Sussex P&Z stalls on wider buffers

Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission wants county council to go back to the drawing board on an amended forested and vegetated buffer ordinance.

Under the proposal forwarded, the county's 20-foot forested buffer required for all subdivision boundary lines would be increased to 40 feet.

Assistant county attorney Vince Robertson said the idea behind the ordinance would be to preserve more existing vegetation and trees on a parcel and limit clear cutting of trees. He said the proposed 40-foot buffer would still count as open space.

“I think we need to know more background why they are making this change,” Commission Chairman Bob Wheatley said during an Aug. 9 meeting. “I'm reluctant to move forward with a positive recommendation.”

Commissioner Kim Hoey Stevenson said one size cannot fit all when it comes to the width of landscaped buffers. She said she would prefer some type of sliding scale on smaller lots. “I'd like to see this worked on a little more, or we'll start seeing variances every week,” she said.

The commission did not vote on a recommendation.

Robertson reminded commissioners they have the authority to waive the buffer standard if the width physically cannot work. “You already do have some flexibility,” he said.

Under the proposal:

• The buffer must contain a mixture of 70 percent shade trees and 30 percent evergreen trees. Shade trees must be at least 6 feet tall and evergreens at least 5 feet tall when planted.

• Every 100 feet of buffer must contain at least 25 trees staggered throughout the width of the buffer.

• The regulations would apply to all subdivisions of four or more lots.

• Existing vegetation may be maintained in lieu of the planting requirements provided existing trees are not damaged during site work or other construction activity.

• Trees are to be planted in a staggered natural manner, as opposed to planted in a row, to filter views of a subdivision.

County council will have a public hearing at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.