News Briefs 10/29/19
Milton planners to meet Nov. 5
Milton Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Milton library to review the marine resources district zoning code noted in the town’s comprehensive development plan.
Rehoboth law oversight committee to meet Oct. 30
The Rehoboth Beach Law Oversight Committee has scheduled a meeting for 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for an overall review of proposed changes to the city’s tree code and an update on zoning code violations. For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.
Rehoboth parking committee to meet Oct. 30
The Rehoboth Beach Parking Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for a discussion on parking-related matters and a review of the 2018 recommendations. For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.
Rehoboth audit committee to meet Oct. 30
The Rehoboth Beach Audit Committee has scheduled a meeting for 3 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for a presentation of the city’s audit ending March 31, 2019.
For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.
Lewes planners to meet Oct. 30
The Lewes Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Rollins Community Center. The group will consider preliminary consent for the proposed White’s Pond Meadows major subdivision located along Freeman Highway near the intersection with Monroe Avenue. Showfield LLC is seeking approval to develop 86 single-family homes on nearly 37 acres. If preliminary consent is granted, the developer must come back to the city for final approval. Commissioners will also consider a related minor subdivision connected to the proposed project. Following the White’s Pond Meadows matter, commissioners will continue discussion on changes to the commission’s bylaws. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.
Lewes Mitigation Planning Team to meet Nov. 1
The Lewes Mitigation Planning Team will meet at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 1, at city hall. The group will discuss a reentry and access mitigation plan, a public service announcement for Smart911 and Code Red, and phragmites control. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.
Hearing set on Rehoboth technology Nov. 15
During a meeting Oct. 18, Rehoboth Beach commissioners set a public hearing on an amendment to the wireless technology ordinance for Friday, Nov. 15. According to a draft ordinance found on the city’s legislative website, the amendment changes wording in the ordinance from special exception to conditional use.
During a commissioner workshop Oct. 7, City Solicitor Glenn Mandalas explained the special-exception language triggers a board of adjustment hearing, while the conditional-use language triggers a hearing before the board of commissioners, which was the intent of the original ordinance. Mandalas also said the proposed change would mean a presumption of acceptance by the city for the wireless technology applications, but it would allow the city to impose conditions.
For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the draft amendment can be found at town hall or www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.
Rehoboth approves contract with Verizon
During a meeting Oct. 18, Rehoboth Beach commissioners voted in favor of allowing Verizon to permanently install cellphone antennas to the downtown water tower. For the past three years, Verizon has been using temporary antennas to help meet demand – first in 2017, with a cell on wheels, then for the past two years with antennas on the water tower itself.
According to the contract, Verizon would pay the city $30,000 a year for the ability to use the water tower. The rental price increases 2 percent every year. In return, Verizon receives 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week access.
Rehoboth approves DelDOT grant
During a meeting Oct. 18, Rehoboth Beach commissioners unanimously agreed to accept a $300,000 grant from the Delaware Department of Transportation to be put toward the Grove Park Canal Access Project. The DelDOT money comes from its Transportation Alternative Program.
DNREC, Lewes to erect fencing at Lewes Beach
DNREC’s Shoreline & Waterway Management Section and the City of Lewes will begin erecting fencing along the bay side of the primary dune at Lewes Beach during the first week of November. The fencing is designed to help protect the dune’s fragile habitat, and act as a deterrent to area residents leaving personal effects and items on the dune that can damage it. The dune-fencing project is expected to take two weeks for completion, depending on weather conditions.
In August, the Shoreline & Waterway Management Section within DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship distributed flyers by mail to area residents asking them to remove any items, such as bikes, boats, kayaks and other water sports equipment from the dune before the fencing project began. Any such personal property remaining on the dune at the start of the project will be removed by DNREC staff.
Earlier this summer, DNREC also placed signage at Lewes Beach reminding beachgoers to stay out of the dune. Lewes Beach residents and visitors were advised to use only existing pathways through the dune when crossing it. The Shoreline & Waterway Management Section notes that for a dune to best provide protection for coastal communities, a continuous dune line must be maintained. Structures and recreational equipment illegally placed in the dune area, along with heavy use of dunes by pedestrians for access to the beach, can destroy vegetation and lower the elevation of the dune, thereby reducing the dune’s protection capabilities.
Illegally stored items also smother and kill the beach grass that supports and helps sustain the dune.
Without beach grass, windblown sand is not trapped in the dune, creating weak spots that can be breached by flood waters during coastal storms. For more information on dune protection, contact DNREC’s Shoreline & Waterway Management Section at 302-739-9921 or the City of Lewes at 302-645-7777.
