Belle Mead traffic impact study doesn’t include massive commercial project
The following letter was sent to Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Shanté Hastings with a copy provided to the Cape Gazette for publication.
As you know, Route 24 has been designated an arterial roadway that is intended to move large volumes of traffic safely, efficiently and at high speed. My public comment takes issue with the impact Belle Mead, a proposed high-intensity mixed commercial-residential project with a sole entry and exit onto Route 24, will have if approved.
I also challenge the adequacy of the June 6, 2024, DelDOT-approved traffic impact study for the proposed rezoning. Essentially, I argue the study is deficient because it failed to consider the proposed Atlantic Fields commercial development located in close proximity to the Belle Mead site, which is expected to generate over 13,000 vehicle trips a day on Route 24.
The developer for Atlantic Fields completed the PLUS review process May 2, 2024, during which the 13,000-plus projection was made without any state objection. The developer also submitted a preliminary TIS to DelDOT in August 2024. Thus, there can be no plausible deniability of the pending Atlantic Field development and the extraordinary impact it will have on the function of Route 24 alone and in combination with Belle Mead.
In my opinion, the failure to consider the significant impact of Atlantic Fields in the Belle Mead TIS renders this TIS fatally flawed. As a result, Sussex County Council cannot possibly make an informed decision in the Belle Mead matter, causing it to either deny the application or return it to the planning & zoning commission for completion of another TIS, taking Atlantic Fields into account, and another public hearing.
I urge you to take appropriate corrective action in this matter prior to the public hearing before county council, scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, to include reevaluating DelDOT’s position regarding the Belle Mead project and the adverse impact it would have on Route 24, in combination with Atlantic Fields, if rezoning is approved.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
