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News Briefs 10/22/21

October 22, 2021
Plovers have bad year reproducing

Beach-nesting piping plovers experienced poor nest productivity on their Delaware breeding grounds during 2021.  In an announcement Oct. 21, DNREC said six pairs of piping plovers were recorded nesting at The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park with 18 more nesting pairs at Fowler Beach on Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, making for a modern-day record total of 24 breeding pairs. Despite that, only 19 fledglings – defined as hatched birds that can fly from their nest – were produced. Poor fledgling productivity is suspected to be the result of nest loss from a Memorial Day storm and higher-than-average predation at Fowler Beach, said the release.

In other beach-nesting bird species nesting season updates, two pairs of American oystercatchers nested at The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park while one pair nested at Delaware Seashore State Park. Although the nest successfully hatched at Delaware Seashore State Park, the chicks did not fledge. Two American oystercatchers were observed using the marsh islands of Delaware Seashore State Park and were seen with two chicks that appear to have successfully fledged. 

Terrapin Island appeal on Sussex agenda

Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a discussion and possible action on an appeal of the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission’s preliminary approval of the Terrapin Island subdivision. In addition, County Administrator Todd Lawson will do a presentation on workforce housing. See a complete agenda and meeting materials at sussexcountyde.gov/agendas-minutes/county-council. Meetings are in person, streamed live at sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast or by phone at 302-394-5036 using code 570176.

Belhaven going before Rehoboth BoA

The Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment has scheduled a virtual meeting for 2:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25.  There are two items on the agenda, including a variance request by the developers of the proposed Belhaven Hotel at 2 Rehoboth Ave. Attorney Hal Dukes, on behalf of property owner John Papajohn, has asked for the project to have a floor-to-area ratio of 3, which is 50 percent more than city code allows. The second hearing is for 80 Oak Ave., and a variance request has been submitted to allow a structure to be placed within the required 50-foot rear-yard setback.

People wishing to speak must preregister by emailing City Secretary Ann Womack, awomack@cityofrehoboth.com, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. A full agenda is accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

Rehoboth shade tree meeting canceled

A Rehoboth Beach Parks and Shade Tree Commission meeting set for Monday, Oct. 25, has been canceled due to lack of agenda items, according to a city notice.

Special Rehoboth meeting set Oct. 26

Rehoboth Beach commissioners will virtually conduct a special meeting at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26. The agenda calls for an executive session to receive legal advice and opinion from the city solicitor regarding pending litigation in the Hancharick case against the city. In April, plaintiff Brigitte Hancharick filed a suit against the city in U.S. District Court. The suit claims the city does not provide sufficient accessible public street parking on Rehoboth Avenue and the blocks abutting it, thereby harming the plaintiffs and other people with disabilities by denying and excluding them from a public service in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mulberry Knoll Road workshop Oct. 26

The Delaware Department of Transportation will hold a virtual workshop from 4 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, on the Mulberry Knoll Road Extension Planning and Environmental Linkages study that is underway. The study is evaluating possible transportation improvements to the north-south corridor between Route 9 and Cedar Grove Road near Lewes, that parallels Route 1 and Plantation Road. The study is being prepared to identify a recommended corridor for a potential future road project. Questions, comments or written material can be submitted by Tuesday, Nov. 30, to Project Manager Jennifer Cinelli-Miller, DelDOT Planning, PO Box 778, Dover, DE 19903, or by emailing jennifer.cinelli@delaware.gov. Those interested can also contact DelDOT community relations at 1-800-652-5600 or 302-760-2080, and email dotpr@delaware.gov. Materials are available at deldot.gov/projects/Studies/mulberry-knoll. The link for the webinar is https://deldot-gov.zoom.us/j/82597830167?pwd=a010SHVOMXBGamlqTWRnbTVhcUdiZz09, using passcode 664177.

Area projects on Oct. 27 PLUS agenda

Three area projects are planned for review during the Wednesday, Oct. 27 Delaware State Office of Planning Preliminary Land Use Service meeting.

• 10:30 a.m. – Raley property, Zoar and Lawson roads between Long Neck and Georgetown, 704 residential units on 360 acres.

• 11:30 a.m. – Village Center Cottages, Gills Neck Road adjacent to the Governors community, Lewes, rezoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to MR, medium residential, for 93 condominium units with a pool and clubhouse on 16 acres.

• 1 p.m. – The Enclave at Starwood, 12370 DuPont Blvd. (Route 113) near Ellendale, rezoning from AR-1 to AR-1- RPC, residential-planned community, for 679 residential units and 367,350 feet of commercial space.

Meetings take place in Room 113 of the Haslet Armory building, 122 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dover. Go to publicmeetings.delaware.gov for more information.

Lewes Drug Take-Back Day set Oct. 23

The Lewes Police Department will collect unused or expired medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at the old power plant at 227 Schley Ave. 

The event coincides with the Lewes Board of Public Works’ collection of household hazardous waste and electronics. 

Lewes BPW to collect hazardous waste

The Lewes Board of Public Works will collect household hazardous waste and electronics from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at the old power plant at 227 Schley Ave. All containers must be leak-proof. A full list of accepted items can be found at lewesbpw.delaware.gov.  

Bring materials in original, sealed containers. Do not mix products in one container. To prevent leakage or breakage, pack separately in absorbent material or triple bag. Bring rags to clean up any spills that may occur, and dispose of rags at the collection site.

The Lewes BPW reserves the right to decline to accept any materials.

Lewes council to discuss budget

Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 25, at city hall and via Zoom to discuss amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net

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