Sussex council approves Big Oyster rezoning
Sussex County Council has unanimously approved a rezoning request for a small parcel along Kings Highway in Lewes to allow for expansion of Big Oyster Brewing.
Owners Jeff-Kat LLC filed to rezone a .78-acre parcel at 1005 Kings Highway from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-3, heavy commercial district.
But the vote didn't come without questions about the progress of a proposed Kings Highway widening project, which has been on the Delaware Department of Transportation drawing board for more than a decade.
Any work done along the frontage of the property will need to comply with the Historic Lewes Byway landscape master plan, since Kings Highway is part of the byway.
“How can there be a plan for the the Kings Highway byway but no plan for Kings Highway?” asked Councilman Irwin “I.G.” Burton during council's Dec. 1 meeting.
Ring Lardner, an engineer representing the applicant, said talk about a road project has been in the works for years. “It's 10 to 12 years behind in planning as development continues to grow in that area,” he said. “
If required, he said, the applicant will have to provide land for right of way to allow for road expansion. “We don't have a crystal ball, so all we can do is preserve right of way. The project will be be held up,” he said.
According to the DelDOT website, road work is expected to start in 2026.
Calling in to speak by telephone, Gail van Gilder of Lewes, chairwoman of the Historic Lewes Byway Committee, said Kings Highway road design is funded to begin in July 2021. She said DelDOT crews have been surveying along the road for a few weeks.
She said she hoped to work with the new owners of the property to review their landscape plan.
“We are not opposed to the rezoning, and we commend Big Oyster for its building design. They are an outstanding amenity to the community,” she said.
The byway committee had proposed a boulevard-type design for Kings Highway with a landscaped median in some portions.
Plans do not include widening Freeman Highway, which is owned by the Delaware River and Bay Authority. Kings Highway turns into Freeman Highway just past Big Oyster Brewery.
Land is part of church property
The property is being purchased from First Baptist Church of Lewes, and it contains a house and multipurpose building. The church sanctuary is not on the parcel and will remain as is for now.
Church officials have plans to use proceeds from the sale of the land to begin the process to build a new sanctuary on a vacant parcel north of the current church.
Lardner said plans call for offices and expansion of the brewpub operation on the property.
Plans also include an expansion of the outdoor eating area behind the restaurant and more space for storage. The existing buildings will be reused, with the house turned into offices and the multipurpose building for brewpub expansion.
The site plan will be subject to review and approval by the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission.
