News Briefs 2/25/22

Portions of Fowler Beach closing March 1

Portions of the Fowler Beach area in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, including the Delaware Bay beach, dunes and back-barrier sections, will close starting Tuesday, March 1, to protect beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds, including red knots, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other species. The beach-nesting habitat will reopen Saturday, Oct. 1. For more information, call 302-684-8419. The refuge is located off Route 16 near Broadkill Beach at 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton.

Lewes budget meeting set Feb. 25

Lewes Mayor and City Council will continue its budget meetings at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 25. The meeting will be held in person at city hall and via Zoom. Scheduled to present at the meeting are the Lewes African American Heritage Commission, public art committee, parks and recreation commission, bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee and historic preservation architectural review commission. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes subdivision committee to meet

The Subdivision Code Subcommittee of the Lewes Planning Commission will meet virtually at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 28, to continue discussion on proposed changes to the subdivision and land development code as well as zoning. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes Parks and Rec meets Feb. 28

Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28. The meeting will be held in person at the Rollins Community Center and via Zoom. The group will discuss kayak racks at specific locations, a mission statement for George H.P. Smith Park and welcome signs for Johnnie Walker beach. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes BOA slates March 1 meeting

The Lewes Board of Adjustment will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 1. The meeting will be held in person at city hall and via Zoom. The board will hold a public hearing on a variance request to allow a two-story accessory structure at 324 Savannah Road. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Special Rehoboth meeting set March 1

Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold a special meeting virtually at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 1. The agenda calls for discussion on a draft policy permitting restaurant use of outdoor dining areas on public space when certain criteria are met.
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 and meeting materials are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

New districts on Sussex agenda

Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 1, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are public hearings on the proposed new councilmanic districts and a county plan to amend the fiscal year 2022 operating budget to allow for excess realty transfer tax funds to be used to purchase open space and provide grants to municipalities. A full agenda and meeting materials are available at sussexcountyde.gov/agendas-minutes/county-council. Meetings are accessible in person, livestreamed at sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast, and by phone at 302-394-5036 using code 570176.

Dewey commissioners rehire auditor

Dewey Beach commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 18 to rehire Cohn Reznick as town auditor for a three-year contract with two one-year extensions. The cost for performing the 2022 audit is $31,990, the 2023 audit is $32,600 and the 2024 audit is $33,300. Each yearly audit would cost about $10,000 more if a uniform guidance audit is required, which would be when a town spends $750,000 or more in federally sourced funds within a fiscal year; that has historically not been the case in Dewey Beach.

Dewey charter, code committee meets

The Dewey Beach Charter and Code Committee will meet virtually at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28. Members will discuss the progress of work arising from town staff recommendations related to the charter and code, and discuss next areas of focus and member assignments. A link to the meeting is available at townofdeweybeach.com.

Rehoboth tree committee to meet

The Rehoboth Beach Parks and Shade Tree Commission will meet virtually at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 28, to conduct an administrative appeal hearing related to the removal of one 20-inch-diameter pear tree located between the sidewalk and the curb adjacent to 317 Laurel St. 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 and meeting materials are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

80 Oak Ave. back before Rehoboth BOA

The Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment has scheduled a virtual meeting for 2:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28.

The agenda includes a continuation of a case for 80 Oak Ave., which has been continued twice at the request of the property owner. The board first heard the case in October, when property owner Steven Linehan submitted an application requesting a variance be granted to allow a structure to be placed within the 50-foot required rear-yard setback. In this case, the structure is an 18-inch-tall retaining wall along the western prong of Lake Gerar that was built in response to flooding coming from a neighbor’s house. During a meeting, the board agreed to postpone a decision until a civil engineer was brought in to try and find a solution to the drainage problem without the board having to be involved.

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 and meeting materials are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

Residential parking regs aligned in Dewey

Dewey Beach commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 18 to amend town code regarding residential parking requirements to ensure consistency between the code and language in Table 2 of the bulk zoning standards.

Town Counsel Fred Townsend said the town has been enforcing requirements in the table, which is less restrictive. Townsend said the planning and zoning commission recommended changing town code to the same requirements as Table 2, which states that every dwelling in each district must have two off-street parking spaces for the first four bedrooms plus one additional space per each additional two bedrooms.

Town code previously called for two off-street parking spaces for the first three bedrooms plus one additional space per additional bedroom.

Low-cost vaccination clinic open Feb. 26

Delaware Humane Association will host a low-cost vaccination clinic open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, at its Rehoboth Beach Adoption Center in Midway Shopping Center, 18675 Coastal Hwy. Suite 8, Rehoboth Beach. The clinic will offer pet health services such as low-cost vaccinations, microchipping and more.

Sussex County pet owners can receive the following services and products for their cats and dogs: Rabies and distemper vaccinations, $20 each; bordetella vaccinations, dogs only, $20 each; microchips, permanent identification for pet/owner reunion, $25 each; general dewormer, two doses with the second sent home to be administered at a later date, $5; state dog licenses, costs vary. DHA asks for one customer per patient.

Upon arrival, folks can check in at the front desk and then will be asked to remain in their car until a staff member comes out to get them. People who are sick or live in a household with someone who is sick are asked to come back for a later clinic or have someone else come in their place. Clinics are first-come, first-served. Cash and credit/debit cards are the preferred forms of payment. Cats must be in hard plastic or cardboard carriers, and dogs must be wearing a collar and non-retractable leash. A pet’s most recent previous rabies certificate with veterinarian’s signature or stamp must be presented to receive a 3-year rabies vaccination. To learn more, call 302-200-7159 or go to delawarehumane.org.

Sussex council awards nonprofit grants

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its Feb. 8 meeting: $2,000 to Lewes Public Library for its annual Shakespeare Festival this August; $2,000 to Fraternal Order of Police, Sussex County Lodge 2, for various programs to support needy families and disabled first responders; $1,250 to Fort Miles Historical Association to assist with shipping costs to bring a 1944 M18 Hellcat tank destroyer to be displayed at the fort; and $1,250 to Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation for restoration and volunteer support at the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse.