For the record, I want to say how much I appreciate the effort that went into putting together the Sept. 21 Sussex County Council and Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission workshop. I was overwhelmed by how well prepared and thorough the presentation was, encompassing much, if not all, of the concerns the citizens of Sussex County have expressed. I also found comments invited by state forester, Chris Miller, to be very informative.
Thank you for inviting the public to attend the workshop, arranging for an overflow room, making the workshop available online, and making the presentation and recording available after. I hope the public recognizes the amount of work that went into this presentation. If you did not attend the meeting – live or online – I would encourage you to review the slides at https://tinyurl.com/4v8ehu22, and you can listen while following the slides at https://tinyurl.com/yycevyfn.
While I was fortunate enough to be seated in the main room, I understand there were technical issues, particularly in the overflow room. Hopefully the challenges of A/V and the space can be overcome for future sessions.
And now begins the difficult work of writing and amending ordinances that need substantial work. I encourage the public to stay engaged. I think it is fair to say the county has come this far because of the public’s involvement. However, the next steps are daunting, and council needs to hear from the public to keep forward momentum moving in the right direction. Your voice does matter.
If you have concerns or constructive comments regarding appropriately balanced development or environmental preservation, call or write to your elected county council member. They are the ones responsible for the county’s codes and ordinances. If you do not know who your council member is, go to: https://sussexcountyde.gov/sussex-county-district-map, enter your address in the window at the top of the map. Once it recognizes your address, zoom back out and you will see the district in which you are located. To write directly to your council member, go to: https://sussexcountyde.gov/county-council and connect to their email. Leave them your telephone number and ask them to call you. Also, consider writing a letter to the editor. When speaking or writing, clearly state your concern and be succinct in your recommendation.
If you wish to stay apprised of the progress, you can also join the Sussex Preservation Coalition. More information is available at https://SussexPreservationCoalition.org.
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