Stop changing Delaware

I finished my first year of university, aching to return home. However, once I arrived, the trees I used to see every day were gone. All that was left were their bare trunks and broken limbs on the dry ground, waiting to be cleared.

Over the years, Sussex County has seen drastic changes not only in demographics but also land. From 1998 to 2021, Sussex County lost 43,000 acres of forestland – nine times the size of Cape Henlopen State Park. Recently, increased construction for housing developments has caused deforestation. With Delaware’s population increasing to about 1 million people in July 2023, Delaware has shifted its focus to building more single-family homes in Laurel, Milton, Middletown and other towns.

Housing developments are taking the place of beautiful green pastures, fields and woods. The plans are taking place up and down the state, with a proposal of an average of 507 homes per project. My brother, Jesus, is an electrician who has been working on these new homes in the Lewes area for the past year. He is assigned to one or more developments at a time.

“I don’t fully support the huge increase in these homes since it’s bringing more people to the area, making traffic even worse. Not only that, but it’s taking away the scenic nature of the Delaware I grew up with. Even then, it’s what provides me with an income,” my brother said.

I recently had the opportunity to accompany him on a job, and he gave me the tour of all the developments he had worked on. The first development had 10 houses that were sold and waiting on final details. However, half of the area remained mud and ugly concrete, with contractor signs marking lots for future homeowners. A 10-minute drive around, and you see at least three neighborhoods with finished, occupied houses or frames that have been started. I was astonished and frustrated by the number of houses being built at one time. Farmland was gone. Delaware is unrecognizable. What will this do to the environment and people living here?

The state has been striving to reduce CO2 emissions. However, with more people arriving, there has been traffic congestion and massive hold-ups on major routes like Routes 113, 20 and 24. Delaware officials proposed to construct a bypass in Millsboro to help with traffic. But doesn’t this contradict their goals to reduce CO2 emissions? A main goal in Delaware’s Climate Action Plan is to have more options to get around without a car and using other modes of transportation. Yet, building a bypass undermines that goal.

We need officials to rethink these big projects, as they have serious long-term effects on our society and the environment. Delaware holds planning and zoning commission public meetings in each county to discuss upcoming projects and finalized projects happening near you. Learn about what could be happening in your area and act on what your officials are proposing. Stop changing Delaware.