Lewes First Baptist Church asks for guidance on new building conditions

The First Baptist Church of Lewes is asking for help from a higher authority, in this case Lewes Mayor and City Council, to help understand conditions placed on construction of their new building on Kings Highway.

Pastor Jon Reddick and Building Committee Chair Ken Mecham spoke during the Sept. 28 mayor and council workshop to discuss those conditions.

“We’re asking for assistance in achieving our vision of an attractive and functional and accessible building we can afford to build,” Reddick said.

Mayor and council approved the preliminary site plan for the new structure Jan. 9, but they attached a list of 10 conditions, including installation of sidewalks on Baybreeze Drive and Kings Highway, additional landscaping, and aesthetic changes so the building looks less like a warehouse.

Mayor Andrew Williams said the sidewalk changes were imposed for safety reasons. He said the landscaping and aesthetic improvements would allow the building to better fit with the rhythm of the community.

“We own the gateway to Lewes and would like to somehow contribute to that,” Reddick said.

Mecham said the total cost of all the conditions would add $300,000 to the $2.8 million first phase of the project. Phase two includes construction of a gym.

Mayor and council said they will likely continue discussing the issue at their regular meeting in November.

In other business, mayor and council discussed the possible annexation of properties on Hoornkill Avenue.

Resident Veronica Faust said so far, five homeowners have signed a petition in favor of annexation.

Eleven of the 12 homes on the street would also be eligible for connection to city water and sewer.

Vince Luciani from George, Miles & Buhr Engineers said the cost would run from $55,000 per property without the water and sewer connection to $80,000 with those connections.

Officials discussed possible incentives to encourage more residents to agree to annexation, which they said could include money from the American Rescue Plan Act or tax abatement. 

Also at the Sept. 28 workshop, Bob Heffernan of the Lewes Planning Commission Housing Subcommittee gave an update on his group’s investigation of auxiliary dwelling units.

The subcommittee has been looking at all aspects of ADUs to help mayor and council decide whether to make them legal in an effort to address the affordable housing shortage.