I strongly recommend denying the proposed zoning change to the parcel of land for Atlantic Fields.
Sussex County’s strategic planning focuses on maintaining the culture and climate of the surrounding area. This area at Route 24 and Mulberry Knoll Road is zoned agricultural-residential. There has been a long-term shift to developing agricultural land into very high-priced residential developments and, therefore, neighborhoods. The impact of this proposed mega shopping district totally violates the intended direction of county development, and more importantly, violates the trust that thousands of homeowners have made by investing in neighborhoods outside of high-volume traffic, congestion, crime. I purchased a new home specifically away from the traffic, off a farm road (Mulberry Knoll), and expected the character of the surrounding area would be maintained.
If I wanted to live next door to a mega shopping district, I could have easily chosen that. I paid substantially more for a home away from the frantic traffic and congestion, pollution and crime. I purchased a property that is peaceful, quiet and quaint. I knew Lewes did not have shopping malls, other than the outlets, which are situated on Route 1, the major highway, where there has long been commercial development, not residential. I did not purchase property here to have my neighborhood overwhelmed and overrun by people coming from surrounding counties and states. Route 24, Plantation Road, Warrington Road, Mulberry Knoll Road, Cedar Grove Road will all be a nightmare. These roads cannot support the traffic now, and commercial development of this size will crush those of us who call this area home.
This is my neighborhood! This is my home! My neighbors, who are now friends, have moved here to Sussex County from all over the country. They have moved here specifically for the quaintness, peace and tranquility. We all could have moved elsewhere, but we chose Lower Slower Delaware.
Keep large-scale development in areas that are clearly designated for large commercial development. There are plenty of places with the existing infrastructure to support and warrant such development. My neighborhood is not the place for such development, and the zoning change should absolutely be permanently denied.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
