Osprey Point restaurant/bar bad fit for Old Landing Road
A recent letter discussed approving Osprey Point’s new commercial development with conditions. The author suggests it is a case of “not in my backyard,” by people who have established roots in the community. Let’s talk about our backyards and our roots. The gentleman is correct that the 11 communities that line Old Landing Road are filled with established communities, with residents who have been serving Sussex County as stay-at-home moms, doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, hospital workers, police, fire personnel, small business owners and Realtors, with lots of children and grandchildren. There are about 10 single-boat docks lining Arnell Creek. Not one of these docks has a gas- or electric-powered motorboat. Our docks are perches for the herons, egrets and river otters that live here. Not one of our docks leads to a bar. Not one of our neighborhoods has a restaurant or a bar. The proposal would also place an 82-space parking lot literally in the backyard of the Old Landing community. This space was previously designated as an open-space buffer.
He suggests that an equal number of people spoke for and against the proposal. In fact, two people from Osprey Point spoke in favor. One person from Osprey Point spoke against, explaining that the homeowners’ association would be responsible for community costs associated with the 24-boat-slip marina, restaurant, three bars, pool and kayak launch after the developer leaves. Many more people spoke against the commercial proposal, some representing entire developments.
As to traffic, these 11 neighboring communities are not enough people to support a restaurant 365 days per year. So, Route 1 traffic will remain unchanged, as customers use Route 1 to access Old Landing Road. The northbound Route 1 left turn to access Old Landing Road is already a bottleneck.
I do completely agree that there should not be any music. The current request is for outdoor amplified music until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends, 365 days a year.
I do trust Sussex County Council to come to the same conclusion as Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission. The commercial proposal is a harmful use to all 12 Old Landing Road communities represented by Sussex County Council and Sussex County as a whole, and should be denied.
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