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The owners of Ruddertowne and the Rusty Rudder are changing the phasing for plans to knock down businesses and build residential units. They have also offered to sell 60,000 square feet of Ruddertowne to Dewey Beach, and are considering leasing the Baycenter to the town as a convention hall.
Dewey created an ad hoc committee, including residents and commissioners, to negotiate with Highway One with a goal of maintaining as much commercial business as possible. The town’s wish list was narrowed to several specific options at a Friday, Feb. 16 meeting of that committee. Highway One partner Jim Baeurle offered distinct concessions to the town and asked for a parking variance in return.
Highway One plans to build homes on the commercial parking lot and demolish businesses as construction progresses to make room for parking required by town code.
However, if Dewey eases the requirements, the businesses can remain and the homes can go up. If not, the retail area - including Booksandcoffee and Legends & Lore - will be first to go, followed by the Baycenter, the Lighthouse and eventually the Rusty Rudder in about five years, Baeurle said.
“This is the plan, but who’s to say new changes won’t alter the plan?” he asked. He said if the town gives Highway One incentives to keep the shops and restaurants open, such as guaranteeing outside music remain legal and waiving parking regulations, the company would consider it.
Instead of starting the building project with six residential units on the corner of Dickinson Street and Route 1 as originally planned, the company is putting its first homes where an arcade stands now.
“We’re changing the phasing to accommodate the town’s wish list,” Baeurle said. He said the change in plans keeps a large parcel of land in tact where the committee has talked about building a parking garage. Baeurle said Highway One is getting that land appraised, and the company is willing to sell the lot to the town, if officials agree they want to buy it within one year.
Planner David King asked Baeurle if Highway One LLP would consider giving the town an extension to the one-year deadline for buying the lot. He said it would take time and effort to collect money for a multi-million dollar project.
Baeurle said an extension is not likely, especially if the town hesitates to give something as simple as a parking variance to meet common goals. “If this isn’t met with warm and fuzzy we’re just kidding ourselves,” he said.
The committee has said the loss of the BayCenter would be detrimental to the town because it’s an attraction they say brings people into town with special events, including fundraisers and weddings. Highway One will consider leasing the BayCenter to Dewey as a town convention center. “That a discussion we’re willing to have,” Baeurle said. Because of liquor licenses and other restrictions, Baeurle said Highway One would have to operate the center, but the town could own it. “I would think they would want a trial-period lease to see if it would be profitable, but that’s all up for discussion,” he said.
After offering the proposals, Baeurle asked the committee to recommend a parking variance to town council. “If we’re meeting to contain and keep commercial areas open, there has to be concessions,” Baeurle said.
It’s unclear if a variance would have to be approved by the board of adjustment or not. Eisenhauer said the town should ask town attorney John Brady what the most appropriate legal process would be. “There’s no way we can do anything to prevent the development on the corner. The question is, ‘do we want the retail establishments to stay open or not?’” Eisenhauer said.
“Eight to 10 parking spaces is pretty painless to buy us time to figure out what we could possibility do. If we can’t do this little thing, we’re dead in the water,” said Commissioner Claire Walsh.
Other members said the committee should be more cautious with recommendations to town council. “We need to think about what we’re trying to accomplish, and I didn’t know we decided this is the place we wanted a town center,” said committee member Rick Dryer, also on board of adjustments. He abstained from making a decision on the parking variance, saying his position on the board of adjustments made it unethical. “Either way, I’ll see this again,” Dryer said. He later removed himself from the committee.
But after discussion, the committee unanimously agreed to recommend a variance on required parking spaces to town council or the board of adjustment.
“We are interested in moving forward. If we don’t recommend this parking variance this will be our last meeting,” Eisenhauer said.
Contact Molly Albertson at malbertson@capegazette.com
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