Sussex County Council Presents Perimeter Buffer Ordinance Update
The Sussex County Council today discussed perimeter buffers, and one of the areas of focus is on space needed when woodlands are present and protecting existing trees. County Administrator Todd Lawson says the ordinance regarding perimeter buffers is the top-ranked priority for the County Council. Lawson previously gave a high-level update on what they were attempting to accomplish with this new ordinance. Details have been outlined in a document…
Lawson says included are six specific updates. The document starts with a definition section. Among the other specifics include the perimeter buffer general standards, which they hope will improve what they are seeing regarding land use and subdivisions.
The goal of protecting existing trees with what is called a “perimeter buffer” was up for discussion at this week’s Sussex County Council meeting. A perimeter buffer is a managed area of planted or existing trees and shrubs and associated landscaping, not less than 30 feet in width measured from the property boundary located along the entire outer perimeter of any portion of a major subdivision. County Administrator Todd Lawson talked about a protection area around the actual buffer…
According to the perimeter buffer general standards in a document shared by the County, a Perimeter Buffer would be established along the boundary of every major subdivision or residential planned community. A Perimeter Buffer would not be required along internal boundaries within a subdivision or residential planned community, such as internal phasing lines. Lawson says the next step is to draft the ordinance, given the feedback and the specifics found in the document.
The link to the information can be found below:
For more details, visit the County Council link: Full Packet 022024.pdf (sussexcountyde.gov) (Pages 42-55).
Other highlights from this week’s County Council meeting include a hearing regarding an ordinance to amend the comprehensive zoning map of Sussex County from an AR-1 Agricultural Residential District to a C-3 heavy commercial district for a portion of a certain parcel of land in the area of the Route 1 and Route 16 intersection–lying and being in Broadkill Hundred. The application discussed was not for the entirety of the parcel, as local attorney David Hutt explains…
The entire parcel is 115.6 acres. Hutt says looking at the future land use map, the purpose is to encourage tourism and job growth in what is considered one of the County’s growth areas.
The Sussex County Council this week discussed a potential zoning ordinance focusing on commercial development that would affect property lying on the west side of Coastal Highway [Rt. 1], and the southeast side of Broadkill Road [Rt. 16]– at the intersection of Coastal Highway [Rt. 1] and Broadkill Road. Local attorney David Hutt says Sussex County’s Land Use Plan is to encourage tourism and other responsible commercial and industrial job providers to locate and invest in the County…
Hutt says looking at the developing area in Sussex County, it made sense for the County to designate this area as one of the County’s growth areas. In the public comment portion, the Council heard mixed feedback including those in favor as well as those in opposition to the project. One property owner who spoke in opposition said they need to look at how the project will impact every area including those who live at the location and also to confirm all the facts.
