Sussex council approves Bayhealth rezoning

On the same day Bayhealth made its move from its in-town hospital to its new Sussex Campus along Route 1 south of Milford, Sussex County officials approved a rezoning request to pave the way for expansion of outpatient services to the Cape Region.

At its Feb. 5 meeting, Sussex County Council approved the rezoning of a parcel from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to I-1, institutional district, at the intersection of Route 9 and Hudson Road between Lewes and Milton.

Bayhealth President and CEO Terry Murphy told council that while plans are not finalized, officials are considering diagnostic testing, walk-in care and office space for primary care, specialists and family practice physicians at the 57,000-square-foot outpatient facility.

He also informed council that Bayhealth closed the doors of Milford Memorial at 1:39 p.m., after starting transport to the new complex at 2 a.m.

During public comment, Pete Rommett, a board member of the Lazy Lake community along Hudson Road, said the board is not opposed to the medical facility, but there are concerns about lighting. “It's important that we not lose our night sky,” he said. “It's very important that any parking lot lighting be state-of-the-art directing down.

“I sit down by the pond almost every night, and I can look up and see the stars in the sky. Take into consideration they don't steal the night sky,” he said.

County assistant attorney Vince Robertson said Rommett's comments would be part of the record and taken into consideration during the site-plan review process once a plan is submitted to the planning and zoning commission.