Sussex County reaches compromise on public hearing rule change
Allowing a rebuttal would be a fair policy and let applicants correct the record when incorrect statements are made at public hearings, said J. Michael Riemann, an engineer and principal of Becker Morgan Group who has presented many projects for developers at hearings.
“Many, if not most, jurisdictions already provide the applicant an opportunity to answer questions or clarify any statements made regarding the project,” said Riemann, who served on the county’s Land Use Reform Working Group, in a Jan. 14 email. “This is a commonsense refinement to the process that improves clarity, transparency, and decision making by getting the facts right.”
Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission at its Jan. 7 meeting discussed allowing applicants five minutes to reply at the conclusion of public hearings but delayed a decision until its next meeting, set for Wednesday, Jan. 21.
“That would also allow them to also offer up conditions of approval or something that might help address concerns,” said Commissioner G. Scott Collins.
“That’s a good point,” said Vince Robertson, a county attorney who assists the commission. “If there’s a concern that wasn’t anticipated, the applicant could then say, we’ll agree to do X, Y and Z.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” said commission Chair Holly Wingate.
“That’s fair,” added Commissioner Bruce Mears.
The commission decided Jan. 7 to vote or defer action following each public hearing at future meetings. Its past practice was to wait until the end of the meeting to decide on all of the applications for which hearings had been held.
That change will not require a vote by the commission.
Kevin Conlon came to the Cape Gazette with nearly 40 years of newspaper experience since graduating from St. Bonaventure University in New York with a bachelor's degree in mass communication. He reports on Sussex County government and other assignments as needed.
His career spans working as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers in upstate New York, including The Daily Gazette in Schenectady. He comes to the Cape Gazette from the Cortland Standard, where he was an editor for more than 25 years, and in recent years also contributed as a columnist and opinion page writer. He and his staff won regional and state writing awards.
Conlon was relocating to Lewes when he came across an advertisement for a reporter job at the Cape Gazette, and the decision to pursue it paid off. His new position gives him an opportunity to stay in a career that he loves, covering local news for an independently owned newspaper.
Conlon is the father of seven children and grandfather to two young boys. In his spare time, he trains for and competes in triathlons and other races. Now settling into the Cape Region, he is searching out hilly trails and roads with wide shoulders. He is a fan of St. Bonaventure sports, especially rugby and basketball, as well as following the Mets, Steelers and Celtics.
