Sussex P&Z approves new Beaver Dam Road project
The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission has granted preliminary approval to the developer of another housing project along Beaver Dam Road near Lewes.
Developer Estates at Cedar Grove – BDRP LLC filed an application for Dellwood Estates, a 100-lot cluster subdivision on 70 acres of agricultural-residential, AR-1-zoned land just south of the Kendale Road intersection. The final site plan will need the commission's approval before construction can begin.
Commissioner Mike Johnson said he supported the application because the developer was setting aside more than half of the parcel as open space and in addition was preserving more than 25 acres of woods. He said the density of the community would be 1.42 lots per acre, which is less than the 2 acres allowed under AR-1 zoning.
In a Preliminary Land Use Service state agency review of the project, state environmental officials recommended that the developer not clear any of the woods on the property. About six acres of the total 33 acres of woods included in the Love Creek Natural Area is expected to be cleared for development.
During testimony at the commission's public hearing, land planner Mark Davidson of Pennoni Associates said the site plan includes sidewalks on one side of each street and on both sides leading to the entrance along Beaver Dam Road, where shared-use and bike lanes are proposed.
Davidson said the developer would be required to improve Beaver Dam Road along the front of the parcel to include 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot shoulders. He said state transportation officials did not require a traffic impact study, but the developer would be required to determine the development's impact on nearby intersections for possible improvements and pay $9,600 for an area-wide future traffic study.
The project would have superior design standards as required by the county's cluster ordinance, including amenities, open space and sufficient buffers.
Davidson said 30-foot forested and landscaped buffers would be provided along the border with The Ridings at Rehoboth with 50-foot buffers along any farming areas. Other areas would have 20-foot landscaped buffers.
Proposed amenities include a pool and clubhouse with other amenities developed as the community is built, Davidson said.
Davidson said the proposed stormwater infiltration plan would meet the state's current regulations. He said no stormwater ponds are planned.
A key component of the project is extension of central sewer and water service provided by Tidewater Utilities from The Ridings at Rehoboth, an adjacent community of 148 single-family homes.
