Leeward Chase gets nod from Sussex council
With 4-1 votes at its June 27 meeting, Sussex County Council approved a conditional-use application for multifamily housing and an amendment to change the county's future land-use map from commercial to coastal area for a rental housing project just outside Georgetown town limits.
Leeward Chase, with 106 multifamily units, will be located on 51 acres on the south side of Route 9 near the Sand Hill Road-Airport Road intersection east of Georgetown between Sussex Academy and Sports at the Beach.
Developer Leeward Chase DE LLC plans to offer the units as affordable rentals. The developer would own the land and be responsible for all maintenance, repairs and management.
Three-bedroom units would rent for $1,700 to $1,800 per month and two-bedroom units for $1,375 to $1,400 per month.
The developer is requesting to purchase five additional units through the county's bonus density program at $15,000 per unit.
The property is located amid a mix of residential and commercial development along Route 9. A rail line and a future expansion of the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail borders the southern section of the parcel.
Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission voted in favor of the applications during its Feb. 23 meeting.
Leeward Chase plans
Central sewer will be provided by Sussex County, with water from Tidewater Utilities.
Wooded sections, with 17.5 acres of nontidal wetlands, would remain undisturbed except for a road and trail crossing in the center of the parcel in compliance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations. A minimum 30-foot buffer will be adjacent to all wetland areas.
Because Route 9 has already been improved, the developer will not be required to make road improvements along the roadway, but will be required to contribute funding to a Delaware Department of Transportation area-wide study fee. A 10-foot shared-use path will be constructed along the community's Route 9 frontage.
Sidewalks will be provided on both sides of all streets and will connect to the shared-use path in two locations.
Amenities include a pool, bathhouse with meeting room and storage, and an interior trail connecting to the recreation area and the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail, if permitted by DelDOT.
There will be a 75-foot vegetated buffer along Route 9 and a 20-foot landscaped buffer along the boundary of the property, which will contain 36 acres (70%) of open space.
Against applications
Councilman John Rieley, who cast the lone vote against the applications, said a lot of thought went into designating the parcel as a commercial zone during the comprehensive plan process. “Route 9 is becoming more of a commercial area and trending away from residential use,” he said. “It's important to maintain these types of areas for future commercial to support growth.”
Councilman Mark Schaeffer said there is a great need for rental housing units in the area.
