Burton, Becker discuss roads, growth

Information was flowing so fast, it was hard to keep track of it.

At the Sept. 13 Greater Lewes Civic Coalition meeting, Lewes Mayor Ted Becker and District 3 Sussex County Councilman Irwin “I.G.” Burton of Lewes discussed growth in Sussex County and its impact on traffic and quality of life before an audience that filled the Margaret H. Rollins Community Room in Lewes. They also provided updates on a variety of projects.

Burton: Area under siege

Burton said District 3 is under siege from all fronts including development, infrastructure, farming and schools. “Our quality of life is under attack. We've grown in population so rapidly in a short period of time, and our infrastructure and services need to keep up with it,” he said. “We need a review of everything so we can keep the golden goose in the nest,” he said.

Burton said the 2018 comprehensive land use plan has been adopted, and now it's up to county council to act on it.

Burton talked about items on his bucket list. He said permitted uses and zoning in the new Coastal Zone need to be specifically outlined in code. “We have to write how things can occur in the Coastal Zone. We have to do it right now; time is not on our side,” he said.

Burton said land east of Route 1 and north of the Nassau bridge should be low density as the area's most valuable and environmentally sensitive parcels.

“The area is under attack because people want to develop it,” he said. “We can't make the same mistakes north of the Nassau Bridge we made south of the bridge,” Burton said.

Improved work with DelDOT

Burton said changes are needed dealing with state transportation officials. “Working with DelDOT has to be different. This is a high priority. We need to change how things work right now,” he said.

He said he would like to explore a new funding mechanism collected and controlled by county officials to assist DelDOT with road projects in Sussex County. “We should partner with DelDOT on work. We need to work differently to produce different results,” he said.

After four years of discussion, Burton said he recently reviewed a copy of a proposed Sussex transportation improvement district west of Route 1. “I got to see the future of the roads and a level of detail I've never seen before including costs and what we need to do. Now we have to write an ordinance. There's a lot to work to do,” he said.

Sussex building projects

The councilman said county officials have $22 million in building projects upcoming over the next few years. He said county officials plan to purchase the existing building adjacent to the county administration building that houses JP Court 14 and a law library. The state offices will be relocated to a new Family Court to be constructed in Georgetown.

Burton said the existing state building will be torn down and a new county building will be built to house the GIS department, some engineering staff, the Sheriff’s Office, county librarian's office and a training center into one building. All are currently located in the county west complex off Route 113.

EMS administration in the west complex will be relocated to a new emergency services building to be constructed at the site of the current 911 dispatch and emergency complex at Delaware Coastal Airport.

Moratorium would occur

Burton was queried about an adequate public facilities ordinance by several attendees. He said the ordinance most people want would create a building moratorium because developers could not afford to build the required infrastructure. Burton said he has read Kent County's ordinance, which, he said, applies to developing districts in the county.

“Kent County's ordinance would not work here. I'm not saying I'm against it, but I'm trying to find other options,” he said.

He said new taxes, impact fees or other funding sources could have the same impact as an adequate public facilities ordinance. An ordinance was proposed by former Councilwoman Joan Deaver in 2015 and 2016, but it never was introduced.

Looking for three votes

Burton said he wanted people to focus on the number three. “You can change anything with three of the five votes on county council. It’s also true that when you are working on something, and there is not support from three, it's a waste of time,” he said.

Burton said the proposed right-to-work ordinance proposed by former councilman Rob Arlett was a perfect example. “Council did not support the way it was introduced. It took up untold legal expense and time and tangled us up,” he said.

Burton said his proposal to increase the current 20-foot subdivision buffer to 40 feet is another example. He said when the planning and zoning commission recommended denial, council did not support it. “It was a big legal expense and time with no tangible result. It's been a swing and a miss so far,” he said.

Burton said there is a dichotomy at play between councilmen representing eastern and western Sussex County. He said he's asked by western councilmen why their constituents should be forced to pay for problems in eastern Sussex.

“I get it. It becomes a job of salesmanship when you have to get two more votes,” he said.

Ongoing issues

Becker said a survey in the fall will identify encroachments – plantings, fences, rocks, etc. – blocking parking and emergency access on beach-area streets between Cedar Street and Bay Avenue. “We need to identify where they are so things can be moved or trimmed,” he said.

City officials also want Lewes Beach residents to remove boats, kayaks and other items from the duneline. “The dunes are our best line of protection. It's amazing how much is stored there,” he said.

Becker said Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control staff will begin installing a new dune fence along the entire length of Lewes Beach in February or March 2020.

The mayor said after an 8-year hiatus, city and DNREC officials will implement a phragmites management plan for areas along the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal using controlled burning and spraying.

Work to elevate the flood-prone bridge over Canary Creek on New Road is still three to four years away, Becker said. “But, at least it's on the radar screen,” he said.

Lewes officials are working with a consultant to update the city's emergency plan in case of a weather-created evacuation. “We are really good at the front end with a plan to get people out, but we need more work on how to get people back in,” Becker said.

He said Lewes is the first city in the state to appoint a sea-level rise, climate change mitigation team. Lewes is one of six-coastal towns working together on climate-change issues and beach replenishment issues. “Speaking with a unified voice, we are gaining traction at the county, state and federal levels,” he said.

Updates on trails

Starting at the end of September, work is expected to begin on long-awaited construction of 5-foot bicycle/pedestrian lanes on both sides of Savannah Road from the canal bridge to American Legion Drive, providing access to and from the Cape Henlopen State Park trail.

Becker said trail use in Lewes will continue to increase. He said it's good news the Delaware Open Space Council has purchased the old rail spur land at SPI Pharma so the state park trail can be moved off Cape Henlopen Drive to reconnect to the new trail leading into the park.

Parking remains a priority

As he's repeated many times, the mayor said parking remains a top priority for city officials.

He said Beebe Healthcare officials have made the rear parking lot near Blockhouse Pond with 175 spaces available on weekends for public parking.

Becker said transportation from the parking area to downtown may be considered. In addition, he said, city officials also continue to work with M&T Bank officials to possibly lease parking spaces for downtown parking.

Becker said residents continue to invest in their properties. So far this year, more than 400 building permits have been issued for renovations and 22 permits for new construction, equalling the total number of permits issued in all of 2018 for new construction.