News Briefs 08/16/19

Rehoboth parking garage group to meet Aug. 16
The Rehoboth parking garage task force has scheduled a meeting for 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 16, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for continued discussion on whether to pursue construction of a parking garage downtown. For more information call 302-227-6181.

Hearing set for communication towers Aug. 16
Rehoboth officials have set a public hearing for Friday, Aug. 16, on an ordinance related to wireless communication facilities in the city. The ordinance was introduced during a commissioner workshop July 8. Under the ordinance, no new pole can interfere with the ingress or egress of a building; be placed within 10 feet of the edge of any driveway or public rights-of-way directly opposite any driveway; or be in violation of design standards.

Under the ordinance, a small wireless facility is defined as a structure with an antenna mount that is less than 50 feet in height, no more than 10 percent taller than adjacent structures and not more than 28 cubic feet in volume. An antenna can not be more than 3 cubic feet in volume.

The ordinance calls for recurring fees of $270 per site per year. There’s an application fee of $1,000 for a new pole or $500 for an antenna on an existing pole. The ordinance calls for the approval of structures – 60 days on an existing structure, 90 days on a new one – to be done administratively through the building and licensing department. The ordinance is online at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net, under the commissioner workshop agenda for Aug. 5.

Dewey Beach board of election meets Aug. 16
The Dewey Beach board of election will meet at 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Members will discuss election procedures for the 2019 town election.

Rehoboth commissioner meeting Aug. 16
The Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners will hold its regular meeting at 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for possible votes on the utility rates working group water and wastewater rate proposals, the implementation of a lodging tax, and the creation of a new natural environment committee. The agenda also calls for a public hearing on a wireless technology ordinance, and a presentation by the Village Improvement Association to have historical markers installed at the entrance to the beach celebrating the VIA’s installation of the Surf Safety Line and at the entrance of Rehoboth Avenue celebrating the VIA’s purchase and maintenance of the traffic circle Lighthouse. For more information call 302-227-6181.

Lewes Waterfront Preserve topic Aug. 19
The Lewes Planning Commission will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 19, at the Rollins Community Center. The group may make a recommendation on preliminary consent for Lewes Waterfront Preserve, a 90-unit townhouse project proposed by Setting Properties Inc. on 34.64 acres along New Road and Canary Creek. Commissioners will also consider a recommendation on the 140-unit workforce housing project called Dutchman’s Harvest proposed on 7.93 acres along Savannah Road. For more information on both projects, go to www.lewescommissions.wordpress.com/reviews/dev_reviews. 

Lewes traffic committee meets Aug. 19
The Lewes Traffic Safety Review Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 19, at city hall. The group will discuss possible lighting at crosswalks along Cape Henlopen Drive between the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal and Cape Henlopen State Park. They will also discuss pedestrian safety on East Market Street and at the intersection of Market Street and Second Street. The will conclude the meeting with a discussion about parking restrictions on emergency access streets on Lewes Beach. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Aging and adults committee to meet Aug. 19
The Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities conference planning subcommittee will meet at 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 19, at the Sussex County administrative offices west complex, 22215 North DuPont Blvd., Georgetown.

36th District Dems meet Aug. 19
 Registered Democrats living in the 36th Representative District are encouraged to attend the Monday, Aug. 19 meeting to be held at Arena’s Restaurant in Milford at 6:30 p.m., for social time. The meeting starts promptly at 7 p.m. The program will include updates on garden party social, planning for the Riverwalk Freedom Festival and membership activities.  They encourage participants to partake of the optional Dutch treat dinner and to support Arena’s, which provides the meeting space.

Milton streets committee to meet Aug. 20
Milton Streets, Sidewalks and Parks Committee will meet at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, in Milton library, to discuss designating four streets in town as one-way streets. The committee will discuss and possibly vote to recommend town council designate Sand, Hazzard, Manship and Clifton streets as one-way streets.  The committee also plans to recommend council remove the one-way street designation and instead not allow parking on Poplar and Church streets.  In old business, the committee will discuss the downtown streetscape and sidewalks.

Milton planners to meet Aug. 20
Milton Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, in Milton library to discuss and possibly vote on two cases. Daniel Schultz and Phoebe Canakis, 106 Lake Drive, are requesting a special permitted use to allow for a home occupation of an accessory structure on the property. A portion of the structure will be used for the production of craft items for resale off the premises.

In the second case, Chestnut Properties II LLC has requested preliminary site-plan approval for Cannery Village IV, a new phase of the Cannery Village development at the corner of Cave Neck Road and Front Street. 

Milton council to hold budget hearing Aug. 20
Milton Town Council will hold a public hearing on the fiscal year 2020 budget and fee schedule at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, in Milton library. Following the hearing, council could vote on the $2.1 million budget, which must be in place before Friday, Oct. 1, when the new fiscal year begins. In addition, council will discuss final acquisition of land at 614 Federal St., which the town intends to use for future water infrastructure. 

Beebe helipad to be closed Aug. 19-23
The helipad at Beebe Healthcare’s Lewes campus will be closed Aug. 19-23 for painting. Helicopters will use the Lewes School on Savannah Road in the interim causing potential changes in noise pattern during landing and take-off. Patient care will not be disrupted during this time period.

EMS stations on Sussex council agenda Aug. 20
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a discussion on a lease with Milton CHEER Center for an emergency medical services station and a request by county staff to reject bids for construction of a new EMS/paramedic station in Seaford and to rebid the project. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

Dewey commissioner candidates forum set Aug. 31
The Dewey Beach Civic League will sponsor the commissioner candidates’ forum at 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Dewey Beach Lions Club, 115 McKinley Ave. All registered candidates have been invited to participate. At this time, registered candidates are Phil Rowe, Dale Cooke, TJ Redefer and Paul Bauer.

LED street lights proposed in Rehoboth
In an effort to improve lighting and decrease costs, Rehoboth and its power provider Delmarva Power are expected to install LED bulbs in street lights on Baltimore and Wilmington avenues. During a commissioner workshop Aug. 5, Delmarva Power Senior Public Affairs Manager Jim Smith said there are 24 street lights on those two streets that currently have high-pressure sodium bulbs, ranging in wattages from 70 to 150. He said the new LED bulbs last 10 times longer than the older-style bulbs. Smith said he anticipated the conversion to be low-cost to no-cost for the city. He said there’s roughly an 8-week ordering process, which means a fall installation.

Hopkins wedding venue gets Sussex approval
At its July 30 meeting, Sussex County Council unanimously approved a conditional-use application filed by Ingrid Hopkins for an events venue on 5 acres on the family’s Green Acres Farm at 30249 Fisher Road near Lewes. Hopkins, who has refurbished barns and an old farmhouse on the property, has created a wedding destination at the site. Hopkins told council that all of the land is in the farmland preservation program and no new structures will be added to the parcel. In addition, she said, there is space for parking off Fisher Road. Hopkins received a special-use exception in 2016 from Sussex County Board of Adjustment for Covered Bridge Inn, a bed and breakfast on the farm.

Board denies Beebe emergency facility; Bayhealth pulls its plan
The Delaware Health Resources Board Aug. 15 denied Beebe Healthcare’s plan to build an emergency department in Georgetown, while Bayhealth pulled its similar plan hours before the board was set to consider it. The board voted in favor of a review committee’s recommendation in June to deny the new emergency department, largely because emergency room costs are about 10 times costs for walk-in care. Bayhealth plans were to build the facility at Route 9 and Hudson Road; Beebe proposed building a facility on Route 404 near Route 113. Beebe official Mark Loukides said Beebe will decide whether to reapply in the future. John Van Gorp, Bayhealth senior vice president for planning and business development, said Bayhealth will move forward with plans to provide primary and specialty care as well as diagnostic imaging in an ambulatory care center at the site on Route 9. 

Dewey appoints election officials
Dewey commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 9 to appoint Ellen Danaher and Steve Eckermann as election officials. Election day in Dewey is Saturday, Sept. 21. Candidate filing and voter registration ends Thursday, Aug. 22, at Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave. Absentee voting begins Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Sussex human service grants available
Applications for Sussex County’s fiscal year 2020 human service grant program are being accepted. The program provides grants to county-wide nonprofit agencies to assist with program expenses and capital expenditures. Organizations must fill out an application on the county website at sussexcountyde.gov. The deadline for filing an application is Monday, Sept. 30.

Rehoboth announces annual street paving
During a commissioner workshop Aug. 5, Public Works Director Kevin Williams announced the upcoming street repaving schedule as part of the city’s 5-year capital improvement plan. Williams said the $450,000 bid package will include Third Street, from Lake Avenue to Columbia Avenue; Philadelphia Street, from Scarborough Avenue to King Charles Avenue; and Stockley Street, from Hickman Street to Scarborough Avenue. He said there’s a possibility of Scarborough Avenue getting major patch work if contractor bids come in low enough. He added, funds are available, Country Club Drive, Sandalwood Street and Laurel Street could have cracks filled to extend the life of those roads.