News Briefs 5/27/22

DNREC announces beach access closures due to storm damage

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced May 26 that multiple Delaware State Parks drive- and walk-on crossings will be closed this Memorial Day weekend due to widespread erosion along Delaware’s coastline from a May 8 nor’easter causing unsafe drop-offs where the crossings meet the beach. Also, very little beach is available for drive-on surf fishing even during low tide at the closed locations.

The closed areas are Navy crossing in Cape Henlopen State Park, and Keybox, Conquest and Faithful Steward crossings in Delaware Seashore State Park. The Conquest pedestrian crossings are also closed. The northernmost pedestrian crossing at The Point parking lot is also closed.

As of May 26, beach access points remaining open are The Point, Herring Point and Gordons Pond crossings at Cape Henlopen State Park; 3Rs crossing at Delaware Seashore State Park; and North, Middle and South crossing at Fenwick Island State Park.

DNREC’s Shoreline and Waterway Management Section beach crew is working to reopen drive-on and pedestrian crossings along the coastline, including at other damaged beaches. Cape Henlopen and Delaware Seashore state parks Facebook pages will be updated regularly with which crossings are open or closed.

Lewes to discuss Fisher’s Cove May 31

Lewes mayor and council will hold a special virtual meeting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 31, at the Rollins Center to discuss the Fisher’s Cove legal settlement.

A meeting link and more information are available at ci.lewes.de.us.

Lewes BPW elects new officers

The Lewes BPW elected new leaders during its May 25 meeting.

New officers and their term-ending year are President Tom Panetta, 2023; Vice President Earl Webb III, 2024; Secretary D. Preston Lee, 2023; Treasurer Richard Nichols, 2024; and Assistant Treasurer A. Thomas Owen, 2023.  For more information, visit lewesbpw.com.

Lewes passes new subdivision ordinance

Lewes Mayor and City Council unanimously approved an ordinance repealing and replacing in its entirety Chapter 170 of the Lewes Subdivision and Land Development Code during its May 23 meeting.

The changes take effect immediately; they will modify the application process for both major and minor subdivisions. The new code allows for more transparency and communication among all parties involved, including the public. Major changes include replacing the term “consent” with “review” to eliminate any previous confusion, and the ability to schedule work group sessions for applicants with the appropriate committees so they can learn about requirements before formal meetings to vote on actions are held.

The ordinance also amended several aspects of Chapter 197 of the zoning portion of the municipal code that related to Chapter 170.

The changes to the code are effective immediately, but any already approved subdivisions remain governed by the previous ordinance.

Two CDP meetings set in Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth commissioners have scheduled two special meetings for Tuesday, May 31. Both involve continued discussion of the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Development Plan. The first will begin at 9 a.m.; the second starts at 2 p.m.

The meetings will be conducted in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. Full agendas, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. Only in-person attendees may make comments. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

DelDOT inspecting traffic signals

Delaware Department of Transportation will have temporary lane closures for inspections of traffic signal mast arms in Sussex County locations on Wednesday, June 1, at the Route 30 and Sand Hill Road and Route 9 and Park Avenue intersections. The short-term closures will last less than 15 minutes to check the signal head connections to the mast arms.

Record closed on Mitchell’s Corner

At its May 24 meeting, Sussex County Council closed the public record on three applications for the proposed Mitchell’s Corner housing and office building complex on a 44-acre parcel at the intersection of Kings Highway and Gills Neck Road just outside Lewes city limits. Sussex County Planning & Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse said the Lewes Board of Public Works had submitted an updated report on its wellhead protection area, and developer Henlopen Properties LLC had responded to the report within the two-week deadline. The proposed project includes a mix of 267 housing units and a 3-acre parcel for a commercial office building. Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the applications. Council will place the applications on a future agenda for a vote.

Wheatley reappointed to Sussex P&Z

The following public members were reappointed during Sussex County Council's May 24 meeting: Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission – Bob Wheatley, term to expire June 2025. Wheatley was first appointed to the commission in 1995 and is its current chair. Sussex County Board of Adjustment – Kevin Carson, Jeff Chorman and John Hastings, with terms to expire June 2025.

RD20 Dems to hold virtual caucus June 16

The RD20 Democratic Committee will hold a virtual caucus at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 16, via Zoom, to elect new committee members.

Any registered Democrat residing in Representative District 20 may participate in the election, and a business meeting to elect new RD20 officers will immediately follow.

Elected committee members will serve until the first quarter of 2025; they are expected to attend meetings and party functions, and perform other tasks and duties as local party leaders. Nominees for committee membership must be registered Democrats residing in RD 20 for at least one year before the caucus date and attend the caucus.

Preregistration for the caucus is required; anyone wishing to attend should email rd20.deldems@gmail.com to receive a link for verification, or call 302-703-9095. Instructions for joining the Zoom meeting will be emailed to preregistered attendees on the day of the caucus.  RD20 is the local Democratic Party organization for residents in the Lewes, Milton and Belltown areas of Sussex County.

Election officials named in Dewey

Dewey Beach commissioners voted unanimously May 20 to approve the reappointment of Elaine Bole as Board of Election chair, and to appoint Marty Tarr and Kay Sullivan as board members.

Call for candidates for Rehoboth Beach’s 2022 election

Rehoboth’s 2022 annual municipal election is Saturday, Aug. 13, and the city has issued a notice of solicitation for candidates. The two seats up for grabs are those currently held by Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski and Commissioner Susan Gay.

Interested candidates must turn in a petition signed by at least 10 qualified voters, but no more than 25, to the city manager by 4:30 p.m., Monday, June 6.

To be eligible to vote, a person must register on or before Thursday, July 14. Any qualified voter may request an absentee ballot by filing a request for an absentee ballot form no later than noon, Friday, Aug. 12.

Absentee ballots will be available beginning Wednesday, June 29. Ballots will be sent to everyone who has an absentee ballot request form on file. The deadline for the city to mail ballots is Tuesday, Aug. 9. Ballots must be received by mail or in person before the polls close on the day of the election.

For more information, email elections@cityofrehoboth.com or call 302-227-6181, Ext. 159.

Lewes council adopts subdivision ordinance

Lewes Mayor and City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to repeal and replace in its entirety Chapter 170 of city code relating to subdivision and land development at its May 23 meeting. The changes took effect immediately.

Capital Ringers orientation, free classes start June 4

Capital Ringers will host an orientation at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at Conley's United Methodist Church.

Capital Ringers Inc. is seeking ringers for its advanced community ensemble and its beginner/intermediate group, Bay2Bay Ringers. The ability to read music is required for both groups.

The organization is also looking for creative individuals interested in audiovisual technology and production.

Sessions continue weekly through July 16; no meeting July 2. Those interested can sign up for one or more sessions, or all of them. To preregister, email judy.peterson@capitalringers.net.