Some Sussex hearings will take place at Del Tech
Sussex County Council and Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold some land-use public hearings at a different venue to start 2021.
“The county is finalizing its plans to utilize the Delaware Technical Community College Georgetown campus for future land-use public hearings that may generate crowds too large for council chambers in the administration building on The Circle,” said County Administrator Todd Lawson. “Del Tech offers flexibility for us to host these hearings and not have to turn members of the public away due to capacity issues.”
When Phase 2 COVID-19 state of emergency guidelines were instituted, Sussex County government began in-person meetings on June 30 for county council and July 9 for planning and zoning. However, because of social distancing requirements, seating has been limited to 30 people in council chambers.
Prior to moving back to in-person meetings, teleconference and livestream meetings took place starting the first week in April.
It was decided that hearings on applications with the possibility of generating large crowds would be postponed. That action has been criticized by some developers who have pending applications.
Not all meetings will take place at Delaware Tech. Lawson said county council will likely have one meeting there a month starting in February. Start times for the meetings at the college have yet to be determined.
At their Nov. 19 meeting, planning and zoning commissioners discussed the move. Tentatively, one meeting per month January through May is scheduled to take place in the Carter Partnership Center's conference/classrooms.
Commission Chairman Bob Wheatley said a lot of logistics work between county staff and college staff has gone on behind the scenes to integrate the county's virtual technology into the college system.
During a recent hearing, Wheatley acknowledged the frustration expressed by developers whose applications have been postponed.
“Let's not hold these people up; let's roll,” Wheatley said.
Forty applications in the pipeline
Lawson said there are 20 conditional-use and 20 rezoning applications in the pipeline for public hearings. He said under current restrictions, it will take most of 2021 to knock down the backlog of applications.
“Each of these has the potential to draw large crowds because of complexity or location, or on feedback from the public we've already received. We know people will weigh in and we have to be prepared for that,” Lawson said. “We want to make sure hearings are fair with public comment and in compliance with COVID restrictions.”
Keeping remote testimony?
Wheatley said at some point in the future, COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted and meetings will return to normal. He said maintaining remote testimony is being promoted by several people.
Commissioners agreed that testimony should be presented in writing or given in person during public hearings. “These are serious matters, and if someone wants to speak they should be in the room,” Wheatley said.
“It's a clearer record and a clearer process to have everybody here in person,” said Vince Robertson, assistant county attorney.
Wheatley said county council members will make the final decision on allowing remote testimony.
