Planning for growth tops Lewes, Sussex agendas

After listening to Lewes Mayor Ted Becker and District 3 Sussex County Councilman I.G. Burton talk, it's apparent growth is a major factor directing decisions.

It's also apparent that the city, county and state cross paths on many projects and issues.

The pair spoke Sept. 7 during the Greater Lewes Civic Coalition's annual meeting at the Lewes History Museum community room.

Becker talked about the importance of collaboration among the city and the Lewes Board of Public Works, Sussex County, Delaware Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. “We would not be the community we are without collaboration with the state and county,” he said.

He said the Five Points working committee is an example of a collaborative effort.

“This is how DelDOT is doing business from now on,” Burton said about the group, of which he is a member. “They will have working groups’ input first and then do design work.”

Burton said the key is to get to the design phase quickly. “Planning and zoning and county council can plan better if we have designs first. The development community is moving faster. We need to have road design plans before houses are there,” he said.

Lewes relies on collaborations

Becker said coastal towns from Fenwick to Lewes have formed an Association of Coastal Towns to speak with one voice on issues such as sea-level rise. He said retired DNREC Shoreline and Waterway Management Program administrator Tony Pratt has been hired as a consultant to assist the group.

He said the coastal towns are also participating in the DNREC resilient communities project, which is compiling data on the maximum acceptable impervious surface in flood-prone areas. “That could lead to a possible revisit of our code,” Becker said.

He said DelDOT will be upgrading the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal bridge in mid-2019. He said another key DelDOT project, with no current timeline, is raising the New Road bridge over Canary Creek, which is susceptible to frequent flooding. “There are 500 houses added to that area, and New Road is their evacuation road,” Becker said.

He said he is working with DelDOT officials to get the railroad right of way cleaned up of remaining debris left over from the rail-removal project.

He said the trail system in Lewes, built by DelDOT and DNREC, is an asset to the community, and another trail connecting Cape Henlopen State Park and Lewes through American Legion Drive is planned.

In addition, he said, city and Lewes BPW officials are looking at possible annexation areas, including Cape Henlopen High School, and preparing for Phase 2 of the Front Street rehabilitation project, which includes water main replacement and a facelift for 1812 Park. That project is scheduled to begin in early January.

He said officials are actively working with Chesapeake Utilities staff for possible expansion of natural gas into other areas in Lewes. “There is high interest. I think we can do it,” he said.

Renovation of the beach parking lot at the end of Savannah Road with more handicapped spaces and more beach-access mats is planned in 2019. The restroom facility at that beach was updated this year to a year-round facility.

Also in 2019, the beach restroom facility off Cape Henlopen Drive will be renovated. That parking lot was repaved this past year.

Becker said without state funding provided through Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, the projects would not be possible.

“We are seeing the fruits of collaboration with the state and county,” the mayor said. “It's always a balancing act, but we are very proud of the quality of life we have in Lewes. Our community is held in very high esteem in the state.”

Parking is a hot topic

Becker said he understands that parking is the hot topic as the summer season winds down. Committees on parking in the beach area along Bay Avenue and Cedar Street and downtown are meeting.

The mayor said several ideas have surfaced – including satellite parking and permits – and other ideas will be discussed.

“There is a finite amount of space, so we are looking at what else we can do,” Becker said.

He said officials have met with Jolly Trolley and the Delaware River and Bay Authority, and expect to meet with DART officials to look at transportation and parking alternatives.

“We do not want to push more people into the residential areas, which is already happening. There's no doubt it's a challenge,” he said.

Next spring, the city is scheduled to update its 200 parking meters.

Burton: County plan is critical

Burton said his goal is to add a little more speed to the county government process. “I'm working on it. Every department in the county is busy, and planning and zoning has more applications than they have ever seen,” he said.

Burton said the public will have one more chance to review and comment on the 2018 comprehensive land-use plan. The plan is currently under state-agency review that will result in comments back to county officials.

“We will take those comments and public comments under consideration,” Burton said.

He said during the process, he pushed to get as much as he could in the plan. “I think it's important to have everything possible in there for the future. If it's not in the comp plan, we can't do it,” he said.

The councilman said it's imperative for county officials to spearhead drafting of ordinances tied to the plan as soon as the plan is certified. “Then we have to prioritize what we want to work on first and get stuff through. The public process takes time,” he said.

Buffers, wetlands on Burton agenda

Burton talked about four key issues. He said county officials changed the Environmentally Sensitive Developing District to the Coastal Zone in the proposed 2018 plan. “There is nothing environmentally sensitive about it because there is nothing in the code,” he said, adding he is working on an ordinance to address that.

He said measures should be in place to protect the area east of Route 1 north of Lewes to the county line in Milford. “It should not be in a growth zone, but protected as agriculture and rural land,” he said.

He has also introduced ordinances to change forested buffers requirements from 20 feet to 40 feet for subdivisions and to remove tidal wetlands from subdivision density calculations.

Burton said a workshop will be scheduled with county council and planning and zoning commission members to discuss buffers from wetlands.

He said a plan is needed for secondary roads. “Roads like Beaver Dam Road need help. We have to quit ignoring the problem and do something – increase setbacks, change density or look at the entrances,” he said.

Burton said he would personally focus on exploring the creation of master plans for critical growth areas such as the land around the Route 24-Warrington Road intersection.

Committees are key in Lewes

Becker praised the numerous committees in Lewes, including Lewes in Bloom, which recently competed in an international competition. “We were the only city in America to participate,” he said.

He said results are expected to be announced at the end of September.

He said the Historic Lewes Byway Committee had to work with DelDOT and Sussex County as it developed its master plan. The committee is now developing a master plan for New Road.

A Public Arts Commission has been created to look at other opportunities for art displays throughout the city.

“Committees are extremely important to us,” Becker said. “A lot of you here serve, and there is a need for more to serve. We are looking for new people – there is a lot of opportunity here.”