Sussex P&Z defers vote on Black Oak

Although the Black Oak subdivision along New Road in Lewes was on the Sept. 8 Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission agenda under old business, at the request of Commissioner Kim Hoey Stevenson, the commission deferred a vote to a future meeting.

“We are still working on that one,” she said.

Developer Glenwood Lewes LLC of Rehoboth Beach has filed an application for a cluster subdivision now known as Black Oak with 127 single-family home lots on a 77-acre parcel.

The property is bordered on the north and northeast by Black Oak Gut and Prettyman Branch. Large buffers and tree preservation are planned for the area, which contains nearly 19 acres of wetlands, including 11 tidal acres and 7.92 nontidal acres.

The developer has modified the original site plan to keep more mature trees in the buffer area in the northern section of the parcel. That resulted in the reduction of four building lots.

A tree survey was also conducted to identity every mature tree 5 feet in diameter at chest height on the site.

The average buffer along nontidal waters and wetlands would be 130 feet and the average buffer along tidal areas will be 261 feet. In addition, a conservation easement would be in place to protect the buffers, with penalties included for violations of the easement. A tree preservation covenant prohibiting the removal of trees would also be in place.

The proposed subdivision is part of a development spurt along New Road, with construction underway on Tower Hill, with 292 lots on 134 acres, and Lewes Waterfront Preserve, with 89 townhomes on 34 acres, as well as 10 single-family home sites in front of the Black Oak property.

Plans include 127 lots averaging more than 9,000 square feet, a community recreation area with two pickleball courts, a pool, clubhouse, outdoor fireplace and parking area. An existing kayak launch would be used for kayaks and paddleboards. The plan includes 42 acres of open space, including buffers.

Water service would be provided by Tidewater Utilities and sewer service by Sussex County with connection to a regional pump station.