Committee calls for density-formula changes in Lewes annexation zones

A change to the calculation for the number of units that can be built on annexed land is among the recommendations of a Lewes committee.

The city’s annexation regulation review committee approved its final report to mayor and city council May 9;  council then set a public hearing on the recommendations for Tuesday, June 18. 

Other recommended changes include requiring that 30 percent of a development’s open space be on land that’s usable by residents.

The committee is recommending the city calculate density in a manner similar to Sussex County’s calculation, by removing tidal wetlands and streams from the area used to calculate density. Developers would be permitted to include only nontidal wetlands and uplands when determining the maximum number of units allowed. The committee also recommends a developer delineate and document tidal wetlands. The proposed changes also define tidal and nontidal wetlands. 

For open space, the committee’s recommendation that at least 30 percent of the required open space be usable by residents means that the open space could not be entirely within wetlands.

Members of the public who attended the annexation meetings aired their frustration with the committee at the May 13 council meeting. Resident Francis Murphy said the discussion and ultimate decisions were driven and dictated by Deputy Mayor Fred Beaufait and Councilman Dennis Reardon.

Beaufait disagreed.

“We received significant public input in our deliberations,” said  Beaufait, chair of the committee, which met 10 times since January.

At one of the earliest meetings, Beaufait said, the committee worked with the public to develop a list of issues and potential changes to consider. The committee addressed each issue during the process, he said.

“We had very lively input from those attending the meetings,” he said.

“We discussed everything [the public] put forward,” Beaufait said. “Just because we didn’t approve everything the public recommended to us doesn’t mean we didn’t consider it. We heard what you said and we acted. There’s a difference of opinion.”

Councilman Rob Morgan voted against setting a public hearing because he said the changes should be reviewed by the planning commission first.

Beaufait, Mayor Ted Becker and Councilwoman Bonnie Osler disagreed, saying if they think it’s necessary for more review after the public hearing, they can either task the annexation committee with refining its recommendations or send it to the planning commission.