During a meeting Dec. 20, Rehoboth Beach commissioners voted in favor of a 14-person slate to make up a mixed-use task force. The slate includes representatives from the business community, property owners, elected officials and planning commission members.

Mayor Stan Mills said the city was looking for 13 individuals, but 14 sent in applications, so he decided to include everyone.

Task force members include Commissioners Patrick Gossett and Mark Saunders; planning commission members Susan Gay and Susan Stewart; building community representatives David Diefenderfer and Michael Fisher; Rehoboth Beach Main Street’s Stephen Scheffer; business owners Frank Cole, Jenny Burton and Bob Pomerantz; and property owners Pat Coluzzi, Jay Lagree, Jim Pritchett and Rick Perry.

Mixed-use development, and the creation of code specifically addressing it, is not a new issue. It is discussed in the city’s 2010 and 2020 comprehensive development plans. There are examples of mixed-use – commercial on the ground level, with residential above – throughout the city; however, city code is relatively quiet on specifics.

The task force is charged with developing a code classification that clearly articulates flexible design guidelines and standards for mixed-use projects. This zoning classification will be limited to the city’s commercial district and is expected to provide protections for nearby residential and commercial properties. When the task force is done, city commissioners and planning commissioners will discuss the recommendation.

Prior to the vote, Commissioner Suzanne Goode said she was against the city paying nearly $50,000 for a consultant to guide the task force through the process. She said the people on the task force are talented and smart enough to handle the assignment.

Ultimately, none of the other commissioners supported Goode’s request.

While addressed as an issue in the city’s CDPs, the creation of the task force was spurred by three mixed-use projects at 413, 415 and 417 Rehoboth Ave. When the developer of those three lots went through the site-plan review process, which ultimately resulted in approved plans, the planning commission had concerns about second-floor patio space being allowed within setbacks and the floor-to-area ratio. Also, during the review process for these properties, there were questions about who – the planning commission or the city’s building official – has the final say on a plan’s code compliance. The formation of this task force aims to alleviate questions in the future on similar projects. 

The task force was supposed to begin meeting this past fall. According to an updated timeline, the task force will hold its first meeting in January, then meet monthly throughout the year before making a presentation to city commissioners in fall 2025. All task force meetings will be open to the public.