News Briefs 08/28/20

Henlopen Acres hearing on rental ordinance set

Henlopen Acres has scheduled a public hearing on changes to the rental ordinance for 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 31, in the ballroom of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club, 221 West Side Drive, Rehoboth Beach. All attendees will be required to wear a face mask. As proposed, beginning Jan. 1, 2021, the ordinance would limit current owners to renting their property up to six times a year for a minimum period of at least one week. The ordinance would also limit new owners to renting their property up to six times a year for a minimum period of at least one month. All owners will be required to submit a copy of rentals to town hall at least two weeks prior to any rental, and subletting will be prohibited. All residents are welcome at the hearing or comments can be sent to town hall by mail at Town of Henlopen Acres, 104 Tidewaters, Henlopen Acres, DE 19971, or by email to townhall@henlopenacres.com. For more information call town hall at 302-227-6411.

Special Rehoboth meeting set Sept. 1

Rehoboth Beach has scheduled a special commissioner meeting for 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1. The meeting will take place virtually. The agenda calls for further discussion on a comprehensive action plan for reopening the city from restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the public wishing to speak will be required to preregister with City Secretary Ann Womack at least two days prior to the meeting. She can be contacted at awomack@cityofrehoboth.com. Meeting materials is accessible on the city’s portal at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

Rehoboth commission approves tree removal

The Rehoboth Beach Parks & Shade Tree Commission approved the removal of six trees during a meeting Aug. 24. In the first case, an appeal hearing for the property at 127 Rodney St., the commission approved the removal of two trees on private property, with the condition of planting an appropriate canopy tree. In this case, the owners also requested the removal of a street tree, but the commission delayed a decision in favor of more information related to placement of utilities. In the second case, for the property at 405 Stockley St., the commission approved the removal of four trees and undergrowth in the city’s right of way.

Rehoboth BoA denies variance request

During a meeting Aug. 24, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment unanimously denied a request for variances from the property owners of 100 East Lake Drive to allow both the front and rear setbacks to measure 10 feet on the lot. The property, trapezoidal in shape, is located in the R-1 Residential District, which has setback minimums of 15 feet.The board’s primary reasons for denying the request were that the owners didn’t prove an exceptional practical difficulty and that house plans were not submitted.

Hotel, restaurant application in process

At its Aug. 25 meeting, Sussex County Council introduced a zoning ordinance for a conditional use filed by Carl M. Freeman Companies for a hotel and restaurant on a 9-acre, AR-1, agricultural-residential, parcel on the northwest side of Lighthouse Road and Bennett Avenue near Fenwick Island. The application will be scheduled at a later date for public hearings before the planning and zoning and council.

Sussex council off next three weeks

Sussex County Council will not meet on Tuesday, Sept. 1, Sept. 8 or Sept. 15. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

SDARJ to host youth activism virtual meeting

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will host a webinar on Youth, Race, and Community Activism at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 8. A panel of young activists will discuss the interface of race and community activism from their perspective as youthful observers. Invited panelists include Jazmine Elzey, Jaylyn Powell, Sussex organizer with the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, Kyle Sheppard and Sade Truiett from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Civic Engagement Project. To register for the webinar, go to youthraceactivism.eventbrite.com, or go to www.sdarj.org for more information.

LCOS Rehoboth adds Blessing Box for needy

The Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rehoboth recently added a Blessing Box in its parking lot, filled with nonperishable items for anyone in need. Donations are welcome; the guideline is “Take what you need and bring what you can.” The church is at 20276 Bay Vista Road behind Big Fish Grill and the box is at the parking lot entrance on Martin Street. For more information, go to www.lcosrehoboth.org.

UUSD online service set Aug. 30

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware, an inclusive religious community, will hold an online service at 10 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 30; the topic will be mysteries. For more information, go to www.uussd.org.

Fiorello La Guardia program set Oct. 22

Jo-Ann Vega will present Celebrating Italian-Americans: Fiorello La Guardia from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, in cooperation with the Lewes Public Library. For more information and to register, call 302-645-2733.