Sussex council denies Vintners applications

Sussex County Council denied a pair of applications for the proposed 316-unit Vintners Reserve townhouse project along Janice Road near the Nassau Bridge.

With a 3-2 vote, council rejected an application for an amendment to the future land-use map from commercial to coastal area and a rezoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, and C-1 commercial to a MR-RPC medium-density district residential planned community.

The Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval of the applications by a 4-1 vote.

Three council members – President Mike Vincent, Vice President John Rieley and Doug Hudson – sided with Commissioner Kim Hoey Stevenson who cast the lone no vote when the planning & zoning commission acted.

Vincent said Hoey Stevenson said the parcel should remain commercial and he agreed with that assessment.

He said the 61-acre parcel had been designated for commercial use in the future land-use map because of its proximity to the Route 1 corridor, which is also zoned commercial. He said reducing the amount of commercial land would not serve the residents who need services and retail as the county continues to grow.

In addition, he said, state transportation officials are planning major road improvements as part of the Minos Conaway-Route 1 interchange project, which would improve access to the property.

Sussex County Planning & Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse said the rezoning application was a moot point when council did not approve the future land-use map amendment. He said the current commercial zoning does not permit medium-density housing and a rezoning was required for the project to proceed. Council voted 5-0 to deny the rezoning application.

Voting for the map amendment were council members Mark Schaeffer and Cindy Green, who said they agreed with the commission's recommendation.

Plans for the community included 316 townhouse units for a density of 5.12 units per acre. The parcel is located between Lewes Fire Company Station 2, Nassau Valley Vineyards and the Whispering Pines manufactured home park.

The commission recommended approval of the application because the parcel is in an area of high-density residential development, near commercial and employment centers, near a major road and has central water and sewer service available, which are all requirements for coastal area designation.

Owner of the property is AAA Storage Limited Partnership LLC. Dating back to the 1960s, a section of the parcel was used as a borrow pit for construction of Route 1.

Council decisions can be appealed in the Chancery Court.