In 2014, a fire destroyed the Mid-Atlantic Family Practice building, a million-dollar structure. I watched fire trucks streaming onto the site as the structure burned to the ground. That section of Route 24 is still one lane in each direction with additional turn lanes. There is no current plan to dualize this section of Route 24 or the Love Creek Bridge. Even with the upgrades to Route 24, the volume of traffic far exceeds safety. The Lewes EMS agency has warned that without a huge increase in funding, it may be forced to dissolve its EMS service. So far, it has not yet received any increased funds.
Cape Henlopen School District has requested that no new residential developments be approved until a school impact fee has been enacted. The two schools on Rotue 24 are already overcrowded.
Section 115-83.25B of the Sussex County land-use code requires that the land be served by adequate existing or planned infrastructure. Currently, the site for the proposed Belle Mead project does not have the required infrastructure for a C-4, commercial development in these areas: roads, schools and EMS services.
As the lowest-lying state in the U.S., Delaware is sinking already. The Belle Mead proposal would remove 50% of the existing mature forest (5 acres) needed to absorb water at the head of the Dorman Branch of Love Creek. Further, the trees are needed to produce oxygen, clean the water and mitigate climate change, including summer heat and flooding.
Finally, recall that Route 24, already overcrowded, is one of three evacuation routes.
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