News Briefs 12/28/18
Rehoboth convention center, wedding rate changes approved
Prompted by negative feedback over rate increases set to begin Jan. 1 for the convention center and beach weddings, Rehoboth commissioners voted to change the increases during a Dec. 21 meeting. The rates are still going to increase, just not as much. As approved, the convention center daily rates for for-profit groups will be $600, Monday through Thursday, and $1,500, Friday through Sunday. The daily rates for nonprofit groups will be $550, Monday through Thursday, and $1,000, Friday through Sunday.Beach wedding rates will be $200, which includes a nonrefundable $50 permit fee.
Carney opposes seismic testing, drilling
Following the announcement that the Trump administration authorized airgun use in waters off the East Coast, Gov. John Carney and a group of bipartisan governors urged Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to halt harmful seismic testing and offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
The governors urged the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Commerce to deny all permit applications for seismic testing, exclude the waters off the East Coast from the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for offshore drilling, avoid issuing further IHAs for seismic airgun surveys and prevent any future offshore drilling efforts in the Atlantic Ocean.
“As the governors of 10 states on the Atlantic seaboard, we write to reiterate our strong opposition to seismic airgun surveys and oil and gas drilling off our coasts,” the governors wrote in a Dec. 20 letter. “These activities pose an unacceptable and unnecessary threat to our coastal ecosystems and coastal economies.”
The letter was also signed by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker; North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan; Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy; South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster; New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy; Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam; and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo.
According to the press release announcing the joint letter, seismic testing and offshore drilling pose significant economic and environmental threats to communities along the Atlantic Coast, which generate more than $98 billion in gross domestic product each year.
Spring Arbor gets preliminary approval
At its Dec. 20 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a preliminary site plan for Spring Arbor, a 3-story, 102-bed assisted living facility on a 10-acre parcel along Plantation Road between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. On Feb. 6, the county board of adjustment approved an application filed by J.G. Townsend Jr. & Co. and Plantation Partners for a special-use exception for the facility. The final site plan with all state and county agency approvals must be submitted to the planning and zoning commission for review and approval.
Tanager Woods gets preliminary approval
The Tanager Woods subdivision, located along Robinsonville Road near Lewes, has moved a step closer to the construction phase. At its Dec. 20 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission granted preliminary approval to the development’s site plan that includes 168 single-family lots on 103 acres.
The subdivision will have central water and sewer, a pool, clubhouse and multiuse sports court, sidewalks on both sides of tree-lined streets, 30-foot minimum landscaped or forested buffers around the perimeter, with 50-foot buffers along agricultural parcels and 20 foot buffers from wetlands.
Among conditions placed on the project, Commissioner Kim Hoey Stevenson said lots 65 to 72 in the southeast corner of the property must be relocated out of the flight path of an existing airstrip adjacent to the development. She said a notice must be provided to all potential home buyers that an airport exists next to the community. A final site plan must be reviewed and approved by the commission.
Walden projects on Route 24 move forward
At its Dec. 20 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission gave approval to the final site plan for Walden I subdivision – formerly Burtons Pond – at the intersection of Route 24 and Hollymount Road near Long Neck. The community will have 265 single-family lots on 159 acres.
The developer will be required to make substantial road improvements including a traffic signal at Route 24 and Hollymount Road, realignment of Sloan Road to the intersection of Hollymount Road and Route 24, widening of Hollymount Road and Route 24 to add new turn lanes and a multi-use path along Hollymount Road, the entrance road for the proposed project.
In addition, the commission granted preliminary approval to Walden II, a 100-unit townhouse project along Route 24 and Sloan Road across from Walden I. Once agency approvals are granted, the developer can submit a site plan to the commission.
Plans call for Argo’s Corner self-storage warehouse
A 109,000-square-foot self-storage warehouse is planned on an 11-acre parcel at the intersection of Route 1 and Argo’s Corner Road near Milford. At its Dec. 20 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission granted preliminary approval of the site plan pending state agency approvals. The facility will have 85,300 square feet of climate-controlled storage and 24,000 square feet of nonclimate-controlled storage.
Portion of Beaver Dam Road to close Jan. 7
The Delaware Department of Transportation announced Dec. 21 that beginning 7 a.m., Monday, Jan. 7, Beaver Dam Road will be closed between Fisher and Kendale roads for the replacement of a box culvert. DelDOT said, pending weather, the work is expected to last until 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22. DelDOT said its contractor, Zacks Excavating Inc., will be removing the corrugated metal pipe arch and replacing the pipe with a reinforced concrete box culvert.
Additional work may include the installation of a guardrail, reconstruction of roadway approaches, and placement of riprap in the stream to reduce further erosion. Detour signage and message boards will be posted for motorists.
Rehoboth town hall Jan. 5 on wastewater transfer to county
Rehoboth officials have set a town hall for the proposed transition of the city’s wastewater treatment facility to Sussex County for 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 5. The meeting will be held in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The public is invited to attend this meeting featuring information on the proposed transfer of the city’s wastewater operations, public comment, questions and answers. For the meeting agenda, go to www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net/portal. To live stream the meeting, click on the video button above the meeting agenda or go to youtube.com/c/rehobothbeach. Direct questions to the city’s communications department at 302-227-6181 Ext. 522 or to communications@cityofrehoboth.com.
