Sussex County Council Approves Land Sale & Housing Trust Fund Grants
The Sussex County Council has approved selling about 10 acres of land that had been purchased in 2008 in advance of any potential airport expansion and in 2021 entered an agreement to allow DelDOT to acquire nearly 10 acres of the property for the Park Avenue expansion, which is now underway. Delmarva Christian School is considering future expansion and has approached the County to purchase about 10 acres off Zoar Road south of Georgetown that is adjacent to their campus. The County Council today approved the disposition of the property and to enter into a sales agreement with the school.
The County Council approved the appointment of Sandy Winterbottom to the Library Advisory Board. She replaces a member who has resigned. Winterbottom’s term will expire in June of 2026.
Four pieces of Old Business were revisited by the Council. The Council approved a Conditional Use for a tree house and a yurt as short-term rentals on a Millville property. Three other Conditional Uses – for a campground north of Selbyville and two group homes – one in Harbeson and one in Seaford were denied by the Council.
A morning public hearing for a sewer district annexation was held – with no comment made. The Council approved the Suncrest annexation into the County Unified Sanitary Sewer District in the Angola Neck area with a unanimous vote.
The Director of Community Housing and Development, Brandy Nauman named four recipients for Housing Trust Fund grant awards of $500,000 each – a total of $2-million. These applications are from developers who, under this program must build or rehab housing units – either rental or owner-occupied and make them as affordable towards individuals and households meeting income eligibility requirements. Recipients include the Commonwealth Development Corp., Leon N. Weiner & Associates, NeighborGood Partners, and Sussex Habitat for Humanity.
The Housing Trust Fund is largely made up from ARPA funding from the federal government. These projects will bring over 150 affordable housing units in the Laurel, Georgetown, Lewes, Milford and Seaford areas. This is the second round of funding – last summer about $2.5-million was awarded in the initial round.
County offices will be closed on Monday for Juneteenth, but will reopen on Tuesday, June 20. The County Council meeting on June 20th will include a public hearing on the County’s proposed FY 2024 budget at 10am at the County Administration offices on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE to view the FY 2024 Budget or the presentation.
