Overfall Preserve gains preliminary approval

The future of the Overfall Preserve townhome development is now in the hands of Lewes Mayor and City Council, after winning approval from the Lewes Planning Commission.

The commission voted 5-1 to recommend the preliminary site plan at a special meeting Jan. 29. The panel attached 25 conditions to the plan, many aimed at what commissioners see as an unsafe configuration for traffic.

Overfall Preserve would be a 90-unit townhome community located on 12.67 acres along Savannah Road, on what was previously known as the Warrington property.

It would be located next to the Dutchman’s Harvest workforce housing development. The two communities would share a single entrance and exit onto Savannah Road.

The developments are at the head of the busy Savannah Road corridor that includes a crossing for the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail and Lewes Brewing Company.

Connectivity between Savannah Road and Kings Highway was again the main driver of the commission’s discussion.

Currently, the only way to get from Overfall Preserve to Kings Highway would be to cut through the parking lots of neighboring Dutchman’s Harvest and the Lodge at Historic Lewes.

Some commissioners, and the Historic Lewes Byway Committee, favor a straight-through road that would connect the two major arteries. The city’s comprehensive plan also encourages connectivity.

But, Commissioner Thierry Poirey said the commission should put connectivity on the back burner and focus on the safety of the Savannah Road entrance.

“There is a conflict between safety and connectivity. I would rather slaughter the sacred cow of connectivity than see our children be killed on the road,” Poirey said.

Right now, the preliminary site plan shows a stub road ending at the 10-acre Plummer property, which is just north of Overfall Preserve.

Developers had foreseen a future connector road running through that parcel when it is developed, but George Plummer, owner of the property, has told the city his land is not for sale.

“Our family would not and will not entertain the sale of part of our property for the purpose of a road to connect Savannah Road to Kings Highway,” Plummer said in a Jan. 25 letter to the commmission.

Commissioner Debra Evalds was the only vote against recommending the application, partly because of connectivity.

“I think we cannot have a stub road there because it gives a false sense of interconnectivity when there isn’t any,” Evalds said.

The commissioners did recommend the stub road be built as an option for future connectivity.

One of the conditions that was approved recommends that mayor and city council order a Delaware Department of Transportation traffic study of the impact the proposed development would have on traffic within a half-mile radius. Some commissioners suggested there should be a traffic light at Dutchman’s Avenue and Savannah Road.

The commissioners also unanimously approved a condition requiring the architectural style of the townhomes to match the historical nature of Lewes.

Other conditions that passed have to do with the species and number of trees to be planted in the community, usable open space and additional amenities for resident use.

The commission also recommended two waivers requested by the developer: elimination of the sidewalk on the northwest side of Dutchman’s Avenue and reduction of the right of way from 54 to 50 feet to allow planting of more trees.

“I believe these conditions we have placed on this are going to markedly improve this application regarding safety and regarding making it more compatible with our comprehensive plan,” said Commissioner Rich Innes. “This has convinced me that we do need to put a moratorium on development while we get a handle on our code, so we don’t find ourselves having to approve developments that are adding to intolerable congestion.”

Mayor and city council is expected to schedule a public hearing on Overfall Preserve at a later date.