We have been following with interest the debate on the Clean Water Initiative proposed by Gov. Jack Markell and have read with concern the very informative and credentialed letter by Steve and Judy Britz (Cape Gazette Feb. 28).
We feel that one small way Sussex County can help reduce the pollutants and negative effects on our creeks, streams, ponds and bays is to prohibit harmful development within the environs that bound these areas.
In light of Gov. Markell's initiative why, in all good conscience, would Sussex County Council consider approval of a project the scope of the Lingo Townsend RV City rezoning within a very sensitive ecological area as outlined in the Britz letter. A project that would contribute to a problem that, according to Gov. Markell, poses an environmental and economic liability to a cash-strapped state budget and have the potential to add to the tax burden of all state residents in an admittedly stressed state economy.
County Councilman Sam Wilson, on many occasions, has stated his opposition to spending taxpayer dollars in a wasteful manner. In this we all agree. We submit that denying the Lingo/Townsend plan along Love Creek will save taxpayer dollars by not adding to the pollution issues outlined by Gov. Markell and the Britz research.
County Councilman Vance Phillips stated that he was in opposition to the Social Security office being relocated to Lewes due to the burden his constituents have by navigating Route 1 and the eastern section of the county. A lot of ink has been used to discuss Route 1 problems. How does adding a large amount of additional oversized RVs to these roads ease the concerns of Councilman Phillips' constituents, not to mention the burden to the DelDOT budget for road improvements.
One would hope that the delay in the decision by Sussex County Council is to enable county council time to evaluate Gov. Markell's initiative. We urge the Sussex County Council to vote in opposition to the Lingo/Townsend RV City project to preclude additional pollution to our streams and rivers, further economic stress on taxpayers and the burden of oversized vehicles on under-designed roads on the “Gold Coast” of Sussex County. Let there be a decision by county council that makes sense environmentally and economically for all of Sussex County.
Linda and Jim Taylor
Lewes
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