The following letter about the proposed Cool Spring Crossing development was sent to Sussex County officials with a copy provided to the Cape Gazette for publication.
The existing infrastructure cannot support this. The existing natural resources cannot survive this. The majority of the existing population here does not want this (to my knowledge). The community’s need for growth can be accomplished with a much more sustainable, integrated and supported effort, and on a much smaller footprint.
State, county and local regulatory and enforcement agencies already cannot effectively oversee the current level of development in this area. Hence, the utter failure to do so while also protecting public safety and health, preventing pollution, preserving natural resources and without further damage to our existing expensive infrastructure.
Beyond these reasons, I oppose this development because current legislation does not apply enough financial responsibilities on developers and builders – those who obviously profit the most while being negatively affected the least by these projects. Rather than back on the taxpayers, school districts, consumers, residents … as it stands now.
I find it completely unacceptable, irresponsible, short-sighted and beyond foolish to consider this project at all. Let alone in this location, at this time. It would cause certain disaster as it requires resources (financial, natural, human, infrastructure, oversight) we do not have and cannot magically create just to support this.
I strongly believe 636 acres of Sussex County should not be dedicated to this project. As a former environmental scientist for the State of Delaware and then environmental engineer, I have seen and know firsthand what this project will do pre, during and post construction, the dangers it will place on public safety, which then places huge burdens and risks on first responders, law enforcement, traffic safety, residents, visitors, pedestrians. The changes it will cause to neighboring parcels and runoff, the loss of climate change resiliency and carbon sequestration, and the forever loss of our native, natural resources in perpetuity.
These are irreplaceable, and for those lacking basic foresight, also necessary resources for the survival of all living things, humans included. It is time to take care of and tighten up the existing construction and unsustainable development practices in this county, rather than approve more of the same.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to newsroom@capegazette.com. Letters must be signed and include a telephone number and address for verification. Please keep letters to 500 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content and length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days. Letters restating information and opinions already offered by the same author will not be used. Letters must focus on issues of general, local concern, not personalities or specific businesses.
