News Briefs 12/13/19

Lewes defers Fishers Cove decision
Lewes Mayor and City Council deferred action on the proposed Fishers Cove major subdivision off Rodney Avenue. The controversial 18-home development received a negative recommendation from the planning commission in November. Council is waiting for the commission’s report and minutes before discussing the issue. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Dewey commissioners to meet Dec. 14
Dewey Beach commissioners will meet at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Members will possibly vote to authorize the town manager to participate in mediation proceedings of pending litigation, and on recommendations from the investment committee.

Possible votes will be taken to approve commercial and residential rental license applications and the residential rental license safety application. Commissioners may vote to refer a number of items to the planning and zoning commission, and to amend the whistleblower policy regarding comments from the annual audit. The full agenda can be found at www.townofdeweybeach.com.

Rehoboth Beach committee to meet Dec. 16
The Rehoboth Beach and Boardwalk Committee has scheduled a meeting for 9 a.m., Monday, Dec. 16, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for discussions on Lake Gerar Park, recycling on the Boardwalk and Rehoboth Beach Patrol statistics for 2019. 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 shade tree commission to meet Dec. 16
The Rehoboth Beach Parks and Shade Tree Commission has scheduled a meeting for 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for two hearings. The first is a request by the property owners of 12 Canal St. related to an appeal for a fee in lieu of mitigation instead of planting six trees.

The second has been requested by the property owners of 6 St. Michael’s Place and is related to the removal of 14 trees in the city’s right of way between St. Michael’s Place and the fence abutting Henlopen Acres. 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 Board of Adjustment to meet Dec. 16
The Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment has scheduled a meeting for 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda lists two cases. The first case, for 38 Oak Ave., is a request for variances to allow an existing guest house to not be counted as a dwelling pursuant and to reduce the parking requirements to two spaces.

The second case is a request for a rehearing on 19 Baltimore Ave., which is the property for a proposed hotel, and then the rehearing if the request is first granted. The rehearing would be an appeal of the city building inspector’s interpretation of gross floor area as it related to the floor-to-area ratio.

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.

Baker’s Channel buoys to be removed
In preparation for a dredging project, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Watershed Stewardship announced Dec. 10 its channel-marking crew is removing all navigational buoys from Baker’s Channel. The buoys will be returned in the spring, prior to the boating season.

The dredging project is scheduled to remove 100,000 cubic yards of sand from Massey’s Ditch and Baker’s Channel, waterways connecting Rehoboth and Indian River bays. The sand will be pumped to the Delaware Seashore State Park beach, north of the Indian River Inlet. The dredging project is expected to begin in early January, and be completed by the end of February. For more information, call the Division of Watershed Stewardship, 302-739-9921.

Milton Town Council to meet Dec. 16
Milton Town Council will meet at 2:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, at Milton library to discuss the appointment of an ad hoc committee to prepare a formal procurement procedure. Council could also hold an executive session during this meeting. 

Milton Board of Adjustment to meet Dec. 17
Milton Board of Adjustment will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Milton library to discuss a resolution for property at 401 Sussex St. Owner ECS Capital LLC is seeking a variance to the minimum required square footage from 10,000 square feet to 9,912 square feet.

Final 2019 Sussex council meeting set Dec. 17
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is an update on the Henlopen Transportation Improvement District and a public hearing on a rezoning application from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-2 medium commercial district filed by Preston Dyer for a 2-acre parcel along Route 9 west of Lewes. It’s the final scheduled meeting of the year. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov. Meetings are broadcast on the county website.

Living nativity on The Circle continues
Sussex County-based Good Ole Boy Foundation is staging a living nativity on The Circle in downtown Georgetown. The organization, with assistance from local churches and organizations, has the nativity in place from 6 to 8 p.m. every night until Christmas.

Eastern Sussex Dems to meet Dec. 19
The Eastern Sussex Democrat Club is hosting a holiday party Thursday, Dec. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Irish Eyes in Lewes. The evening will feature special guests, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and music. It will be an opportunity to enjoy the fellowship of fellow Democrats and look forward to 2020 efforts.  The cost is $35; register on site or at www.easternsussexdemocrats.com.

The Eastern Sussex Democrats serve the community through monthly meetings in which knowledgeable Delaware public figures address critical current issues. In 2019, speakers at the ESD meetings included: U.S. senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Gov. John Carney, Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, State Sen. Bryan Townsend, Attorney General Kathy Jennings, Connie Holland, director of the Office of State Planning Coordination, Dorothy Morris, Sussex County planner, and Bob Wheatley, chairman, Sussex Planning and Zoning Commission.  

Some of the topics covered in 2019 included the opioid crisis, criminal justice reform, healthcare in Sussex County, state budgeting, state legislative priorities, master planning, zoning and infrastructure. More information about the Eastern Sussex Democrats can be found at easternsussexdemocrats.com. Specific questions can be addressed to ESD President Kathy Hughes at Easternsussexdems@gmail.com.