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A plan to place a sports complex with indoor tennis courts north of Lewes received an endorsement from the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission.
At its Thursday, April 24 meeting commissioners unanimously recommended approval for conditional use of a 1.8-acre parcel on Old Mill Road, 300 feet north of Route 1.
Edward and Janet O’Brien of Lewes have plans to build a 22,800-square-foot sports facility complete with two indoor tennis courts, an indoor multi-purpose court, locker rooms and one outdoor multi-purpose court.
“This will be a wholesome, family-owned, family-run operation that will improve the area,” Edward O’Brien said during the second round of public hearings on Tuesday, April 29, before county council.
He heard some of the same complaints expressed during the planning and zoning public hearing. Most complaints dealt with traffic in an area some residents said is already congested.
The council deferred action on the request.
Howard Millman, who has lived in the area for 76 years, said he moved off Route 1 for some peace and quiet. “The man has a good idea, but it’s in the wrong place. Why doesn’t he come out on Route 1 where commercial property should be.”
He said residents who exit from Old Mill Road are “taking their lives in their hands” most days. “Old Mill Road should have never been placed there in the first place or the bridge should have not been there,” he said.
He said backups of more than 10 cars on Old Mill Road are not uncommon during heavy traffic periods. “And someone is going to take a risk,” he said.
“Think real hard about what you are doing,” Millman said to the council.
O’Brien said a transportation survey of the area by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) did not raise objections. “We will have very few cars coming and going at any one time – there won’t be a mass exit. I don’t see a problem and neither did DelDOT,” he said.
Mike Carta, another resident, said he looked at the project as more like a playground. “Kids will come to use it,” he said.
“And with kids you will have a bunch of noise – you can’t control it,” Millman said.
O’Brien stated that his target age group is 50-plus, but that all ages will be welcome to use the facility. Lessons and practice sessions will be offered in tennis, basketball, baseball and football – or other sports depending on the season and demand.
O’Brien said memberships and hourly rates will be available.
“We will not tolerate the use as a youth center or a hangout,” O’Brien said.
Resident Ellen Carta said a letter circulated by a homeowner’s association contained different information than what was being discussed at the public hearing, including more extensive use of outdoor courts and fields.
She wanted to know if the information was accurate and asked the question several times.
“That information is not in our file,” said Shane Abbott, assistant director of county planning and zoning.
No one would ascertain where the information contained in the letter came from, but it did not match the information in county files submitted by the O’Briens.
Susan Brinhammer, who owns a 3-acre parcel next to the proposed complex, said she plans to build a home there next year.
“It’s a residential area and traffic is bad and it will continue to be bad,” she said. “I’m all for a sports facility for kids, but I don’t want it in my backyard.”
Contact Ron MacArthur at ronm@capegazette.com
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