Big Oyster has plans to add more land

State agencies are currently reviewing a proposed rezoning for a 1.195-acre parcel along Kings Highway just outside Lewes city limits.

Developer Jeff Kalt LLC is seeking rezoning of parcels at 1007 and 1005 Kings Highway from AR-1 agricultural-residential, to C-3 commercial to add them to the Big Oyster Brewery property. According to the developer's engineer, Cliff Mumford of Davis, Bowen and Friedel, the land could be used for additional parking or construction of a storage building in the future.

In October, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan for a 3,000-square-foot storage building and a 1,624-square-foot enclosed outdoor patio in back of the brewery and restaurant.

Since the Lewes brewery opened in 2017, restaurant owner Jeff Hamer has purchased two additional parcels for expansion. The company purchased land owned by First Baptist Church adjacent to the brewery and restaurant, and converted the existing buildings into offices and additional space for the brewery. An outdoor eating area and more parking were also added.

During the Dec. 15 Office of State Planning Coordination Preliminary Land Use Service meeting, Delaware Department of Transportation’s Bill Brockenbrough said transportation officials are recommending a connector road to the adjacent 52-acre Zwaanedael property, which is also under review by state agencies for a 267-unit subdivision and 43,200 square feet of commercial space.

Sussex County planner Lauren DeVore said that developer has submitted a rezoning application to the county's planning and zoning office.