At the Tuesday, Dec. 1 county council public hearing, no one disputed the proposed Garden Villas apartments would be a replication of the highly touted Baywood Greens. But some residents raised questions about traffic along two roadways, routes 24 and 23 (Long Neck Road) that criss-cross near the parcel.

There was enough concern that Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach, moved to defer a decision to get more information about proposed traffic improvements related to Garden Villas.

The developer has proposed adding turning lanes, and a signal at the entrance to the proposed project is possible, said D.J. Hughes, a traffic engineer with Davis, Bowen and Friedel. He said interconnection would be provided with the Baywood Greens subdivision.

About Garden Villas

Three parcels, each with different zoning, would be combined to make way for the project, said Dennis Schrader, the attorney representing applicant Baywood LLC. Garden Villas would be on more than 20 acres, which includes three acres approved nearly 15 years ago for commercial. The Villas would contain 43,000 square feet of commercial with 354 apartment-type housing units (143 were involved in the application before council). Zoning would be reduced to two districts of C-1, the former commercial designation, and B-1 neighborhood business district.

Schrader said the project is an infilling of undeveloped land in a fast-growing area. “Long Neck has evolved into a large metropolitan area – the third largest area for growth and development in the state,” he said.

Frank Kea, land planner and owner of Frank Kea Communities, said more than 17,000 people live in the immediate vicinity with 15,000 year-round and 33,000 seasonal homes. He said from 2003 to 2006, 22 percent of all building permits in the county were issued in the Long Neck area.

“This is like the crossroads to a small town,” he said. “The project site is the hub and would function as a town center.”

Kea said the project is unique because it would offer what is missing in the area – low-cost, low-maintenance housing. Kea said Garden Villa units would be in the $175,000 price range.

Robert Tunnell III, representing Tunnell Co., said in addition there is a need for professional office space in the Long Neck area. He said the vacancy rate is less than 2 percent.

Due to a deed restriction with Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), high-volume traffic businesses are not permitted in the project – no gas stations, fast-food restaurants or convenience stores, Tunnell said.

Tunnell said a farmhouse on the property would not be demolished but would be moved to another location.

He said the two and three-bedroom apartments, smaller than units in nearby Baywood Greens, could not be sublet. The amenities, including a pool and clubhouse, would be required to be constructed prior to the issuance of the 100th building permit.

The proposed density of the project would be 7.5 units per acre.

The parcel would have to be deannexed from the county sewer district because the county doesn’t have immediate plans to serve the parcel with central sewer. Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, said by agreeing to the proposal the county would be losing valuable sewer customers.

“You don’t have the capacity,” Schrader said.

Concerns about traffic

Residents in the area who spoke during the public hearing focused on one major theme – traffic congestion in the Long Neck area.

Ed Speraw, who lives in Long Neck, said his wife has been involved in two accidents near Food Lion on Route 24; both rear-end crashes while she was stopped. He said summer traffic is so heavy that it takes from 45 minutes to more than an hour to travel three miles on Route 24.

He said he would like to see an overall plan to handle traffic on the two roads. “I’d love to see a DelDOT plan. I want this thought through,” he said.

“What are they going to do about the traffic and how are they going to handle it?” Speraw asked.

John Walsh, who lives near the area, said it was irresponsible of county government and state transportation officials to add more traffic to a congested area. He said Long Neck Road would be improved at the entrance to Garden Villas, but that extends only 500 feet.

“Then we are back to the busy two-lane road,” he said. “DelDOT has no plans to widen Route 24, much less Route 23 [Long Neck Road]. I hope DelDOT can solve the problem, but adding more traffic would be irresponsible. It doesn’t matter how well this project is planned or how beautiful it is, it’s still a disservice to the county.”

He also said stormwater runoff is a problem in the area. “During the past nor’easter most roads were flooded or partially flooded,” he said.

“You are adding more and more paving. Did anyone notice how much land is being paved over?”