Rehoboth studying parking, traffic this summer

Rehoboth Beach has seen a change in traffic and transportation habits over the past few years. Looking to quantify that change – and to guide future decisions – city commissioners have hired a contractor to study traffic and parking this summer.

During a meeting April 21, commissioners unanimously approved a $150,000 contract for Maryland-based Rossi Group to conduct a traffic and transportation study. The company helped the city through its proposed redesign of the streetscapes on Baltimore and Wilmington avenues. This study is an extension of that original work.

“The traffic and transportation study will identify current traffic and parking patterns and problems and provide clear improvement options and recommendations for implementable goals and action items,” said Rita Ossiander, Rossi Group president, in a letter to Assistant City Manager Evan Miller.

According to the scope of services document associated with the contract, data collection will begin almost immediately, with a final report submitted about this time next year. Commissioners said it will be critical to get the report as soon as possible so they can implement any proposed changes in time for summer 2024.

City Manager Laurence Christian said he hopes the report will be ready no later than February.

Public surveys and public meetings will be part of data collection. 

Rossi Group has proposed updates in October and March, but Commissioner Toni Sharp said she expects Christian and Miller to keep commissioners updated throughout the process. They both said they are on board.

There is a $50,000 add-on to the contract for Rossi Group to conduct traffic counts and data collection if the necessary data is not readily available. Christian said the city has a lot of information available and will reach out to other agencies such as Delaware Department of Transportation for as much information as possible.

Commissioners acknowledge this money could be necessary, but the motion to approve did not specifically allow for it. Instead, at the request of Christian, a request for the additional money will come back before the commissioners for approval if necessary. 

At the end of the study, Rossi will provide the city with a list of possible improvements and recommendations, including citywide speed reductions and traffic-calming measures; traffic capacity and traffic flow enhancements; improvements to strategic intersections; recommendations on parking with the goal to address demand; recommendations for commercial and ride-share loading, unloading and parking; and more.

Code on expiration of variances changed

Recognizing city code didn’t realistically provide sufficient time for large-scale commercial projects to get through the city’s review process, commissioners unanimously approved a change modifying the expiration of variances granted by the board of adjustment for projects that require site-plan review.

Previously, a special exception or variance expired if the applicant failed to obtain a building permit or failed to change the use within six months of board of adjustment approval. 

Now, a special exception or variance will expire if the applicant fails to apply for site-plan review within 45 days of its granting. Further, the variance expires if the applicant fails to obtain a demolition permit or building permit, or fails to change the use within six months from the date of final site-plan approval. If no site-plan review is required, the variance will expire in six months unless the applicant has obtained a demolition or building permit.

This change was brought about in large part because of the proposed Belhaven Hotel – a four-story, 115,000-square-foot structure that includes ground-floor retail, underground parking and 116 rooms. The project site stretches the width of the block from Rehoboth Avenue south to Wilmington Avenue and also fronts the Boardwalk.

Prior to the vote, City Solicitor Glenn Mandalas said the change would be applied to the Belhaven project, but he said it would also be applied to other large projects that are expected to come before the city in the coming months.