P&Z turns its back to Terrapin Island opposition

This letter is in response to the article in the Cape Gazette July 9-July 12 edition on the proposed Terrapin Island subdivision which will be adjacent to Bayfront at Rehoboth where we are residents. My husband Fred was present at the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing June 24.  I watched the entire meeting from home.

A lot of facts were given in your article from the proposed developer but more needs to be said in opposition.  Our HOA members and homeowners spent months doing research to support concerns about this subdivision. Yet, at the meeting, a good number of the speakers were rudely shut down by Commission Chair Bob Wheatley, stating that they were not giving more information but rather repeating the same issues.  This was not the case. 

One speaker spoke about the loss of habitat for the birds and animals in an already shrinking free space everywhere; another spoke of the danger of flooding due to the fact that more than 30 percent of the parcel contains wetlands, eight acres of non-tidal wetlands and nearly four acres of tidal wetlands, and the removal of 14 of the 23 acres of woods on the property which would absorb much of the water in the area.

Another spoke about the question of where will this excess water go? Another had many photos which were supplied ahead of time (but which photos interestingly could not be located despite the appropriate page numbers being supplied).  The importance of the photos was to show that the area around the proposed construction site, which is composed of both wetlands and saltwater marsh, has been flooded in the past by nor’easters and minor storm surges, causing the entire marsh area to be totally underwater up to the proposed property line of the new subdivision.  The photos presented by the developer’s lawyer showed the line used for the buffers along the tidal wetlands in the incorrect place.  Instead of being at the property line, the line was 50 feet into the marshland.  Regarding the excess water, the explanation given was that the developer would create swales and divert the water.  Still, not where would it go. 

The attitude to our speakers was disappointing, to say the least, and not consistent with the purpose of getting information pertinent to our opposition to the project.  The application for this projected subdivision was filed originally as Salt Cedar in August 2020.  Yet, despite changes to the original application that included more than just a name change, it was accepted  as Terrapin Island on the originally submitted date so it would not be subject to the cluster ordinance requirements as amended Feb. 2, 2021.  We stated, as such, it should have been considered a new application but there was no factual explanation or precedent given as to why it was not a new application. There was also a safety issue of them building two road crossings of about one-quarter acre over tidal wetlands.  We also question their request for a waiver of the code limit of 1,000 feet to 2,351 feet for a cul-de-sac where four large single homes would be located.  Our contention was that this would not allow sufficient space for emergency equipment to come into the community in the event of an emergency.  This request exceeds all county standards and is a safety problem.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has an ongoing marsh restoration program.  How can roads be built over wetlands and ignore this restoration plan?  Does the Terrapin Island project protect environmental features? If not, then just say no. Yet, on July 8, the above committee voted to send the proposal on for further review.  They were not bothered by the information given by the homeowners nor the issue of the length of the cul-de-sac.  Very disappointing to Bayfront and to us as residents of Sussex County.  Reminds one of a song, “…call some place Paradise, kiss it goodbye…”