Let’s talk medical schools and housing

It’s been a while since I have written about the Sussex Economic Development Action Committee, but after these upcoming comments, you all may be happy that I have not written.

There are a number of issues SEDAC has been involved with since my last column. First, let’s talk about building a medical school in Sussex County. The final report has been delivered to our committee. The report can be found at www.sedac-de.org. Again, let me thank all the donors who provided the first step in deciding whether a medical school in Sussex County is possible. These donors include Sussex County Council, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Blueprints Grant, Christian & Julie Hudson Family Foundation, The Freeman Foundation, Delaware Electric Cooperative, Chesapeake Utilities, Fulton Bank, Bayhealth, Beebe Healthcare, Tidalhealth and, of course, SEDAC itself. I want to especially thank our medical school committee. These folks are all volunteers and spent hours working with the internationally known consultant, Tripp Umbach, as well as the Sussex County medical community. 

The second issue is housing. In reality, every issue in Sussex comes back to housing. You can’t keep our young people here or bring new industry to Sussex without housing. Toward that end, SEDAC has created two housing committees, one to deal with affordable housing and another to deal with workforce housing. We believe that affordable housing needs a large increase in government and private funds, and that there are existing agencies and not-for-profit organizations that are doing the job now. They all need more money and less government interference, and our committee will work to develop some recommendations that will help with these programs. 

Our second group is focused on workforce housing. Our young people who want to stay in Sussex County and those who wish to work here must have a place to call their own, and, yes, it has to be close to where they work. Two major problems stand in the way – the cost of housing, and government fees and regulations. Government fees and time delays add thousands to the cost of a home. Zoning regulations must be developed that allow for increased density if there is to be any hope for more homes.

The General Assembly has introduced seven bills that affect housing, but this is just a start. None of them correct the problem, but they are, at least, a start. Let me give an example of how even the best attempts to correct this problem can go awry. Senate Bill 22 proposes a new housing program, but it is limited to the State Levels 1 and 2 areas, which contain the most expensive land in the state. You think that will solve any problems?

We have communicated SEDAC’s concerns to the Sussex delegation. We included a recommendation that will help with the cost of any proposed legislation that deals with land regulation. Very simply, we have suggested that any piece of legislation dealing with this topic have a fiscal note attached that clearly and accurately spells out the additional costs that, if passed, will add to the price of a home. Surprisingly, there has been no action on this suggestion as of yet. The only solutions I have heard from those who oppose growth are increase the size of the buffers, not in my backyard and plant more trees. I have yet to hear a suggestion about increasing housing availabilities in all areas of Sussex. 

How about a new approach? Let’s see if we all can work together to see that we have more housing so our young people can stay here, jobs that enable them to stay can be found in Sussex County, and the state finally begins to increase road capacity for those of us who live here in Sussex County.