Sussex P&Z recommends approval of industrial park

Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval for a rezoning that would pave the way for an industrial park east of Georgetown.

John Stamato c/o Ribera Development LLC has filed to rezone a 15-acre parcel along Steiner Road to HI-1, heavy industrial, from CR-1, commercial-residential.

Approval is contingent on county officials changing the comprehensive plan future land-use map designation for the parcel from commercial to developing area because HI-I zoning is not permitted in commercial zones.

Assistant county attorney Vince Robertson said the commission agreed rezoning should be permitted because the property is close to a rail line and Route 9, a major arterial east-west road in Sussex County.

“The commission feels this area was missed on the future land-use map,” Robertson said. “I recommend you change the map to match what is appropriate.”

The developer has submitted a preliminary site plan that includes three pad sites adjacent to the Delmarva Central Railroad tracks. There are no specific uses proposed for the site at this time. If approved, planning and zoning commissioners will review any building projects proposed for the parcel.

Commissioner Keller Hopkins recommended county officials have an annual review of the future land-use map to see if any changes are required. Robertson said that could be worked into the county's annual update of its comprehensive plan presented to the state.

Sussex County Council has scheduled a public hearing on the application at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

DelDOT officials are not requiring a traffic-impact study, but officials could reconsider a study once a site plan is presented. The applicant anticipates paying for improvements along Steiner Road as well as at the Steiner Road-Route 9 intersection.

The land is part of a larger parcel owned by Harry Dale Parsons and Olda Keene, trustee, of Lewes.