Sussex council approves Hoey Stevenson as P&Z commissioner

The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission will finally have five members again with the addition of a third new member over the last few months.

At its Feb. 14 meeting, Sussex County Council appointed Kim Hoey Stevenson, 51, of Lewes to the five-member commission that reviews and considers subdivision applications and other land-use matters, including site plans and conditional-use and rezoning applications.

The appointment takes effect immediately and will last through June 2017, when the current three-year term ends. Commissioners are paid $250 a meeting. The commission’s next meeting is at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23.

County Councilman I.G. Burton, R-Lewes, nominated Republican Hoey Stevenson to fill the commission seat he vacated Jan. 3 when he was sworn-in as District 3 county councilman after winning election in November 2016.

Burton, who served nearly 11 years on the commission, praised Hoey Stevenson for her past service on Milford’s planning commission, as well as her familiarity with land use, environmental, housing and business issues through her work as a writer, trade organization director and educator. Hoey Stevenson currently works as the Delaware Senate Republican Caucus’ communications director and owns a freelance writing business.

“Kim is someone who has worn a number of hats in her professional and volunteer career, from teacher and published author to nonprofit director and municipal planning official,” Burton said. “I think she brings a well-rounded perspective with a temperament that is thoughtful, deliberate and fair. Those are essential traits in this line of work, and I think she will be a tremendous asset to the commission in weighing the complex matters before it.”

“I'm between a staunch property rights person and an environmentalist,” Hoey Stevenson said during a Feb. 14 interview with county council.

She said her background on the Milford planning commission would assist her as the county's planning and zoning commission takes on the task of writing a new comprehensive land-use plan. She worked with Milford officials and staff to craft a land-use plan for the city. “I understand the process,” she said. “We had to work with Sussex ad Kent counties, so I know how the plans all tie together.”

She said as a fourth-generation Sussex Countian, she has reached a point in her life that she wants to part of the solution and not stay in the background.

When asked by Councilman Rob Arlett, R-Frankford, if she could foresee any conflicts of interest with her job working with the Delaware Senate, Hoey Stevenson answered: “I don't see any upcoming conflicts. I write a newsletter and press releases for the Senate. I'm pretty transparent, and I would recuse myself if needed,” she said.

“I perceive that, but we needed to hear it from you,” Arlett said.

Hoey Stevenson reminded Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, that as a reporter for the Delaware State News “several years ago,” one of her first stories was an interview with the veteran councilman.