I am against the rezoning of the property at the corner of Gills Neck Road and Kings Highway outside the city limits of Lewes. I attended the hearing held Aug. 23, before Sussex County Council. I had to leave early but did hear the developer representatives present their arguments.
According to their presentation, several wells are already in developed areas with no known issues, so why worry? I do worry as we will be covering yet more of the well protection areas with impervious surfaces. We need to stop piecemeal development and seriously participate in a county-wide strategy.
The developer based their current request on comments received by their outreach to the residents of the impacted area. I understand that at the only recent (last year) outreach meeting, the developer started with a tone similar to ‘This is what you need.’ Actually our community never heard from them.
The developer is requesting that only 11.66 acres out of the total 66+- acre parcel be rezoned. What are their future plans for the rest of the parcel? Will we be sitting through six to eight hours of hearings every few years? Again enough of piecemeal development.
The developer emphatically states that there will be no fuel stations or dry cleaners in the yet to be submitted plans. However, if they get the rezoning, these establishments are allowed under the current comprehensive plan. If the developer receives an offer for the land they can’t refuse, their promises are empty and the impacted residents will no longer have a voice.
I appreciate the county’s challenges with the influx of new residents, but we do need to revisit our comprehensive plan. I for one am anxious to participate in that review. Until then, we need to tread lightly with rezoning.
Susan Crawford
Lewes
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