Sussex County Council Holds Public Hearings on 9 Ordinance Amendments before 2 Week Break
The Sussex County Council will not meet the next two Tuesdays, March 27th and April 3. During this morning’s meeting County Administrator Todd Lawson introduced the council to the new County Constable, Lester Shaffer, who is already on the job.
The Council today held public hearings on nine proposed ordinance amendments. Public comment was heard on several of the ordinances and several were amended by the Planning & Zoning Commission. The Council approved all but the final proposed ordinance amendment which has been deferred by P&Z as they are still working to better define the ordinance. The Council has also deferred its vote until a recommendation is made by P&Z.
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXV, §115-182 AND §115-183, AND TABLE 1 RELATING TO FRONT, SIDE AND REAR YARD SETBACKS IN SMALL, LEGALLY NONCONFORMING LOTS”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXVIII, §115-222 RELATING TO AMENDMENTS OF PRIOR APPROVALS”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXV, §115-181 RELATING TO YARDS AND OPEN SPACES GENERALLY” (ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCES)
Approved by Council 4-0 (Councilman Cole was out of the room)
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXV, §115-188 RELATING TO TOWNHOUSE AND MULTIFAMILY DWELLING OUTSIDE WALL DIMENSIONS”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXVIII, §115-220 AND §115-221 RELATING INTERCONNECTIVITY REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN USES”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXV, §115-183 RELATING TO DECKS, PORCHES PLATFORMS OR STEPS IN SIDE AND REAR YARDS”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXVII, §115-213 RELATING LAPSES OF SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS AND VARIANCES”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXIII, §115-168 RELATING TO MODIFICATION OF OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS”
Approved by Council 5-0
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 115 OF THE CODE OF SUSSEX COUNTY BY AMENDING ARTICLE XXV, §115-181 RELATING TO YARDS AND OPEN SPACES GENERALLY” (HANDICAP RAMPS)
Deferred by Council 5-0
There were five pieces of Old Business that the County Council has voted on.
Change of Zone #1832 – the applicant, MDI Investment Group, LLC was requesting a change of zone from AR1 to Medium Density Residential for 52 multi-family homes off Shady Road in Lewes. The council approved the CZ by a vote of 4 to 1 – with Councilman George Cole voting against. The partner Conditional Use 2106 was amended by Councilman IG Burton to reduce the density from 52 homes to 41 and the amendment approved unanimously, and the Council approved the CU by a 4 to 1 vote – with Councilman Cole voting no.
A Conditional Use application (#2111) for a RV repair and refurbish business on White Neck Road near Millville was denied by the council. Councilman Cole said that he believes the land is in a private preservation trust to be used as farmland or a horse business and the commercial business would not be a good fit.
Conditional Use #2112 – filed by the Mitchell Family Limited Partnership was approved. They plan a medical office – for an orthopedic surgery center in the area of Kings Highway and Gills Neck Road in Lewes. While the Council approved the application – it was amended by Councilman Burton on signage and setbacks.
A Change of Zone (#1834) filed on behalf of Colonial East for a change from AR1 to B1 was also approved by the Council. The reasoned that this proposal for a shopping/business area as part of the development would not increase traffic on Route 1 and might actually take some traffic from the main highway. The developer will be responsible for needed improvements along the roadway for turn lanes and more in an area that’s already growing and in need of these improvements.
The next Sussex County Council meeting will be Tuesday, April 10 at 10am at the County offices on the Circle in Georgetown.
