Sussex P&Z approves 65 lots in Azalea Woods
Plans for Azalea Woods, a 610-lot, single-family home subdivision on 316 acres east of Georgetown between Shingle Point Road and Gravel Hill Road, are moving forward.
At its Jan. 27 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project's final site plan, which includes 65 lots in Phase 1.
The site plan submitted by Shingle Point Properties LLC and Natelli Communities includes sidewalks on both sides of all streets, a minimum 30-foot forested or vegetated buffer around the property perimeter, minimum 50-foot buffers from protected wetlands, central water and sewer service, and 162 acres, or 51 percent, of open space, which includes 80 acres of preserved woodlands.
Amenities include a pool, clubhouse, tot lots, playground, gathering areas – including five neighborhood parks averaging 8,000 square feet – and four pickleball courts. All amenities must be constructed and open to residents before the issuance of the 250th building permit.
All lots must be at least 50 feet from the boundary of the property, and boundary areas adjacent to other properties must be permanently marked to deter trespassing.
The commission had previously approved a phasing restriction of no more than 70 building permits per year. However, that condition was amended at the request of the developer.
The developer will have to comply with phasing set forth in the Nov. 21, 2019 Delaware Department of Transportation traffic-impact study review letter as tied to road improvements.
Road improvements planned
The site plan also includes several road improvements required by DelDOT, including entrances off Shingle Point Road across from Briarwood Lane and Gravel Hill Road across from Pettyjohn Road. An entrance is not planned along Route 9.
Several developer-funded road improvements will be required by DelDOT. Those include turn and through lanes at the Shingle Point/Briarwood Lane intersection with a 10-foot, shared-use path along the frontage of the property, and turn and through lanes at the Gravel Hill Road/Pettyjohn Road intersection with a shared-used path along Gravel Hill Road.
Shingle Point Road will be improved with 11-foot travel lanes and a 5-foot shoulder along the frontage of the property.
The developer will also fund improvements at the Shingle Point Road/Route 9 intersection, including turn lanes.
DelDOT will require the developer to contribute funding to two projects in the area, including the Georgetown Gateway project to realign the Route 9/Airport Road/Sand Hill Road intersection near the Georgetown CHEER facility, and the Park Avenue relocation-Route 9 intersection improvement projects. The amount of funding will be determined by DelDOT officials based on traffic impact from the subdivision.
