Sussex has work to do on water, roads

Sussex County Council is expected to vote Dec. 13 on a zoning change for Gills Neck Village Center – nearly a decade after the project first surfaced before state planning officials.

Whatever the vote, this project raises issues that demand action.

The first is protection for the water supply, especially in the area of Lewes' well field. Opponents of the shopping center say the area all around the well field has seen so much development, more must be done to ensure the city's wells – just across the street from the proposed project – are protected.

Protecting water resources is complicated; the last time the county took up the issue, in 2008, it took months of debate and revision before the ordinance was passed. But since then, impervious surfaces have covered many acres of eastern Sussex County, increasing runoff and reducing groundwater recharge. Adding to that, saltwater intrusion looms as an increasing threat.

Sussex County officials must step up their role in monitoring development in groundwater recharge areas and ensuring the future health of water supplies throughout the county.

The second issue is traffic. State transportation officials, in a virtually incomprehensible letter to council about the Village Center project, told county officials that, had they enacted a public facilities ordinance, DelDOT could require developers to ensure intersections near the project would not fail, a far higher standard for improvements than what is currently required.

Unlike Kent and New Castle, Sussex has not adopted an ordinance giving it the power to require these more significant improvements.

Whatever council decides about Gills Neck Village Center, it is critical to take action on county ordinances to ensure our water sources remain properly protected and to require higher contributions from developers when it comes to major intersections.

As the population continues its rapid rise in the coastal area, Sussex must rise to the occasion. County officials must take action to enact the necessary ordinances to protect our water and improve our roads.