A decision on a plan to increase by 56 the number of homes at The Moorings at Lewes retirement community, and expand its community and healthcare buildings was delayed Feb. 10 by Sussex County Council.

Council wants to determine if the plan complies with subdivision rules for open space before it votes to amend the conditions of approval for the MR-RPC, medium-density residential planned community, zoning for the site.

The project would have 56% open space, much more than the county usually requires, said Mackenzie Sindelar, an attorney for applicant Springpoint at Lewes Inc.

Jamie Whitehouse, director of the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Department, asked the developer to confirm how it calculated open space. Whitehouse noted the county changed what can be classified as open space in December 2024.

Council voted to keep the meeting record open for five business days to allow additional information to be submitted.

A point of contention during a public hearing was how the owners handled the relocation of residents from eight homes for the project. The structures are being torn down to make room for other buildings that will increase the total number of residences to 273.

Several residents of the retirement community spoke in support of the project, noted how the owners accommodated relocations and praised the general operation of The Moorings at Lewes.

“They spared no expense,” said Carol Bishop of her relocation to an apartment. “We have all been very happy with the move.”

Bishop said afterward she had her choice of which residence she would move to, and the owner even relocated her bird feeder.

Another resident was critical of being required to move, and a neighbor of the property expressed concerns about how the project would affect him.

“How Springpoint addressed this project left a lot to be desired in the beginning, but they have more than made up for that,” said Carol Blanar Lader, a member of The Moorings ad hoc committee, which worked to improve communication.   

Kevin Sheeran, who lives in the neighboring Breakwater development, complained that he will lose his sunset view when three-story apartment buildings are constructed near his home. A 20-foot vegetative buffer is planned along the property line.

“I didn’t buy this in 2020 to be looking at an apartment building,” Sheeran said. “I would have stayed in Philly, or Wilmington or the South Bronx.”

He suggested moving the buildings near a parking lot off Gills Neck Road or elsewhere on the property.

Judy Hayes said she lives in the Breakwater development and her mother-in-law lives in The Moorings at Lewes and will relocate to an apartment overlooking a parking lot.

“My mother-in-law’s life will certainly not be better with this, with no buffer there,” along the parking lot, Hayes told council.

She said she generally likes The Moorings project, but believes the site plan needs to be improved.

Councilwoman Jane Gruenebaum noted The Moorings is not within walking distance of supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and other services. A resident said the community has a shuttle bus service to many such locations. There is also a cafe and dining facility on site.

Gruenebaum asked if the start of construction can be moved from the planned 7 a.m. to 8 or 8:30 to avoid disturbing the older residents. Sindelar said 7 a.m. is common in local construction, which allows work to progress more quickly, and she did not support the suggestion.

Sindelar said there is a petition with more than 70 signatures supporting the project. Gruenebaum noted the vast majority of them had addresses elsewhere. Sindelar said those were employees.

Gruenebaum asked if the plan could be changed to avoid relocating residents. Representatives of the owner said no. Sindelar said residents of only one home were still disputing the relocation. 

In response to past criticism, Sindelar – who said she recently began going by her married name, rather than her maiden name of Peet – stated the current owners did not make any misrepresentations to residents.

Paul Enterline, a lawyer representing the residents of Cottage 31, criticized The Moorings owners for prompting his clients to move.

“My clients entered into a contract and they had contractual expectations,” Enterline said of the couple, a 90-year-old man and an 85-year-old woman. 

He said approval would set a bad precedent for future similar projects, if they change after they are built and the homes are sold.

Enterline also questioned whether the public notice for the Feb. 10 public hearing was adequate, because it did not clearly identify the project. Sindelar disagreed.