Residents call for upgrades at Highland Acres
Highland Acres residents call it “the triangle,” a grassy patch of ground at the entrance to their community.
They want that tiny, three-pointed parcel to be more welcoming and functional for people who live there.
However, they are asking the city for a much longer list of improvements to Sussex Drive, the only way in and out of their neighborhood.
“You come across beautiful Devries Circle, across Savannah Road, then it’s like, ‘This isn’t Lewes anymore.’ It’s been ugly, even before the school construction,” said Highland Acres resident Sally Boswell.
Highland Acres is a 53-home community located at the western end of Sussex Drive.
The city annexed Highland Acres in 2015, so residents could connect to city water and sewer. Boswell said residents have been asking the city for improvements for almost as long.
“We had to put sewer and water in. All the neighbors had to pay for that. We’ve invested a lot to get into the city, and yet somehow, the city hasn’t claimed us,” Boswell said.
About 20 Highland Acres resident gathered July 26 in the parking lot of Lewes Elementary School. They were joined by Lewes City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe, Assistant City Manager Janet Reeves and Police Chief Tom Spell, along with representatives from Delaware Department of Transportation contractor Whitman, Requardt & Associates, and a George, Miles & Buhr engineer.
Residents wanted them to see firsthand what they have been asking for: safety upgrades for cars, cyclists and pedestrians; sidewalks extending to their neighborhood; streetscaping with trees; and fixes for stormwater management. They are concerned the new curbs that the school district installed on Sussex Drive will create a chute that will funnel runoff toward their homes.
Some of those residents also attended the July 25 Lewes Mayor and City Council workshop.
At that meeting, the city introduced a plan to restrict parking on both sides of Sussex Drive from Savannah Road to Highland Acres. A transition lane would be added, so anyone going to Highland Acres could get by on the right-hand side during peak school drop-off and pickup times.
Leah Kacanda, a senior planner with WRA who was representing DelDOT, said 50 cars will fit into the driveway at the soon-to-open Thomas D. Frederick Middle School at any one time, about half of the anticipated number of vehicles. She said the rest will back up on Sussex Drive while they wait.
The city could put up “no stopping, standing or parking” signs and possibly paint the curbs to indicate parking is prohibited.
A handful of parking spots would remain for the Beebe Medical Foundation offices on the west side of Sussex Drive near the corner of Savannah Road.
Residents said they are trapped, and have trouble getting in and out of their neighborhood during school drop-off and pickup times at Lewes Elementary School; many are concerned it will get worse when the new middle school opens later in August.
“It’s astounding at three o’clock on Savannah Road to see cars backed up almost to the fire station,” said Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba.”I think the dynamics have changed, and nobody rides the bus anymore.”
Reeves said the Cape Henlopen School District assured city officials that school buses will not use Sussex Drive, but will use the new entrance just west of there on Savannah Road.
Spell said the plan is to station an officer at Sussex Drive to manage traffic, like the one who currently is stationed at Devries Circle during peak times.
But, residents said while traffic during school hours does create backups, it is weekend sports tournaments that cause the biggest inconvenience.
Norma Morrison showed photos of cars parked all the way up in their neighborhood, even on the grassy triangle.
“It’s absolute chaos. It’s the sporting events and also the farmers market when they move into the school [parking lot]. Nobody really understands there’s a neighborhood back there,” Morrison said.
McCabe said the school district will allow parking in school lots for those sporting events and the farmers market.
Mayor Andrew Williams said council will consider a draft ordinance at its Aug. 12 meeting, and likely schedule a public hearing and special meeting to adopt the measure. The goal would be to have it in place when school starts in September.
At the July 27 gathering, residents said they want to have more trees along Sussex Drive, and possibly add flowers and a bench to the triangle to make a pocket park.
They would also like to see a larger “dead end” sign at the triangle.
“The reason people tend to speed is they come down here thinking they’re going to cut through. Then they realize they’re trapped in a loop and go roaring like it’s a racetrack,” Morrison said.
Kacanda said the city has received a $1 million federal Transportation Alternatives Grant through DelDOT for a project that could include streetscaping and traffic calming.
She said DelDOT would fund $800,000, with the city responsible for $200,000. Reeves said the city’s exact contribution has not been decided.
“The primary purpose is to ensure the safety for people walking and biking,” Kacanda said. “Managing vehicular traffic is a critical piece of that.”
Kacanda said DelDOT is planning to hold a public workshop on the project in September at Lewes Elementary School.
