I thank the Cape Gazette for its analysis of new side-by-side developments proposed between Route 9 and Milton. I speak only for myself here.
When the representatives of the Cool Spring Crossing project, targeted for Route 9 and Hudson Road, presented the project to the Sussex Planning & Zoning Commission, they justified their request to change the land-use designation of the parcels with a claim that that area is no longer rural.
The Cape Gazette’s story revealed a patchwork of proposed developments spreading westward from the shore, bringing a total of 5,810 new residences, per the story’s map, to the triangle between Five Points in the east and Georgetown and Milton in the west, bounded by Route 1 and Route 9. This is an area zoned by the county as rural land not targeted for concentrated development, and classified by the state as not targeted for infrastructure spending to support new residents. Cool Spring Crossing is only the latest of a succession of attempts to extend the county's coastal growth area designation, and concentrated development, into that space.
U.S. census data shows that most of that area is not currently classified as urban, based on population density. Our own eyes tell us that Route 9 between Lewes and Georgetown is a typical rural connector between two small municipalities, with occasional islands of small businesses and residential developments along that road. The interior is thankfully still rural, with sparse housing, and many active farm fields and forested parcels.
Stating the area is no longer rural sounds like an attempt to claim that a future result some might want has already happened, and it's too late to do anything about it. In reality, if their plans succeed, that will occur. But it hasn't yet.
We often hear that things are inevitable; unplanned population growth is progress; if there's demand for vacation and retirement homes, then we have to provide supply; and landowners have a right to do what they want with their property.
What's actually true is that we need to support equitable ways for farm families to get return on their land, provide affordable housing for those who need it and sustain the region's economy, all without turning the area into the Boca Raton of the Mid-Atlantic. Claims that that outcome is inevitable are a waste of the Sussex public's time, and they need to be ignored.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
