I believe the deliberations on Cool Spring Crossing Tuesday, Nov. 4, will be critical to the credibility of Sussex County Council. My position is that county council will send a message to the residents about its planning processes.
While council tells us that the comprehensive planning process and its land-use map are foundational to council's decision-making on developers’ requests for a change in zoning, council's frequent granting of changes to the map sends the message that developers with deep pockets can obtain zoning changes against residents' strong objections to the changes.
Second, two of the three council members who were elected on the platform for restraining huge developers’ use of lands not zoned for multiple uses voted for the approval of changes in zoning for Northstar.
Additionally, one of the newly elected council members set the motion for a temporary moratorium on new building, then hems and haws when Councilwoman Jane Gruenebaum makes a similar motion.
These kinds of flip-flops feel like lies to many of us residents. Furthermore, residents have the fear the working group recommendations will not be substantially studied and implemented prior to developers squeezing in additional requests for changes in zoning.
The impression among many residents is that their voices and their votes are futile to swaying deaf council members "to walk the talk." Can council members be trusted to be sincere guardians of their word and their promise to serve the common good?
My request is to have a spine against the Cool Spring Crossing developer: Vote no to alternative A, 918 single-family homes and 1,004 condos/townhouses, along with 450,975 square feet of commercial and nonresidential space that will make the community the fourth-largest community in Sussex, which will generate an average of 33,359 added daily vehicle trips.
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