Developer further delays Vines at Sandhill clubhouse

The developer of The Vines of Sandhill along Huff Road, off Sand Hill Road, near Milton has asked for a second time an extension to construct the community’s clubhouse.

Citing supply-chain issues, developer Anthony Sposato is requesting an extension to finish construction of the clubhouse in the first quarter of 2023, possibly in February.

After a long discussion at its Oct. 27 meeting, the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission voted to defer action to a future meeting to gather more information.

The amenities – including a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and bocce court – were supposed to be completed within two years after the first building permit was issued. The subdivision was approved in 2008, but the first building permit wasn't issued until 2017. According to the approved site plan, amenities should have been built in 2019.

An extension was granted in March 2021 by the commission for construction of the clubhouse to be started within six months and be completed in 18 months, which is in November.

“People are living there and are expecting amenities,” said assistant county attorney Vince Robertson.

A separate amenities plan was approved by planning & zoning commission in February 2018. A revised plan reducing the size of the clubhouse to 6,685 square feet from 9,900 square feet was approved.

So far, 127 lots of the 400 planned in the 261-acre subdivision have been sold. Several residents living in the community have approached county officials with complaints about the delay in construction.

The commission could hold building permits until the clubhouse is completed.

Commission Chair Bob Wheatley said putting time limits on amenities completion has turned out to be problematic. He said placing a deadline based on building permits is a better option.