Colonial East has plans for commercial project
Story Location:
30769
Lewes-Georgetown Highway
Lewes, DE
United States
The owners of Colonial East LP have plans to develop seven acres of vacant land in front of the Sussex West manufactured home park along Route 9 outside Lewes. They are asking county officials to rezone the AR-1, agricultural-residential, parcel to B-1, neighborhood business district.
At its Nov. 16 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning liked the idea and voted unanimously to recommend county council approval.
“It will eliminate the need for residents to travel to Route 1 for all of their needs,” said Commissioner Kim Hoey Stevenson. “B-1 zoning is the most limited district by type and size, and it will require site-plan approval from the planning and zoning commission.”
David Hutt said plans for Sussex Square call for commercial development primarily to serve residents of the community of 350 homes. He said 95 percent of residents are older than 55 years of age and 80 percent live in the park year-round.
Steve Class, a Colonial East partner, said commercial development was proposed by residents. He said development could include a cafe, professional offices, general store, low-impact fitness center and small pharmacy.
“This would not be a 75,000-square-foot strip shopping center,” Hutt said. “This parcel could accommodate multiple small buildings with a neighborhood-type feel.”
“It's a village concept so people could walk or bike to it – it's like things used to be,” Class said.
Class said residents are asking for an alternative to driving on Route 9 and Route 1 for all of their needs.
Ken Christenbury, an engineer and president of Axiom Engineering, said the concept calls for eight buildings with access from Minos Conaway Road, which shares the western border of the community.
D.J. Hughes, a traffic engineer with Davis, Bowen and Friedel, said a traffic signal is planned for the Minos Conaway-Route 9 intersection; the developer would be one of three developers to contribute to its funding. “But it's up to DelDOT to decide when the signal will be installed,” he said.
The developer would also be required to make road frontage improvements if the application is approved, he said.
County council's public hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.
