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Canary Creek residents were here first

June 27, 2013

As there are two sides to every story, let me please respectfully counter the open letter to the editor from the Henlopen Soccer Club board, et. al. with the concerns of residents of the adjacent community, Canary Creek.

Benefits to the club members notwithstanding, the proposed location of seven to nine soccer fields in the open space adjacent to a previously established residential community is fundamentally inappropriate.

Such a location presents numerous problems including traffic, parking, waste disposal, and most significantly nuisance noise.  It will not “…enhance the city of Lewes, but instead will decrease the quality of life for Canary Creek residents who selected their properties with the serenity of the area in mind.  Rather than “…bring the city an asset,” it will bring the residents annoying sound levels and disruption of the neighborhood tranquility.

If the soccer field were there first, it would be another story.  But the community was there first, and residents are expecting to enjoy the peaceful surroundings that existed at the time of their purchase.  The neighboring space was/is designated “open space.”

Using the state of Delaware’s definition of open space, this means “…any open lands characterized by (1) great natural scenic beauty, or (2) whose existing openness, natural condition, or present state of use, if retained, would maintain important recreational areas and wildlife habitat, and enhance the present or potential value of abutting or surrounding urban development, or would maintain or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources.”

A soccer complex is neither the present state of use, nor would it enhance the value of abutting development.  It would do precisely the opposite, and is, therefore, inappropriate for the area.

There are reportedly 600 members of the Henlopen Soccer Club and 100 residences at Canary Creek.  These residents of the city of Lewes deserve the city’s protection from disruption of their quality of life far more than a visiting soccer club that has many more sites to explore that are less controversial.

I implore the Lewes Council to let these residents enjoy their homes without each Saturday morning’s crowd cheers, whistles, traffic congestion, portable toilet distribution and cleanout, and other intrusion into their quiet, established community, not to mention the pick-up games, etc. on other days of the week.

There are plenty of spacious open areas for the Henlopen Soccer Club to enjoy that are more conveniently located throughout the county than in the quiet city of Lewes.

Steve Sumption
Lewes

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