Lewes Planning Commission to host Water Workshop Feb. 21
The members of the Lewes Planning Commission will host its first Water Workshop Thursday, Feb. 21, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., at the Rollins Community Center, 111 Adams Ave. Ten speakers from state agencies, conservancies, the insurance field, engineering, and the Lewes Board of Public Works are slated as presenters.
The purpose of the workshop is to learn about how water affects the City of Lewes as viewed by several scientific and other related disciplines, including stormwater management, floodplain management, wetlands, buffers, impervious surfaces, and flood insurance. It is through understanding how each complex subject - naturally occurring water issues, issues of development, and implementation of best-management practices - interacts with the others that will enable the LPC to recommend long-term protections of the health, safety and welfare of the community.
The presentations and discussions are intended to be informative and general; the presenters will not answer questions about specific sites or parcels. The speakers will address general and theoretical problems, solutions and examples.
The event will run as follows: 4 to 5:15 p.m., registration and open workshop session; 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., introductions, formal session for questions and answers.
LPC Chair Drew McKay said that the LPC is hosting this workshop to be more proactive when dealing with complex planning issues in the community.
"The Lewes Planning Commission wants to take a comprehensive look at the land-use issues in Lewes, instead of being purely reactive to specific applications," he said. "In Lewes and elsewhere in Sussex County, we are facing difficult issues including dealing with tidal waters, groundwater, and stormwater coupled with intensive development pressure. Having input and advice from a team of experts on these subjects will be a benefit to the commission and all citizens."
LPC Vice Chair Kay Carnahan, organizer of this workshop, noted that, “This is just a first step in what will be an ongoing effort to address these issues by the LPC. It would be really beneficial to have such events on many issues that affect us all."
A snow date for the event is set for Tuesday, Feb. 26, same time and place. For information, call Lewes City Hall at 302-645-7777.
