Ten years later, Slaughter Beach marina-restaurant plans move forward

After a decade-long struggle to open a marina-restaurant in Slaughter Beach, developers have taken a step forward.

On Tuesday, July 27, Sussex County Council granted approval of a conditional-use application for George W. Swain’s plan to build a 22-slip marina and 100-seat restaurant on five acres along Mispillion Lighthouse Road and Cedar Creek. Planning and zoning commissioners also recommended approval of the application. The parcel is zoned general residential.

Peter Russo of Bowers Beach, business partner with Swain, said the county’s approval would help to obtain necessary state permits to proceed with the project. He said Swain has been trying to get a permit for 10 years from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) for the marina.

DNREC spokesman Mike Globetti said a permit request was denied in 2007, and an appeal was filed. Because the appeal is still in litigation, he could not comment on the reason for the denial.

“We have a lot of support for this, but we are still crawling at this point,” Russo said. He added the marina, scaled down from 50 slips to 22, and the restaurant would help revitalize Slaughter Beach.

He said Milford officials want to collaborate with the owners of the project to provide ecotourism opportunities on the Mispillion River, and the DuPont Nature Center in the Mispillion Harbor Reserve is located less than one mile from the parcel.

He said the restaurant would create from 10 to 15 jobs, but the sky is the limit for possible ecotourism jobs. “This could domino and the ecotourism could be very large,” he said.

“This is a totally depressed piece of property,” Russo said. He said a storm in 2002 took out the docks. In the early 1990s, there were more than 90 boat slips at the location as fishermen flocked to an area known as the Weakfish Capital of the World.

He said storms have caused problems in the area in the past, but a jetty now provides some protection.

He said every concession possible has been made to get the marina permit. “We wanted 50 slips but we are eager to work with them [DNREC],” Russo said. In addition, the size of the restaurant was reduced based on the size of the proposed septic system needed.

Russo, who has operated JP’s on the Wharf in Bowers Beach for 20 years, said the Slaughter Beach location has historically been the site of a marina and restaurant. The former Lighthouse Restaurant was located near the parcel.

As part of the permitting process, the developers will have to contribute to help fund a Delaware Department of Transportation area-wide study. Once all permits are granted, the planning and zoning commission must review the final site plan.

Under a new county ordinance, the developers have three years to start construction. If the project is not under way within the time frame, the application is voided.