It is remarkable that the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission continues to recommend approval of rezoning and conditional-use applications that face a great deal of opposition largely due to public opinion that Sussex County does not have adequate existing or planned infrastructure that will support high-intensity, mixed commercial-residential projects that will place additional burdens on an already-overburdened infrastructure system.
Two recent examples of these type projects where the commission has recommended approval are: Belle Mead and Cool Spring Crossing. While different in size, scope and location, both of these proposed projects, seeking a required rezoning or a required rezoning plus conditional-use permits, present Sussex County Council with decisions that must take into account the public’s concern about quality of life being adversely impacted by overdevelopment that will more than challenge resources and our ability to travel on the area’s inadequate roads. Indeed, the three new council members were largely elected to do exactly that.
While there has been some support of these projects voiced by housing organizations that have a mission to advocate for affordable and workforce housing as well as from a prominent healthcare executive who maintains that such housing is needed to recruit doctors, nurses and other personnel, the majority of the public’s comments are in opposition to these projects.
A review of the comments in opposition to these projects will reveal intelligent and reasoned analysis of the zoning code, comprehensive plan and the facts presented in each application. To ignore these comments without much attempt to address them is insulting and not what the public should expect from its government. Workforce and affordable housing is a need that most of us can agree on. How this need is met is the challenge. In any event, no project that proposes to include some workforce or affordable housing should receive automatic approval or favorable treatment.
I can appreciate how difficult it must be for the healthcare executive to attract qualified healthcare workers, but let’s not resort to fantasy and believe the solution is to simply approve any and all projects that provide more housing. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel who have relocation options will likely not come to Sussex County once they find out they will be unable to get to where they want or need to go. Approving development that is not aligned with existing or guaranteed future infrastructure improvement is not good for anyone.
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