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Northstar is a nightmare ripe for calamity

March 11, 2025

The Northstar development proposes 758 single-family homes and 94 affordable housing townhomes on Route 9. The Northstar development recommendations have been forwarded to Sussex County Council by the planning & zoning commission.  

Considering the state and Sussex County Council just met Feb. 25, with the prospect of a working group discussing land use, that is a call to pause aggressive development. 

The way land-use planning has valued capitalism over the health, safety and quality of Sussex County residents’ lives is remarkably inefficient. The imbalances of already approved, expensive subdivisions over workforce and affordable housing are disservices not only to current residents but also those marketed to live here. Literally destroying our valued natural resources impacts everyone’s health. State and county road improvements lag behind due to poor planning, impacting everyone’s safety. So why on earth is Northstar even a consideration? Route 9 is a major evacuation route. The math proves irresponsibility with total disregard for Sussex County being the lowest-lying county in the country. Mother Nature does not discriminate.

Capitalism that serves all the people provides more productivity in our economy. It is my profound hope that the agreed-upon working group finds the economic calculus that measures investment that stabilizes our land resources.   

Northstar is truly a nightmare ripe for calamity. Council representatives, I implore you to measure all your constituents’ health, safety and quality of life carefully versus the obvious consequences when considering Northstar.  

Kerry Russo
Lewes
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