When does it end? For the past few months, I’ve sat on the sidelines reading about this new development or that new one and thought, “when will this end?” I know it’s not realistic to say when there is no more green space, no more trees left. There is preserved acreage here and there, remaining farms, old communities like mine with ample common areas. Looking at the Driscoll Drone photos I’ve seen on social media, the devastation is clear. Aerial photos make a big impression and the drone photos show how overdevelopment has affected the landscape of Sussex County. Let me be clear, Sussex County is under assault from development and the future is not pretty.
My position has always been that responsible development is fine; development with commensurate infrastructure is fine. But we have neither. Developers want greater density, want to intrude on wetlands, want loopholes in the buffer ordinance so more land for building can be harvested. And for what, more money? Let’s be clear, development is not about bringing happiness and serenity to potential homebuyers, it’s about making more money.
As for infrastructure, our roads are clogged now, schools are at capacity when built, there are not enough hospital beds when they are most needed. We need more doctors, more first responders. Has anyone tried to get an appointment with a doctor or veterinarian and been told you will have to wait six months? And our restaurants are begging for help. Trade businesses can’t satisfy demand. And what about postal workers? We don’t think about the affect adding thousands of homes will have on the already-taxed postal system. Advertising always says “just minutes to the beach.” Who are they kidding? And when people get to the beach, where do they park? And it’s not just the beach parking lots in the summer months that will be full. They are full most of the time now!
The Coral Lakes development is a poster child for what a development should not be! If there is any development that cries to be denied, it is this one. This is not responsible development – not even close. The many letters to this paper have outlined the case against this development. As a person who uses Robinsonville Road, I am angry at what has happened to that narrow, two-lane winding road. Sure there will be improvements in front of a development, but they will disappear at the end of the development. And that will be repeated with each development. So the road will widen, then narrow again, repeatedly; how will this help? Sussex County is replete with two-lane roads that go to two-lane roads, few that can handle the traffic now or the bike traffic that is invited to share with cars. Sussex County is sitting on millions of extra dollars fueled by real estate transfer taxes; Sussex County Council, fund the Funding Accelerating Safety in Transportation program faster!
One excellent letter recently called for us to “be seen, be heard.” To that I add, run for office, vote for change! Current resident discontent has not been taken seriously. If the Sussex County Council members are not seeing, or choose not to see, what is happening to Sussex County, do not see that our quality of life is slipping away, then we need members who do.
When does it end? It can end when council members open their eyes to what is happening in Sussex County. It can end when they choose to listen to constituent concerns. Or it will end when residents stand up and vote for council members who will slow down development.
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