Sussex wants DelDOT at sewer hearing

Sussex County Council made it clear it wants a state transportation official at an upcoming public hearing for a proposed expansion of the Oak Orchard sewer district to the new Ferry Cove development along Route 24.

The location of the development, east of Mountaire Farms, is also the location of options for a proposed eastern Millsboro bypass to relieve traffic on Route 113. Although construction of a bypass is several years in the future, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) officials have said they want to preserve a corridor to allow for a new road and bridge over the Indian River in the eastern portion of the development. More than 390 units are scheduled for construction in Ferry Cove.

DelDOT issued an entrance permit to developer Richard Demmitt of Ferry Cove LLC in Clarksville, Md., but the agency opposes the expansion of central sewer to the development because it would drive up cost of the land for DelDOT right-of-way purchase, said DelDOT spokeswoman Tina Shockley.

She said the entrance permit was granted because DelDOT has not yet identified a corridor for the proposed bypass. “We don’t have a reason to not recommend the project move forward,” she said. “As of now, he is fine to construct Phases 1 to 7 of his development, but later phases would conflict with the Route 113 bypass project,” she said.

County engineer Mike Izzo said the developer is required to connect to county sewer because a condition of approval was connection to the system. Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, said the county is in dire need of infrastructure and it would be best if council’s actions did not add to DelDOT’s costs. The public hearing on the expansion of the sewer district is scheduled for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9.