Throughout many Sussex County Council and P&Z hearings, I have heard statements – often from commissioners or attorneys representing developers – suggesting that building additional shopping centers or commercial uses west of Coastal Highway will somehow reduce traffic on Coastal Highway. Based on living here and experiencing the reality on the ground, I strongly disagree.
Eastern Sussex County is unique. Residents of Lewes, Rehoboth, Milton, Harbeson and the eastern sides of Millsboro and Georgetown have chosen to live here largely because of our proximity to the beaches, the downtowns of Lewes and Rehoboth, and Cape Henlopen State Park. If not for the ability to access these areas, there are countless other places we could choose to live. When traffic congestion blocks our ability to reach the very destinations that define this community, our quality of life – and the reason many of us moved here – is significantly diminished.
Last summer, on a weekend, it took my husband and me more than 90 minutes to travel from our neighborhood on Robinsonville Road to the Rehoboth Art League show in Henlopen Acres. This is not sustainable. We moved here six years ago believing this would be our forever home. The decisions county officials make directly affect whether that remains true for us and for thousands of other residents.
Some county officials do not live in eastern Sussex County and therefore may not experience these daily challenges firsthand. For that reason, I respectfully urge members of county council and the planning & zoning commission to consider the unique geography and travel patterns of this region when evaluating proposals for additional development.
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