Belle Mead and Atlantic Fields will negatively impact eastern Route 24 residents. DelDOT says this segment is now 15,700 vehicles per day. Adding Belle Mead increases it 22,500. With Atlantic Fields, it becomes 49,300 vehicles. That’s a 314% increase.
Route 24 Alliance Inc. was formed to organize eastern Sussex County residents campaigning for infrastructure and improvements to maintain quality of life.
Residents can demand Sussex not approve these applications. Email Sussex County Council with your concerns! Belle Mead by Nov. 17; Atlantic Fields by Dec. 5.
Primary sources of Sussex revenue are property and realty transfer taxes. For 40 years, most of the infrastructure expenditures were applied to the two north-south business corridors, while nearly all the transfer tax came from east-west developments.
Belle Mead and Atlantic Fields will adversely affect Sussex residents and do not meet zoning code.
For the Belle Mead change of zone:
- County Code 115-83.25 f.(4)(b) Minimum District Requirements. “Interconnectivity with adjacent parcels shall be required.” Fails.
- County Code Section 115-83.25 B Minimum District Requirements. “The land shall be served by adequate existing or planned infrastructure.” Fails.
- Roads: Dualization of Love Creek Bridge and this Route 24 segment is in Fiscal Year 2029 through Fiscal Year 2032 DelDOT projects. There is no construction start date. Belle Mead will result in excessive wait times (more than nine minutes at one intersection) to turn onto Route 24.
- Schools: Cape Henlopen School District has requested that no new developments be approved until a school impact fee is implemented and collected, and filed a letter of concern for the safety of school operations.
- Fire/EMS: The closest fire/EMS station is Lewes/Rehoboth Station 3. In March of 2025, Lewes Fire Department notified the county that without additional funding, it might have to dissolve its EMS service.
For the Atlantic Fields change of zone:
- County Code Section 115-83.25 B Minimum District Requirements. “The land shall be served by adequate existing or planned infrastructure.” Fails.
- Magnifies potential risk to students at the elementary and middle schools.
- Majority of surrounding property is agriculture, residential, with two schools and limited small businesses.
Zoning for high-density commercial is inconsistent.
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