Sussex County has plans for new business park

An idle industrial park east of Georgetown has new life thanks to Sussex County.

At its March 14 meeting, county officials announced the purchase of the 74-acre King Farm along Park Avenue adding to the existing footprint of the adjacent Sussex County Industrial Park and Delaware Coastal Airport. The county purchased the property for $2.2 million from Georgetown Airport LLC.

The purchase allows the county to expand its leasable space offerings for as many as 10 to 12 future tenants. The current park has 20 businesses that employ about 900 people.

“The property sat idle and then went up for sale,” said County Administrator Todd Lawson. “The county needed more space, but the asking price was too high at the time.”

He said in 2016, the price was reduced, and county council authorized him to negotiate a contract with the owner. Settlement occurred Feb. 13. County council approved a conditional-use application for the parcel in 2007.

It's the most significant addition to the county’s existing 175-acre industrial park since it was initially laid out within the Delaware Coastal Airport complex in the early 1970s. One tenant, Atlantis Industries Corp., has already broken ground.

Final work on the site plan is underway. Preliminary plans include up to 12 lots varying from 2.5 acres to 4 acres. Access to the park will be off Park Avenue and continue through the parcel to Baltimore Avenue and the existing industrial park. A rail spur addition is also possible.

The purchase price includes a $300,000 stormwater management system installed by the previous owner.

County engineer Hans Medlarz said it will take 10 months to a year for the county to make necessary improvements, including streets, drainage, natural gas, fiber communications, water and wastewater infrastructure before the addition will be fully marketable. Work will be performed in phases, allowing the first tenants, including Atlantis, to move in sooner. Atlantis is constructing a 40,000-square-foot building and has already paid the county $500,000 to the lease the property for the next 99 years.

The company makes precision plastic injection molding for military, pharmaceutical and automotive uses.

With its relocation and expansion, Atlantis will have all its operations under one roof; the company plans to have the project completed as early as this summer. Atlantis intends to add 20-25 jobs in the coming years, said President Thad Schippereit.

“This new location will support our current growth plans, and will provide opportunities for further expansion of our business in the future,” Schippereit said. “We are appreciative of the efforts by the county administration to help make this relocation possible for us.”

Lawson said negotiations are underway with a second tenant.

Council approved Becker Morgan Group as project engineers at a cost not to exceed $200,000 for services including site design, construction details and grading, entrance, landscaping and stormwater plans.