At its Jan. 26 meeting, the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved subdivision plans for Wynford Preserve with 100 single-family home lots on 50.5 acres along Prettyman Road, northeast of the Route 9 intersection, near Harbeson.

Included in the conditions listed by Commissioner Holly Wingate and approved by the commission is a notice that the chemical tricholroethylene, or TCE, a solvent used for degreasing metal parts, has been detected by state environmental officials in the area's groundwater and that no irrigation wells serving individual lots are permitted. A community irrigation well must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

During public hearing testimony, Makenzie Peet, an attorney representing developer Insight Homes, said the contamination was discovered on the Homestead Campground property and a new well was dug to provide drinking water to the site. “There is no active testing on this property and they have not found any contamination,” she said.

Wingate said the project meets the standards for a cluster subdivision, which are superior to a standard subdivision, with central water and sewer services, a substantial amount of open space and buffers with the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas on the parcel.

She said the subdivision is consistent with the adjacent Hawthorne subdivision with interconnection provided between the two communities, both developed by Insight Homes.

Conditions include a minimum 40-foot vegetated buffer along areas adjacent to existing homes, which includes a 4-foot earthen vegetated berm and fencing. Wingate said the berm must be in place prior to the issuance of the first building permit.

In addition, she said, if the proposed berm cannot be constructed, the commission would schedule another hearing to alert the public.

Amenities, including a pool and clubhouse, must be constructed on or before the issuance of the 60th building permit. Construction hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.