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Land Use Plan |
NOTE: Sussex Beat is a log of news briefs and commentary by Kerin Magill, editor of Sussex County Online, with contributions from Sussex County Online users.
The Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, to discuss an ordinance to adopt the 2002 update to the county's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in county council chambers for the purpose of preparing a final version of the plan to be forwarded to council. The commission has Oct. 13 to forward its recommended plan to council. Council must vote on the revised plan by next month. It will hold a public hearing on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at the CHEER Center. Planning & Zoning Director Lawrence Lank said the public has until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, to submit written comments to the Planning & Zoning Commission. No public comments will be accepted at the Sept. 11 meeting. All comments after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday will be forwarded to county council for its public hearing. Planning & Zoning held a public hearing on the first draft of the revised plan on Aug. 29. Residents and officials from the coastal communities criticized the plan, saying it has been watered down from what county staff presented to the public over the winter. The Positive Growth Alliance, a group of developers and real estate agents, largely supported the first draft but said it should include more aggressive language regarding the Delaware Department of Transportation's obligations to provide adequate roads in the county. The first draft of the plan can be viewed at http://www.sussexcounty.net/comprehensiveplanupdate/. The Planning & Zoning Commission also has a busy night on Thursday, Sept. 12, when it meets at 7 p.m. in council chambers to discuss nearly 20 items, including six subdivision requests.
Sussex County Council will hold a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, regarding plans for an age-restricted 1,404-unit development near Oak Orchard with a golf course and neighborhood retail center. The application of Ribera-Odyssey Ventures of McLean, Va., the proposed development, known as The Peninsula, would require the rezoning of 788 acres off Bay Farm Road (County Road 299) from AR-1 to MR-RPC. The planning commission deferred action following a public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 29. Opponents of the project say the area in question doesn't have the infrastructure in place to handle such a large project.
The Fenwick Island Police Department has hired two new officers to bolster its undermanned staff, according to a press release from the department. Patrolman Robert Smull and Patrolman Ethan Kaplan were certified by the Delaware Council on Police Training and sworn into office on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002. The release said the additions will now enable the department to provide 24-hour coverage again. Patrolman Smull comes to Fenwick with 9 months of experience with the Bridgeport Police Department, while Patrolman Kaplan brings 11 months of experience from the Montgomery County (Pa.) Sheriff's Office. The department had been down to three officers after a dispute with Police Chief George H. Dickerson Jr. led to his suspension with pay. Dickerson's attorney, James Liguori, said Dickerson will likely request a public hearing on the matter. Council also hired former state trooper and Bethany Beach town manager Glenn Hudson as a "consultant" to the police department following an executive session on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Sgt. Michael Bruette continues to be the Officer in Charge in the chief's absence.
The Delaware Tourism Office will present a new state-wide customer service program for travel industry professionals at the annual Governor's Tourism Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002, at the Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center. The state's 2002-2003 Travel Guide will also be previewed. This year, the guide will include a guide to Delaware restaurants. It will also be distributed in Delaware hotels for the first time. "The program will help our attractions, hotels and restaurants get the most out of their interactions with customers," said Janet Wurtzel, director of the Delaware Tourism Office. "Providing first-class customer service throughout our state will also help us live up to the brand promise that our residents and visitors come first." The conference features tourism workshops and an awards banquet recognizing the best promotional efforts for Delaware's tourism industry during the year. The workshops will cover:
The cost to attend the conference and awards dinner is $100 per person. To register, call 1-866-284-7483 or 302-672-6842. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 4.
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