Village Center moving in right direction
The Lingo-Townsend group recently announced a change in its rezoning request for land along Kings Highway from Commercial Retail to Neighborhood Business. Its reasoning? “We listened to the community.”
What they heard was that the greater Lewes community wanted nothing of the commercial zoning that typifies the corridor along Route 1. Sen. Ernie Lopez and Sussex County Administrator Todd Lawson - “just a couple of 39-year-olds,” as Lopez likes to say - waded into the controversy seeking unity and harmony. They, like most, are tired of the rancor and divisiveness. They helped bring a thaw.
The proposed rezoning wasn’t a fit for two-lane Kings Highway; it opened the door to too many problems. When it comes to rezonings, public comment and input play a major role - as they should - and influence decision-making so the best possible outcome for all property owners who want to develop - and their neighbors - can be realized.
That’s unquestionably what is happening as the community and the property owners come closer to consensus. Most everyone agrees, however, that scaling the project back to a Neighborhood Business concept is a major step in the right direction. It feels more like a fit.
The proposed B1 zoning is consistent with rezonings of other properties in the county along Kings Highway. In town limits, the empty property in front of the Henlopen Gardens condominium community is zoned by Lewes for commercial use. Other commercial properties front both sides of Kings Highway, also in town limits, before residential zoning kicks in. Now the process will continue through public hearings and votes.
But there’s more agreement than ever. All involved want their water protected. All involved want their evacuation routes protected from flooding problems, and all involved want traffic to flow smoothly. All of that is important for consumers and developers.
When the new plans are presented, the public can assess how these concerns are addressed and make comments in public hearings. County planners should then recommend, and county council members should - after 30 days or so for reasonable consideration - cast their votes.
No one wants this issue to linger for no apparent reason. It’s time to move ahead.
