Development policy must be guided by comprehensive planning
I am writing to express concern regarding what appears to be an inconsistent approach to development policy among members of Sussex County Council.
It is particularly troubling that one council member who campaigned on a platform of slowing growth and limiting development is now pursuing or advocating a moratorium for development in his district while simultaneously expressing support for large-scale commercial development in other council districts.
This approach raises serious questions about equity, fairness and consistency in countywide planning. Development pressures do not disappear simply because they are redirected elsewhere. When large commercial projects are concentrated in districts other than one’s own, the impacts of traffic congestion, strain on infrastructure, environmental concerns and quality-of-life issues are borne by residents who had no voice in that decision.
County council members are elected to represent the interests of the entire county, not solely to shield their own districts from growth while allowing or encouraging intensified development in others. A principled position on development should be applied consistently and transparently, regardless of district boundaries.
I urge county council to consider the broader implications of this uneven approach, and to ensure that development policy is guided by comprehensive planning, shared responsibility and fairness to all residents of the county. Let’s work on bringing the infrastructure to a place where we can entertain responsible growth.
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