It is with great sadness I write to report on the pending and clearly imminent decline of Ocean View. Its decline will begin, in part, with the building of 45 apartments at the intersection of Muddy Neck, Parker House and Butler Boulevard on the three acres which are currently zoned for single-family units. The developer alleges they are for “affordable housing” to attract traveling nurses and doctors.
Yet there is no such demand for traveling medical personnel. Now add to this mix, the apartments will be rented with six-month leases!
As we all know, a short-term lease draws the young, seasonal, migrant, and other similar transient workers who converge on resort areas during the peak season. With these short-term leases comes no commitment to the apartments, the grounds, the surrounding community or our community values.
Additionally, with 45 apartments, there will be up to six occupants per unit (possibly more if tenants sublet).
Essentially there can be upwards of 180 individuals living in these apartments and increase during the peak season when friends and/or family visit, party and stay in these units.
We, the homeowners and voters in this area, have a vested interest in our homes, the county and a the strong desire to maintain our property values. All values the transient and short-term renters do not share.
On Dec. 10 the Sussex County Council will meet in Georgetown to address this zoning concern. We in the Ocean View communities urge all to attend and object to this zoning change. If you cannot attend, kindly go to the council’s website ( https://sussexcountyde.gov/county-council ) and submit your objections and help in preventing the change in this zoning.
Finally, and above all, if you think traffic along Muddy Neck, Central Avenue, Atlantic Avenue and Coastal Highway is bad now, just wait until the apartments are built and the renters/occupants of these apartments begin their daily trek to work and play in their vehicles, on foot or on bicycles. Please stand with homeowners.
Call or write your council member and, if possible, attend the meeting Dec. 10, at 10 a.m.
Thomas E. Douglas
Ocean View
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