I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Atlantic Fields retail project and the proposed zoning change that would allow commercial development at Mulberry Knoll Road along Route 24. This proposed change disregards the well-being of our community as it is exceptionally sort-sighted in terms of roadway infrastructure.
I purchased my home in Lewes in 2005. I was drawn to the area’s picturesque farmland, access to the ocean and respite from the congestion of northern New Jersey where I grew up. There is a Costco on the edge of my hometown, and since its arrival in the 1990s, there is never a time of day when the traffic generated by this Costco-only shopping center isn’t problematic. The roadway infrastructure was poorly suited to handle the increased volume prior to developing the area, and in 30 years has not been able to catch up.
It is widely known that despite best efforts, DelDOT struggles to keep up with the growth of our area and the expansion of highly traveled roadways. As congested as the Route 24 corridor is currently, we have yet to see the impact of many approved-but-not-yet-built residential and commercial developments along that road. Traffic studies cited for this Atlantic Fields project do not forecast the volume of the area when storefronts open, and for that reason, particular care needs to be taken when deciding what kind and size of development is appropriate and least detrimental at Mulberry Knoll Road.
Finally, as a parent and former school nurse, I have deep concerns about the proximity of this development to Love Creek and Beacon schools. Drop-off, dismissal and afterschool sports times put an influx of cars and school buses on the road and children in vehicles. If we are going to keep our children as safe as possible and not turn the area into complete gridlock, we must thoughtfully consider the impact the Atlantic Fields project will have on these line items.
While I’m not opposed to progress or to any of the proposed stores, I urge decision-makers to gauge the feasibility of this project against what our roadways can currently and responsibly handle, not an idealized version of what we hope or even plan for our roadways to look like in the future. Progress is inevitable, but with proper timing, planning and forethought, we can avoid problems.
-
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 viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
