Concerns raised about issues at Hunters Walk
“Traffic just keeps coming and at some point we are going to drown in cars,” she said. “I’d hate for you to be the ones who made that happen.”
The project requires a zoning change. W and J Jones Family LP is asking the county to amend the comprehensive zoning map for two parcels off Kings Highway near Lewes on the lands of the Midway Par 3 golf course.
County council deferred action on the requests: to change a two-acre tract for an office complex from AR-1 (agriculture residential) to CR-1 (commercial residential); and to change a 44-acre parcel for a multi-family housing complex from AR-1 to MR-RPC (medium density – residential planned community).
Planning and zoning has yet to make a recommendation on the requests.
Traffic on Kings Highway has been an ongoing issue. Jim Fuqua, attorney representing the Jones family, stressed the family is prepared to pay its fair share of road and intersection improvements as deemed necessary by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and outlined in a traffic impact study.
Proposed improvements include a roundabout or signal at the Kings Highway-Dartmouth Drive intersection, turn lane at the Route 1-Dartmouth Drive intersection, turn lanes and an improved entrance for Hunters Walk, and bike and pedestrian improvements along Kings Highway.
Other developers, including L.T. Associates, would also be responsible to pay for a portion of the road and intersection improvements. Just how much each developer pays, and exactly which developments will be part of the overall road improvement plan, has yet to be determined.
Golf course to remain
Fuqua said state planners had no objection to the project and actually complimented it. Fuqua said the parcels are located within a growth zone and the proposed development is consistent with other uses in the area.
The developers modified the original plan based on comments from state planners. They removed a connection with the neighboring Fairway Village development, reduced the number of multi-family units and buildings from 178 units in 11 buildings to 144 units in nine buildings and removed parking spaces from the front of the commercial section of the property.
Fuqua said the 12,000-square-foot office complex along Kings Highway would be built first. The office and housing complex would share the same entrance off Kings Highway.
Fuqua said the 144 units would be built in phases in the area currently occupied by the golf course driving range, and be marketed for active adults. He said the 18-hole, par-3 golf course will remain open and be operated by the Jones family. The family has operated the course since 1981.
Concerns for history
Local residents raised traffic problems, but another concern surfaced more succinctly during the council public hearing.
As she did at the planning and zoning public hearing, Lewes resident Betsy Farlow said the land for the proposed project could contain Native American burial grounds. She said there is documented mention of a site passed down in oral histories by generations of local Native Americans.
A survey for possible archaeological or burial sites, completed as part of the state planning process, was negative, Fuqua said
Jules Jackson of Lewes, an indigenous rights activist, said her research on burial sites in the Cape Region goes beyond spoken history. “You do not have to rely on oral history. My research contains several thousands of pages,” she said.
She said a small portion of the Hunters Walk site was part of a 5-acre archaeological survey that revealed evidence of a possible burial site.
She was asked if she was convinced a Nanticoke burial site was located at the site. “I can’t say 100 percent for sure,” she said.
But, she added, there are confirmed burial and archaeological sites throughout the Lewes area, including several along Gills Neck Road. She said it’s probable there are sites of interest included in the 44 acres comprising the Hunters Walk project.
“You are talking about my ancestors, the Nanticokes, and I take this personally,” she said.
The public speaks
Betty Deacon said the new council should take the opportunity during these tough economic times to step back and take inventory. “See what is there, and what is in trouble. What is the real outlook for housing sales?” she asked.
She said it’s becoming harder and harder to determine where the small towns in the Cape Region start because of sprawl, and it wasn’t that way when she moved to the area.
“We are in an environmentally sensitive area. You don’t seem to get it,” said Mike Tyler of Lewes, president of the Citizens Coalition.
Tyler said, at the very least, the developers should scale back the size of the project to the base zoning permitted on the land, which would be two units to an acre. That would cut the units from 144 to 88 units.
Tom Bodie of Lewes said Hunters Walk is an example of reasonable, measured growth.
“Lewes is a magnet because it’s a wonderful place. Believe me, they won’t be the last ones to build in Lewes,” he said.
Planners want more info on golf course
Sussex planning and zoning commissioners are having a tough time making a recommendation on the change of zoning requests from W and J Jones Family LP. After deferring a decision at the Dec. 11 meeting, the commission deferred a decision again during the Wednesday, Jan. 14 meeting.
Commissioner Mike Johnson said he would like clarification from legal counsel on the following: the use of a golf course as open space; what occurs if the golf course ceases operation; and who owns the access road to the golf course, since the road passes through a neighboring development, Fairway Village.
The access road is not being used as access to the proposed Hunters Walk development and business complex, the projects planned for the parcels if the changes of zoning requests are granted. The entrance will be off Kings Highway south of the Dartmouth Drive intersection.
“The golf course is a business, and is that appropriate use of open space?” asked Commission Chairman Robert Wheatley. “Regardless of what happens, we need to structure a condition to make sure there is no question that it’s open space.”
Lawrence Lank, director of planning and zoning, said the golf course lands will be deeded to the condominium owners association and leased to the Jones family to operate. He said there are no plans to cease operation of the golf course. But, if it should ever stop, the course will revert back to the condo owners association. The commission has 45 days to make a recommendation on the requests following the public hearing. The requests will be on the Thursday, Jan. 22 agenda, just three days before the deadline.
