Keeping track of development

I spend most of my time gathering information, attending meetings and writing about projects and land-use applications. Most of the applications for rezonings, conditional uses and subdivisions in the county are extremely complex with tentacles going in all directions.

And what I have observed is a major case of “Not In My Backyard” sweeping the county. Right or wrong, it seems that a lot of people who have moved here want to raise the bridge and keep others out of Sussex County.

Because infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with growth in the coastal area, some of the issues brought up during public hearings are legitimate. However, there are times when I can't believe what I hear people say. Land-use decisions have little to do with personal feelings and emotions. I've actually seen people shed tears when they testify how a project will affect them.

It's hard to not only keep track of everything that is going on, but it's also hard to maintain enough energy to follow the action. At the same time, I have to maintain objectivity and try to shed light not only on the application but the views of those for it and opposed to it. Of course, there are many more of the latter on most applications.

Citizens groups and individuals seek me out in an effort to get their side in print because the media is their main outlet to reach beyond their own support group.

These groups are getting more and more sophisticated in their opposition, and sometimes they actually succeed in influencing county officials or applicants. Groups that use experts and present facts based on county zoning and the county's comprehensive land-use plan tend to have more success.

It's a false impression that Sussex officials rubber-stamp every application.

For example, faced with opposition to his plan to have a country music festival in a rural area near Harbeson, Dewey Beach lawyer and business owner Alex Pires dropped his plans and moved to the state fairgrounds.

Then Sussex County Council turned down a rezoning application for a controversial RV resort and campground proposed for a large parcel along Cedar Grove Road near Lewes. Residents from neighboring communities mounted an all-out war on the campground.

Around the same time, residents were not successful in stopping an RV campground in Massey's Landing.

County officials also turned down a proposed storage facility at the entrance of several communities at the foot of the north end of the Nassau bridge. Residents mounted a vigorous campaign against the project.

Some applications bring neighbors together for a common cause. One of the best recent examples is the formation of the grassroots group Protecting Our Indian River in the Millsboro area. The group has lost two appeals so far in an attempt to overturn a county board of adjustment decision that allows for the conversion of the former Vlasic pickle plant to an Allen Harim chicken-processing facility.

Another group, the Overbook Town Center coalition, has been organizing for months to fight a proposed shopping complex along Route 1. They lost the first round when planning and zoning recommended approval of the application to county council.

Lewes-area residents are looking over new plans for the proposed Village Center on Kings Highway in Lewes. There is no doubt an effort will be mounted by a group or two against that proposal. A citizens' group literally took to the streets with signs to protest the proposed center when the original plans surfaced.

People can fight “county hall” and win. It's rare, but it can happen, and I think that gives people hope their voices are heard.