Junction-Breakwater Trail takes new route

State transportation officials and the developers of the Showfield subdivision have agreed to a plan to extend the Junction and Breakwater Trail near Lewes, breaking an impasse that threatened to hold up completion of the trail.

Developers Bryce and Bill Lingo have agreed for the trail extension to pass along the border of Showfield, a 166-lot development already approved by Sussex County officials. The path of the trail will move a few feet out of the Breakwater development, where it had been planned, and into Showfield.

The trail was originally designed to pass through a small section of Showfield and then along the border of the adjacent Breakwater community. As Delaware Department of Transportation started work on the trail, construction within the Breakwater subdivision was halted when homeowners filed suit and won when it was ruled that DelDOT did not have an officially recorded easement to use the Breakwater land for the trail. DelDOT also filed court action to take the property by eminent domain and proceed with the project.

“We knew there was an issue there and the Lingos – who are big proponents of the trail – asked us to coordinate with DelDOT and our engineer to modify the site plan where the problem was to make it work,” said Doug Motley of Jack Lingo Asset Management.

At its March 19 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a revised conceptual plan for the trail and waived the requirement for a 20-foot forested buffer where the trail would be located. One of the conditions placed on the Showfield project is a 20-foot forested buffer along the perimeter of the property.

"This is a commendable effort by the developer of Showfield," said Commissioner Mike Johnson. "We should make accommodations to continue this trail even in the forested buffer."

The extension connects Freeman Highway with Gills Neck Road to allow safer access into Lewes. The Junction and Breakwater Trail – which also passes through Lingo developments Hawkseye and Senators – connects Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

Nick Hammonds of Jack Lingo Asset Management said the Showfield site plan was modified slightly to accommodate the trail. Hammonds said the paved trail will have a vegetated buffer on both sides with a fence along the back lots of Showfield homes. The trail will back up to about a dozen Showfield lots.

A proposed second entrance to the community where the trail connects with Gills Neck Road will be abandoned, Hammonds said.

Hammonds said an easement to use the property has been recorded on the site plan.

Motley said DelDOT is working to have the trail open by summer.