The recent hearing at the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission was both informative and orderly. Briefly, here are the facts as I see them.
The 65-acre J.G. Townsend farm along Kings Highway in Lewes can and will be developed. That decision was made long ago and was not before us.
The property is zoned AR-l. One hundred-thirty houses can be constructed on the site. J.G. Townsend has asked for a zoning change to B-1 on 11 acres of that land for a village shopping center. This 75,000-square-foot center is an 85 percent reduction from an earlier proposed 520,000-square-foot center, which I voted against.
J.G. Townsend must, if zoning is changed, comply with all state and county regulations regarding entrances off Kings Highway. Lewes wells and water sources are protected by county and state ordinances.
A new center would allow the hundreds of people living in the growing Gills Neck area to get the things they need within the neighborhood.
This reduces the need to travel the crowded internal roads of Lewes and Route 1.
The proposed rezoning has been recommended by the county planner.
Given these facts, I have voted to recommend approval of the zoning request.
IG Burton
candidate
Sussex County 3rd District
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