near the end of the meeting.

At the end of the workshop, officials agreed to allow staff and the consultants to use officials' and the public's comments to craft possible vision statements for critique by county council members and planning and zoning commissioners at a future workshop.

“If you ask all of us, we'll be here another four hours,” Councilman George Cole said.

The new plan must be adopted by county council by June 2018 and then approved by state planners and the governor.

The plan will include maps and statistics on existing conditions and demographics and will establish guidelines on future land use, transportation, housing, intergovernmental coordination, conservation, recreation and open space, economic development, utilities, proposed capital improvements, historic preservation and community design.

Environmental district is hot topic

The environmentally sensitive development district overlay zone has surfaced as a hot-button topic during early discussions on the update of the plan.

Most of the land around the Inland Bays in coastal Sussex has been designated a special district.

Councilman George Cole said the district was established in the 1990s, with the word “developing” added so the county would be eligible for state grants and loans to expand central sewer to the area. “The district was created to clean up the Inland Bays and make sewer connections more affordable,” Cole said.

Cole said higher standards are needed within the district to protect the environment. “Right now, anything goes,” he said.

Planning and zoning Chairman Bob Wheatley said the first step to create the district was taken but the second step – adding environmental safeguards – was never taken.

“It's a political term and an oxymoron. That's what politicians do,” Wheatley said.

County Administrator Todd Lawson said it's possible state officials do not have the same view when it comes to funding for sewer expansion in the district. “We need to make sure that it's still tied together,” he said.

Officials also discussed adding the overlay district to the Nanticoke River watershed in western Sussex County.

Recreation goal draws criticism

While officials agreed – with some modifications – with most of the proposed goals, the question of sustaining and expanding a county parks and recreations system was met with resistance.

Sussex County has no recreation programs and only one park, located west of Seaford.

Consultant Williams reiterated what she has said before that many comments have been submitted by residents asking county officials to be more proactive to create more recreation and parks opportunities.

Commissioner Marty Ross was quick to voice his opposition.

“We don't need to spend money to increase recreation. It's not the government's role to provide recreation for its citizens,” Ross said.

In addition, he said, if the county subsidizes state parks and recreation programs, state officials will eventually pull back state funding.

He said county government has higher priorities for funding – including public safety. “We don't need to take money to pay for good times and fun,” he said.

However, fellow Commissioner Bob Wheatley said the fact that residents are asking county officials to take a look at parks and recreation can't be ignored. “It's our job to address this because it's an item the public has instructed us to deal with,” he said.

Williams said she realizes there is push back to the creation of a county parks and recreation department. But, she said, there are many other options county officials could consider, including supporting state and nonprofit programs.

The Feb. 7 workshop presentation is available online at sussexplan.com.

Ross: Need to know where we are now

At the insistence of Ross, officials also agreed the public needs to have current plan information available to them before they can comment on what should be included in the future plan.

Ross said the public will ask three questions: What has changed in the plan? Why was it changed? How do changes impact residents?

He said the only way to answer those questions is to have an understanding of the 2008 plan in comparison to ideas for the new plan. “We have to see how it relates, so we know what we are basing our decisions on,” he said. “We need to know where we are and where we need to go. The public needs to have some sense of what we have in the current plan so they know what they want to change.”

He said that did not occur during the first public workshops on the plan last September. “We missed the ball in the first round,” he said, adding that at upcoming hearings there needs to be a synopsis of the 2008 elements in the plan so residents understand what is occurring now.

Officials agreed that providing an overview of current plan elements would occur at subsequent public hearings. “There needs to be a linkage between the current and future elements because people will ask what's different?” Ross said.

Cornwell said the second round of public hearings is scheduled for early spring with two more rounds following when the preliminary draft and final drafts are completed.

Six key themes

• Balance growth

• Preserve community and rural character

• Protect natural resources and open space

• Improve housing options

• Enhance economic vitality while preserving the economic base

• Provide for safe and efficient movement of people and goods

The plan's purpose

• A blueprint for future development, redevelopment and preservation

• A resource for decision makers as they plan how the county will develop

• A snapshot of existing conditions

• A vision of the county

• A realistic action plan

• Promotion of collaboration between stakeholders and residents in the planning process

How you can provide feedback and keep informed:

Go to www.sussexplan.com to subscribe for emails and meeting announcements, as well as to review materials and submit comments or questions.

Time is provided at the end of every Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting for comments related to the plan. Go to www.sussexcountyde.gov for a meeting schedule.

Next week: A look at the future land-use element, considered the foundation of the county's comprehensive plan.