Plaza 9 rezoning granted by Sussex council
A 5-0 vote by Sussex County Council has cleared the way for the rezoning of an 11-acre parcel to allow for construction of the Plaza 9 shopping center on the southwest corner of Route 9 and Fisher Road between Lewes and Harbeson.
Developer Jill Cicierski of Milton has plans to build a 75,000-square-foot retail/office complex on the parcel. The zoning has been changed from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-2, medium commercial.
During a June 9 teleconference meeting, Mark Davidson of Pennoni Associates said Plaza Nine plans include a shopping plaza surrounding a commercial center with shops and stores to provide services to the surrounding community. Proposed plans also include a small grocery store.
Davidson said the developer had already dedicated right-of-way for an intersection improvement project at Fisher Road and Route 9. He said the developer would also provide access to the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail along the southern border of the property.
The trail currently ends at the Cool Spring Road and Route 9 intersection, and will eventually continue across Route 9.
Councilman Irwin “I.G.” Burton of Lewes asked whether Delaware Department of Transportation officials can require trail connection and tell a developer where to put access.
Davidson said DelDOT officials cannot mandate trail access. “But they encourage you and support it,” he said. “They suggest a location, help with design and there could be possible funding.”
He said trail access must be built to DelDOT standards.
Burton also asked Davidson what impact DelDOT's elevated stature of Route 9 to a principal arterial road has on the project.
Davidson replied that right-of-way dedication has increased from 80 feet to 100 feet, and access will be limited for new projects along the roadway. The current site plan includes right-in, right-out access from Route 9 with the main entrance on Fisher Road across from the Dollar General store entrance.
Burton asked whether DelDOT had approved the Route 9 access.
Davidson replied that DelDOT officials said they would consider the proposed type of entrance when they review the plan.
The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its May 28 meeting. A preliminary site plan for the project will have be submitted to planning and zoning for review.
