Jimtown residents could get central sewer, water

The new developer of the 374-acre Coastal Club subdivision off Beaver Dam Road will honor the conditions – including water and sewer connections to Jimtown residents – placed on the previous developer back in 2004.

“The current developer [Coastal Club LLC] does not want to amend the obligations,” said Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson at the April 8 Sussex County Council meeting in Georgetown. “We are all on the same page.”

Under the conditions, Marine Farms LLC – the original developer – was required to supply water and sewer connections, streetlights and a sidewalk to about 20 nearby Jimtown residents. Jimtown residents must now decide whether the community wants the sidewalk and streetlights. First State Community Action Agency is setting up a meeting in Jimtown to poll residents.

If approved, residents will not be charged for streetlights or construction of a sidewalk on one side of Jimtown Road.

Water and sewer lines for Coastal Club will be installed along Jimtown Road, and Jimtown residents will have an option to connect to the county system; the developer will pay all connection fees for Jimtown residents, Roberston said. County connection fees average about $5,000; those who choose to connect would pay about $350 a year in service fees.

Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, said hopefully residents will see the benefits of hooking into the county sewer system. “This will be one of the most reasonable sewer districts we have,” he said.

Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach, said the county and the developer have worked out a brilliant plan to benefit Jimtown residents. “I'm very relieved because there has been turmoil for years. I'm glad this is being handled in a democratic way,” she said.

Robertson said developers are prepared to start work. Once a decision is made by Jimtown residents, the developer will have to appear before county officials to seek amendments to the original conditions to indicate connection to the county's central sewer system, confirm that residents want streetlights and a sidewalk and clarify some of the timing requirements so that road improvements and sidewalk construction can be coordinated with sewer and water installation.

The subdivision – which includes a 42-acre wildlife habitat area around an existing bald eagle nest – will contain about 630 lots. All roadway connections from the project to Jimtown Road will be removed with access on Beaver Dam Road.