Despite concessions made by applicants Gregory and Patricia White, members of the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) voiced concerns about their proposed four-home multi-family project near St. George’s Church at Omar Road.
The Whites presented a revised site plan for the project at the commission’s Sept. 22 meeting, reducing the plan from six units to four detached units, which would replace an existing single-family home on the property.
Though the move reduced the planned density for the project to roughly that used in single-family projects — 4.3 units per acre — commissioners commented that they didn’t see how the project could be made compatible with the surrounding area, which comprises only single-family homes.
It was compared to putting 10 pounds of potatoes into a 2-pound bag and labeled a “little cluster subdivision.” Commissioners also expressed disappointment that the applicant, a builder, hadn’t provided a preliminary drawing for the commissioners to review.
If approved, it was noted, the project was also mandated to have an increased side setback due to the lack of central water in the area. (It relies on a well for water, as well as on-site community septic at the rear of the property.)
The plan did allow for three parking spaces per unit, with two-car garages and room to park a third car across each driveway.
Commissioners also expressed concern about the planned stormwater management ponds along Route 26, particularly whether they would accumulate debris from the road. The ponds are to be maintained by a homeowner’s association, with the applicants suggesting that the open view to Route 26 would encourage the HOA to maintain them in as neat a condition as possible.
It was suggested that landscaping could be used to screen the ponds from the road.
No public opposition presented itself at the hearing, but neighbor Susan Shaw Cramer offered her support for the project. Cramer’s reasons for her support were vague, but Acting Chairman Robert Wheatley elicited Cramer to admit that she might consider a similar project for her own property, were approval granted to the Whites.
Commissioners deferred action on the application.
Revisiting previous applications, commissioners unanimously gave final approval to Waterside Inc. for The Inlet at Pine Grove, a 36-lot subdivision expansion of Murray Estates off Route 26.
The subdivision was given preliminary approval in January of 2004, with a one-year time extension for the approval in March. Commission staff noted that the subdivision application met the requirements of county ordinances and had received all needed agency approvals.
The commissioners also granted unanimous preliminary approval to a 10-lot cluster subdivision named Dagsboro Woods, having previously deferred the decision and left the record open for easements and the rights of the parties to be determined.
The easement provided for the Sept. 22 meeting satisfied the commission’s concerns, commissioners noted.
The subdivision, in the AR-1 zoning district, was designed to be in line with the county’s cluster design ordinance and was deemed by commissioners to be superior and innovative in that design, notably in that it protects a forested area and a gravesite.
The 10-lot subdivision was considered consistent with the allowable density for the AR-1 district, compatible with the neighboring property and likely to cause no adverse affect. It was noted that several similar projects were approved or built in the area and that the project would have no wetlands impact.
The approval was conditional, however, based on no more than 10 lots being created, with the applicant — Dagsboro Branch LLC — to form a homeowner’s association responsible for the development’s streets, buffers, stormwater management areas and common areas.
The entrances were to comply were DelDOT requirements and the stormwater management ponds to be landscaped with native vegetation to deter nuisance species, such as Canada geese.
The commission also agreed to grant a time extension to Windmill Ventures LLC for the applicant’s conditional use on Road 352, Windmill Road, just south of Route 26 and north of Burbage Road. The original application had been dated December 2003, with a preliminary site plan approval given in June of 2004.
Commissioners noted that the extension was the second, and therefore last, that could be granted to the project. They dictated that it must be substantially under way by Dec. 16, 2006.
The commissioners also expressed surprised that the parcel hadn’t been annexed into Ocean View or Millville.
Approved in concept was the creation of a lot on Piney Point Road for Delmus Hickman. The public road is not maintained by DelDOT, commission staff noted.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the lot in concept only, due to the lack of a survey. The survey, when made, will ensure the lot complies with the 10,000 square foot minimum size. The lot has 108 feet of frontage, with the remaining sides bordering Cedar Neck Road and neighboring properties.
An application for two lots on Ocean Pines Lane by Sitton Living Trust was canceled from the commission’s agenda for the night.
The commission’s next meeting is set for Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m.