This is in response to the rezoning application for a homeless shelter.
Since my family and I live in the Henlopen Landing community which is located only a few yards from the church site, we are very concerned about the location of the shelter.
First of all, the property would have to be developed. Does the Belltown church that currently owns the property have the resources to do that? Then there is the worrisome fact of the narrowness of Church Street. The street has no shoulders and can barely handle two large SUVs driving side by side.
Has there been a traffic study made to determine if the street is suitable for pedestrian traffic, in addition to vehicles? Already, Church Street is used as a cut- through to and from Route 9, and is extremely busy. What will happen when you have people leaving the shelter and attempting to get to work? My understanding is that some of the clients at the shelter will have cars, adding to the traffic.
Speaking of pedestrian traffic, where are they supposed to walk? In that area of Route 9, there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. Needless to say, crossing Route 9 to reach a bus stop 400 yards away during heavy traffic times would be nearly impossible. I hate to think of the consequences.
A few years ago, while in the process of purchasing our home, we were advised of DelDOT's plan to renovate the Five Points intersection with a bridge on Route 9 to span Route 1.
Wouldn't the shelter be right smack in the middle of all that construction, if the plan were to go into effect?
Henlopen Landing is not a gated community. As a matter of fact, if residents of the shelter were to walk to the new transit center on Shady Road, they would have to walk right through our community where there are no sidewalks on Salt Marsh Road and on Shady Road.
Although there is certainly a need for a homeless shelter on the eastern side of Sussex County, does it make sense to put the residents at risk by being in proximity to the busiest intersection in the beach route?
We are hopeful that the Board of Adjustment will see the wisdom of not granting the rezoning for the Belltown church. A homeless shelter would certainly be better suited to an area where the residents could be reasonably assured of a safe shelter and safe surrounding area. The current proposed site does not offer this situation.
Kathy and Fernando Jimenez
Lewes
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