Rehoboth’s clear and not-so-clear choices
Rehoboth Beach voters head to the polls on Saturday with the summer season in full swing and the political pot boiling away. This year’s election offers a clear-cut choice and a not-so-clear choice. The election season has also shone a light on at least two issues the candidates generally agree need further review for revision and improvement.
The clear-cut choice comes in the realm of recent zoning ordinance changes in response to what many consider outsized homes, some with swimming pools, being built in residential zones. Concerns range from noise and loss of total natural area, to parking and heavy occupancy in those used for weekly rentals.
Two candidates, incumbents Patrick Gossett and Bill Sargent, voted in favor of changes which increase natural area preserved and the backyard setback, and decrease the permitted size of new houses with swimming pools.
Their challengers, Paul Kuhns and Richard Perry, say the changes were rushed through without enough thought and, while addressing just a few problem situations, create complications for all residential property owners including decreasing property values by further restricting building options.
So, on these issues, pick your camp, pick your candidate.
If these issues don’t concern you, the choice is not so clear. All four candidates are knowledgeable, thoughtful, hardworking and capable. Rehoboth’s fortunate to have such good people willing to serve. There’s not a bad choice in the lot.
Two issues have risen in the campaign which all candidates agree need attention: the city’s tree ordinance and voting procedures. It’s been nearly a decade since Rehoboth passed its landmark tree ordinance designed to retain and enhance the city’s enviable tree-canopied character.
When the ordinance was passed there was general agreement that a few years’ practice would reveal areas for improvement. That time is now overripe.
In terms of voting, absentee policies, residency requirements and registration procedures all appear dated and need attention.
The candidates have made their cases. Now it’s up to the voters to fulfill their side of the equation and get to the polls on Saturday.