Three people appeared before the Cape Henlopen school board, asking it to take a position on the proposed Lingo-Townsend rezoning. The land sits directly across from the new high school, but the board did not discuss the development or add it to the agenda.
John Matyeko asked the board to become involved. “There is a tremendous public investment we all have in the new Cape Henlopen High School. The rezone would allow more than 30 uses of that land,” he said.
He asked board members to use the same sort of judgment any landowner would to protect property. Matyeko cited tremendous public opposition to the project and said in neighboring states, including New Jersey, it is illegal to put a shopping center across from a school.
Jules Jackson, Cape alumna, said she was dismayed to learn the board had not addressed and had not condemned the large shopping center planned for open fields across Kings Highway from the high school complex.
The development, which would go on Native American burial grounds, would create large areas of impervious surfaces over aquifers, she said.
Lewes resident Nadine Wick also addressed the issue at the Thursday, Sept. 24, board meeting. At the meeting Sept. 10, board member Esthelda Parker Selby said the board needed to discuss the project issue because of the volume of public comments she has received.
Last year, the board voted to take no position on the matter.
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