Lewes Mayor and City Council are reviewing recommendations from the Lewes Planning Commission that would establish a wetlands buffer ordinance in Lewes. This is an unprecedented opportunity for our elected officials to protect our community, today and into the future. As concerned citizens, we believe mayor and council should expand upon the recommended ordinance and adopt a more robust statute that preserves the fragile environment we call home.
Governmental decisions about land use in our coastal community require facts based on science. That is why we urge mayor and council to engage experts from the scientific community. Last year the city retained a hydrologist to prepare flood study models in the Canary Creek Basin. The data from that study helped to guide their deliberations and inform their decisions. We urge council to again be guided by science and best practices in making its decisions on the buffer ordinance.
A quick look at other jurisdictions in Delaware identifies bolder approaches throughout the state. Both New Castle County and Kent County have enacted buffer zones twice the size of the Lewes planners’ recommended 50-foot buffer. Sussex County is considering a 100-foot buffer. What is the rationale for Lewes doing less? 50 percent less? At a minimum Lewes must require a 100-foot wetlands buffer.
We applaud the planning commission and the mayor and city council for their initiative. We’d love to give them a standing ovation for leadership by enacting a strong wetlands buffer ordinance that will protect Lewes from the hazards associated with sea level rise.
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