News Briefs 11/27/20

Three hearings on Sussex council agenda

Sussex County Council will meet at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are three public hearings starting at 1:30 p.m. Hillary Brock has filed a conditional-use application for a mini spa at 19950 Beaver Dam Dr. near Lewes; Indian River School District is seeking a rezoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to I-1, industrial district, for a 187-acre parcel for a new Sussex Central High School at 26026 Patriots Way near Georgetown; and Jeff-Kat LLC has filed a rezoning application from AR-1 to C-3, medium commercial district, for a .78-acre parcel to expand Big Oyster Brewery at 1005 Kings Highway, Lewes. The 10:30 a.m. hearing on an amended cluster ordinance in the coastal area has been canceled and will be rescheduled in early 2021. Meetings are in person, livestreamed at www.sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast, and by teleconference at 302-394-5036 with code 570176. Meeting materials are available at www.sussexcountyde.gov/agendas-minutes/county-council. Comments can be emailed to rgriffith@sussexcountyde.gov by 4:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 30.

P&Z rules favorably on applications

At its Nov. 19 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a conditional-use application filed by Hillary Brock for a mini spa at 19950 Beaver Dam Dr. near Lewes. They also recommended approval of a rezoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-3, heavy commercial district, filed by Jeff-Kat LLC for expansion of Big Oyster Brewery at 1005 Kings, Highway, Lewes. Sussex County Council’s hearings on the applications will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

Lewes plans sea-level rise workshop Dec. 1

The City of Lewes will host a virtual sea-level rise workshop at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1. Representatives from eight government agencies, universities and groups will make presentations, including Mike Powell and Gina Tonn from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Shoreline and Water Management Section, Kevin Brinson of the University of Delaware’s Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, Susan Love and Bob Scarborough of DNREC’s Division of Climate and Energy, Danielle Swallow of Delaware Sea Grant, Anne Baker of American Flood Coalition, Jessica Watson of Sussex Conservation District, Jennifer Roushey and Gordon Woodrow from DNREC’s Division of Water, and Kim Hoey Stevenson of Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission. A link to the meeting can be found at lewes.civicweb.net. 

Workshop on Wescoats/Old Orchard project set

Delaware Department of Transportation officials are seeking public input on the proposed realignment and reconstruction of Old Orchard Road/Wescoats Road between the Georgetown-Lewes Trail crossing and Marsh Road in Lewes. A live virtual workshop will be conducted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10. A presentation will be conducted followed by an online question-and-answer session. The public can access the site and comment for a 30-day period beginning Friday, Dec. 11. The workshop link is: deldot.gov/projects/indexshtml?dc=details&projectNumber=T201609601. The project includes a new alignment of Old Orchard Road to create a new four-legged, signalized intersection with Savannah Road, and a new roundabout at the Wescoats Road and Marsh Road intersection. Written comments can be submitted to DelDOT Community Relations PO Box 778, Dover, DE 19903 or sent to dotpr@delaware.gov. The comment deadline will be Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

PSussex council awards grants to nonprofits

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its Nov. 10 meeting: $3,000 to Boy Scouts of America Troop 1 in Lewes to purchase equipment; $3,100 to Sussex Central High School to purchase calculus calculators; $1,500 to Lewes Public Library for its 5th annual Shakespeare Festival planned for April 2021; and $21,000 to Georgetown Historical Society for roofing repairs to the Nutter Marvel complex barrel barn. Rehoboth collects 142 pounds of prescription drugs. As part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department collected 142 pounds of unused, expired and unwanted prescription drugs. “The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a critical public safety and public health issue,” said Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks. Take-back programs are the safest method for disposing of prescription drugs because they are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies. These agencies ensure the proper disposal of the drugs in accordance with federal law.

Sussex council awards nonprofit grants

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its Oct. 27 meeting: $500 to Town of Delmar for its tree-lighting ceremony; $1,000 to Delaware Center for the Inland Bays for a project at the James Farm; and a $5,000 county-wide youth grant to Delaware Community Foundation for Sussex County Health Coalition’s Delaware Goes Purple substance-abuse prevention project.

December 14th DMHOA Conference Call Monthly General Membership Meeting.

The Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association (DMHOA) is a nonprofit organization and the only legislative advocate representing the interests of manufactured housing homeowners living on leased land in Delaware. Our December 14th General Membership meeting will be conducted as conference call. Dial in number: 978-990-5000  Access Code: 907460#. For best reception use a land line. Meeting call starts promptly at 6:30 pm and open to anyone living in manufactured housing on leased land.  For more information visit: www.dmhoa.org or check out our Facebook page: dmhoahu or call 302-945-2122.

Developers seek rezoning for Route 9 land near Lewes

Local developers have plans to build offices on a 2.5-acre parcel on the north side of Route 9 west of Lewes. Preston and Mason Dryer, managing members of Millsboro Town Center III LLC, have filed an application to rezone the parcel from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-2, medium commercial district. The property is vacant and wooded and is located near The Brimming Horn Meadery. Included in the plans is access to the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail, which borders the property. At its Nov. 19 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning commissioners deferred a vote to a future meeting. Sussex County Council will have a hearing on the application at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in the county administration building.