Mariner granted permit for temporary classrooms

Milton Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously granted Mariner Middle School a modification of its special use permit to reinstall up to two temporary modular classrooms.

Two modular classrooms at Mariner were removed two years ago. Lenny Richardson, supervisor of facilities for Cape Henlopen School District, told the commission June 26 that because the school is growing so fast, the modulars are again needed. The district plans to build a third middle school in Lewes that Richardson said will split the student population more evenly.

As a condition of approval, the commission allowed the district to have no more than two modular 24-by-64 units until June 2023. Richardson said the district’s plan is to have one unit but a second one may be needed. He said the new Lewes school should be ready in Fall 2023.

Town solicitor Seth Thompson said because the original modulars had been removed, the district had to go through the process again. Richardson said the new modular classrooms would go in the same area as before, behind the cafeteria.

Voters approved the new 600-student middle school at a March referendum. The district is planning a $55 million project that includes renovating the Lewes School to serve as the new Shields Elementary, building a new middle school on the old Shields site and building an addition to Cape Henlopen High School.