Share: 

News Briefs 12/6/22

December 6, 2022
Lewes tree group meeting Dec. 6

The Lewes Planning Commission’s Tree Ordinance Subcommittee will meet at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Rollins Center. See the meeting agenda and link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes council workshop set Dec. 8

Lewes Mayor and City Council will host its monthly workshop at 9 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Rollins Center.

Officials will begin the meeting by discussing a planning commission recommendation to amend the city code regarding open space. A pair of presentations will focus on paths in Mariners’ Retreat and a proposed restaurant in Cape Henlopen State Park.

See the meeting agenda and link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes HPARC hearing set Dec. 8

The Lewes Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Commission will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8 at city hall.

Dionne Daisey-Williford is requesting to demolish the structure at 331 Chestnut St. to allow for a new home. Daisy-Williford’s application for constructing a new home will be the first application discussed by HPARC when it convenes its regular meeting. 

Applications regarding 321 W. Third St., 323 Savannah Road and 214 W. Fourth St. will also be presented and discussed. 

See the meeting agenda and link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes BPW meets Dec. 7

The Lewes Board of Public Works will meet at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7 at city hall.

Board members will continue to discuss a pole attachment agreement with AT&T.

New business includes the annual donation to the Lewes Fire Department, updating the policy regarding a 15% admin fee, a developer’s agreement for Fisher’s Cove, a cross connection control program, and two topics about the wastewater treatment plant.

See the meeting agenda and link at lewesbpw.com.

Wil King Road to close Dec. 9

The Delaware Department of Transportation has announced the closure of Wil King Road between Kendale Road and Conleys Chapel Road from Friday, Dec. 9 through Monday, Dec. 12. Local access will still be provided. Mumford and Miller will install a new cross-road pipe.

Motorists traveling northbound on Wil King Road will be detoured west on Conleys Chapel Road to Beaver Dam Road northbound, to Kendale Road and back to Wil King Road.

Motorists traveling south on Wil King Road will be detoured west on Kendale Road to Beaver Dam Road to Conleys Chapel Road back to Wil King Road.

Rehoboth stormwater task force to meet

The Rehoboth Beach Stormwater Utility Task Force has scheduled a meeting for 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6. The agenda calls for formalizing draft recommendations to city commissioners.

The meeting will be conducted in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. To comment, a person must attend in-person. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

Rehoboth green committee to meet

The Rehoboth Beach Green Infrastructure Committee has scheduled a meeting for 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9. The agenda calls for continued discussions on mapping the trees for the city’s Commemorative Tree Program and the map for a tree tour guide. There’s also an agenda item to discuss the proposed approved tree list prepared by the city arborist.

The meeting will be conducted in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. To comment, a person must attend in-person. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

Planning commission to meet in Rehoboth

The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission has scheduled a meeting for 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9. The agenda calls for a discussion on possible changes to by-laws and procedures, a discussion on possible changes to site plan review and a discussion on possible changes to off street parking requirements.

The meeting will be conducted in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. To comment, a person must attend in-person. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com

Cape school board meets Dec. 8

The Cape Henlopen school board will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8 at Lewes Elementary School. A presentation on district mentoring programs will be given, and members will possibly vote on several board policies. For the full agenda and virtual link to the meeting, go to capehenlopenschools.com.

Rehoboth acts on tree-removal requests

The Rehoboth Beach Parks & Shade Tree Commission conducted a meeting Nov. 28, approving the removal of two trees and denying the removal of four trees.

The meeting started with a hearing for three trees at 127 Rodney St. The owner was appealing the denial of a tree removal on the property and asking for the removal of two street trees. The commission reversed the denial, but denied the removal of the street trees.

Next, the commission approved the removal of a yellow pine located on city property where a new driveway is going for 36 Pennsylvania Ave.

Finally, the commission denied a request to remove two locust trees on city property between the sidewalk and street at 22 Pennsylvania Ave.

Rehoboth board OKs lot-coverage variance  

During a meeting Nov. 28, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment approved a variance request allowing the properties at 10A, 10B, 12C and 12D Virginia Ave. to exceed the maximum allowable lot coverage of 50% by reconstructing two existing decks and constructing two new decks. The four-unit structure was built before city code and already exceeds allowable lot coverage. The applicant argued the old decks needed to be redone and the new decks would allow the aging owners better access to the units because improvements would be ADA compliant. As part of the approval, the applicant agreed to replace what’s left of existing stone landscaping in the front yard, which the city counts toward lot coverage, with a natural area, which is not counted toward lot coverage.

A second hearing for a variance request at 229 Hickman St. was deferred because there wasn’t enough information for the board to make a decision. The applicant would like to increase the basement height from 6-feet-6-inches to 7-feet-10 inches. There was agreement a variance was needed to exceed the city’s residential height maximum of 35 feet, but there were questions about whether or not additional variances would be needed, including one for also exceeding the floor-to-area ratio. Ultimately, the board and the applicant decided to defer until the board’s next meeting.

Rehoboth sets fees for licenses 

During a Nov. 18 meeting, Rehoboth Beach commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution that set a nonrefundable administrative fee of $325 for all license agreement applications to cover development of the license agreement; set an annual fixed administrative fee of $30 for existing license agreements to cover management of the license agreement; and also set a discretionary annual or single fee in an amount to be determined by the board of commissioners based upon the proposed encroachment and any relevant circumstances.

Permit sought for pump station upgrade

The state’s Division of Water issued a notice Nov. 30 that Rehoboth Beach has submitted a permit application to upgrade its existing sanitary sewer pump station at the intersection of Lee Street and State Road. The upgrade includes replacement of the existing structure, pumps and associated piping.

A public hearing concerning the above application will not be held unless Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn Garvin determines it is in the public interest or if a written meritorious request for one is received on or before Wednesday, Dec. 14. A request for a public hearing shall be deemed meritorious if it exhibits a familiarity with the application and provides a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact.

Questions regarding the applications and plans are available for inspection by contacting Keith Kooker, DNREC Environment Finance, Enterprise Business Park, 97 Commerce Way, Suite 106, Dover, DE 19904 or calling 302-739-9941.

Dewey climate change committee to meet

The Dewey Beach Climate Change Committee will hold a resiliency workshop at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave.

Presentations will be given by Delaware Sea Grant Coastal Hazards Specialist Danielle Swallow, Center for the Inland Bays Director of Conservation and Watershed Planning Michelle Schmidt, and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Floodplain Manager Dave Warga. Committee members will discuss possible projects for Dewey Beach. The meeting will also be livestreamed with the option to participate via Zoom; go to townofdeweybeach.com for more information.

Rehoboth cancels Dec. 19 meetings

A Rehoboth Beach Parks & Shade Tree Commission meeting and a Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment meeting, both scheduled for Monday, Dec. 19, have been canceled. According to notices, there was a lack of quorum for the commission meeting and holiday-related scheduling conflict for the board meeting.

Prime Timers hold boardwalk strolls

The Delaware Coastal Prime Timers chapter meets for Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk strolls two mornings a week. The Tuesday early-bird stroll starts at 8:30 a.m., with optional breakfast at Goolee’s Grille afterward around 9:30 a.m. The Thursday late-sleeper stroll starts at 11 a.m., with optional brunch at Goolee’s Grille around noon.

Walkers gather on the Boardwalk at the end of Rehoboth Avenue. Walk leader Glenn Lash will be the only one wearing a kilt.

Prime Timers is a fun, welcoming, member-driven, international social organization with 75 chapters and more than 10,000 members. To learn about upcoming events, email coastalprimetimers@gmail.com.

Airport committee to meet Dec. 14

The Delaware Coastal Airport Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 21769 Aviation Ave., Delaware Coastal Airport, Georgetown. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, go to delawarecoastalairport.com.

Henlopen Acres meeting set Dec. 9

Henlopen Acres commissioners have scheduled a meeting for 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9, in the meeting room of town hall, 104 Tidewaters.

A copy of the agenda is available on the town’s website at henlopenacres.delaware.gov.  For more information, call 302-227-6411 or email townclerk@henlopenacres.com.

No school for Ennis students Dec. 21 

There will be no school Wednesday, Dec. 21, for students at the Howard T. Ennis School in Georgetown. School staff should report as scheduled.

The calendar change was approved by the school board at its Sept. 26 meeting.  The change will provide Ennis staff members with additional time to prepare for the school’s move into its new building, which is set to open Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.  Wednesday, Dec. 21 will be a regular school day for all other district schools.

 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter