Sussex council will act on new zoning district
Sussex County officials have resurrected a new zoning district aimed at large developments of more than 200 acres with mixed residential and commercial uses. The district would require only one rezoning application instead of multiple applications now required for mixed-use developments.
During county council’s Dec. 13 meeting, assistant county attorney Vince Robertson and Planning & Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse reviewed the proposed Master Planned Zoning District.
Whitehouse said the zone would provide for residential, commercial, professional and office space, and civic development on one tract of land with interconnectivity within the development and with state roads. Open space would also be a component of the zone.
Robertson said more flexibility for design and density would be permitted in the new zone.
The district would be an option and would not be mandatory. “It’s another tool for use by developers, officials and county staff,” Robertson said.
Whitehouse said a rezoning to the new district would be a four-step process: pre-application meetings with staff; planning & zoning commission and county council public hearings; administrative review of the plans; and site-plan review by county and zoning staff.
He said county council would have the option to amend the conditions of approval.
During the application process, among other submissions, a developer would be required to provide a master plan manual describing existing natural features, nearby developments, road circulation, housing types, density, open spaces, accessory structures with landscaping, stormwater management, lighting and signage design plans.
“Instead of having multiple and separate subdivision applications, separate conditional applications for multifamily, and then another application for commercial zoning districts, it could all be consolidated into one MPZ application so that the whole thing is one integrated project and design with interrelated community areas, interconnected roadways and sidewalk-path systems, and open space,” he said.
The zone would not replace the existing residential planned community zone. An RPC must be at least 40 acres and contains caps on the amount of commercial space and what types of commercial development are permitted.
Robertson said it would be up to county council to determine minimum acreage and open-space percentage in the proposed zone. In addition, he said design within a project should incorporate walkability.
Robertson said he would submit the proposed ordinance to state transportation staff and return during a future meeting to present a draft ordinance.
