Sussex County Council Discuss Housing Trust Fund & Approve Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Credit
The Sussex County Council had a presentation from Mark Isaacs, Director at the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center on Route 9 west of Georgetown. For several years the Council has supported the research and extension programs at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Carvel Research and Education Center. Isaacs talked about how the County’s funding has been used by the Center – especially with its internship program. All County funds that are used in Sussex County help to support the agricultural community.
Brandy Nauman, Director of Community Development and Housing updated the Council on the Housing Trust Fund. She told the Council that there is support and enthusiasm for the Fund creation and that grants would be preferred over loans. There was some discussion and a look at what is expected to happen next and Nauman also recommended members for the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board.
A public hearing on a proposed ordinance for the Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Credit was held. County Finance Director Gina Jennings told the Council about the program, which would establish a real property value-based tax credit for totally disabled veterans who are residents of Sussex County. These veterans would meet eligibility criteria under the State’s disabled veterans’ school tax credit, which was approve by the General Assembly during the last session. About 516 individuals in Sussex County qualify as 100% disabled veterans for the Veterans Property Tax Credit. The exemption would cost the county about $44,000 annually. The ordinance was approved with a unanimous vote.
Last week residents of the Vines of Sand Hill came before the Council during the Public Comment portion of the meeting to discuss their lack of amenities which they are paying HOA fees for. County Planning Director, Jamie Whitehouse, updated the Council this week that there has been some action on this. Ground has been broken on a clubhouse last week, but one that is smaller than initially proposed, but was approved as there was no conflict with the zoning code. Whitehouse says there’s nothing in the code that sets the size of a clubhouse to the size of the community. Council President Mike Vincent asked if there’s anything legally that the Council can require them to build that was on the first site plan and to require that to occur. He adds that they a need to take this as a learning lesson and not let it happen again. More research needs to be done on this matter to see if there’s any legal standing for the County. Whitehouse adds that there is still no building permit, which could take several weeks.
In Old Business the council revisited a conditional use application by Matthew Hete for a multi-family dwelling to be located on 1.25 acres of property off Postal Lane. The Council approved the application with a unanimous vote.
In the afternoon session two conditional use applications were considered by the Council. CU No. 2264 is for professional offices on Savanna Avenue in Lewes. CU No 2271 is for allowing office space to be located at the intersection of Route 54 and Dickerson Road near Williamsville. Both applications were approved by unanimous votes by the Council.
The next Sussex County Council meeting is Tuesday, November 30 at the County Administration offices on the Circle in Georgetown.
