Lewes Approves Settlement With Developer Of Contested Community
Lewes Mayor and Council have voted unanimously to approve a settlement agreement and general release with a developer, Burke and Rutecki LLC, over disputed property known as Fishers Cove, adjacent to Rodney Avenue.
According to Mayor Ted Becker, while there was strong community sentiment to keep the area undeveloped, Council recognizes that the owners have the right to develop the property.
Burke and Rutecki submitted a major subdivision application to the city that drew concerns about flooding and stormwater management.
“Although City Council would have preferred a more modest development, both City Council and the developer worked diligently to resolve this matter in a way that ensures the residents in the new development and those living in the surrounding communities, including Rodney Avenue, will continue to enjoy the quality of life that is emblematic of the City of Lewes,” Becker said.
Burke and Rutecki LLC brought three separate actions challenging a decision by the Mayor and Council when preliminary consent was denied.
According to a statement from the City of Lewes:
The result of these discussions is an outcome that is not only compliant with the City Code of
Ordinances and allows Burke and Rutecki, LLC to develop Fishers Cove, but also secures
significant benefits for the Lewes community. The agreement provides for the reduction of one
lot that will be acquired by the City as additional open area to enhance permeability. A
landscape buffer will be planted at the beginning of construction. Additionally, the agreement
provides funding for an account to be managed by the homeowners’ association that assures that
the stormwater management system will be professionally managed in perpetuity. The City will
receive annual stormwater inspection reports from the homeowners’ association. The agreement
provides that Rodney Avenue will not be modified, addressing concerns from residents about the
impact that modifying the road would have on their properties.
For additional information about Fishers Cove from the City of Lewes website, please CLICK HERE
