Don’t be fooled, Rich Collins and his PGA organization are promoting growth policies that benefit a small minority of Sussex Countians.
He represents developers, realtors, and land owners who, in cahoots with the majority on the Sussex County Council, wish to have no controls on the rate and manner of land development in our Sussex County.
Make no mistake, I am not opposed to development — but I am realistic enough to know that it has to happen, especially with the retirement of the baby boomers beginning about now, the youngest of whom are now about 60 years old.
Instead of Rich Collins striving for managed growth, he is in favor of unbridled growth. Rich proclaims himself as the champion of property rights, which of course has appeal to farmers and developers who are land owners. But what about the entire community of Sussex Countians. Shouldn’t there be some kind of a middle ground where we can all come together? Rich Collins doesn’t appear to think so.
Don’t go by Rich’s language, go by his actions. Has there been a development that he opposes because of poor infrastructure planning or unsuitable placement? Have you seen him speak out: against potential pollution problems of our inland bays; in favor of adequate wetland protection buffers; against our sewage and waste disposal shortfalls; against our road problems; in favor of substantial impact fees on developers?
I have not, and I don’t expect to, because to me Rich Collins represents moneyed interests who are interested in their own self-aggrandizements irrespective of the interests of Sussex Countians as a community. (Note: This is a generalization certainly not typical of all developers, farmers, realtors, lenders, …. But again, we can only go by what we see actually happening in total)
Ask Rich Collins about Livable Developer, a state plan aimed at expanding development out from already existing centers, together with a voluntary program to preserve farm lands and a program to purchase lands for open space preservation. He hates it, but offers no alternative other than absolute property rights. That’s no development solution for anyone except the very few that Rich represents!
Look, I am not against development, but I want it to be managed. Right now it is not, and Rich Collins is part of the problem. So are Thurman Adams, Dale Dukes, Vance Phillips, and the rest of these people working in cahoots to forward their own personal interests, at the expense in quality of life of the rest of the residents of Sussex County, including the conscientious and caring farmers who love this land called Sussex County.
George Cole asked out loud the other day why we even have a zoning and planning organization, when the Sussex County Council majority do what they wish in spite of their recommendations.
This is no joke, folks, though I think it is to Rich Collins and his troops. No, it is a disgrace that we are allowing them to run all over us as they grin on the way to the bank. These folks do not have the better interests of Sussex Countians at heart.
Ask Rich Collins where he plans to live 15-20 years down the line. I’ll bet it is not Sussex County. Where is it Rich?
Rich Collins, again, represents only a wealthy fringe who are focused on squeezing every penny of profit, having too little regard for the welfare of the county in which we all reside. Let us learn from the mistakes of New Castle and Kent Counties, both of which are now in the process of getting a grip on their unmanaged growth. Let us not wait as long as they did to take control of our county.
Development can and should be managed in such a way that every single citizen benefits: developers, realtors, construction workers, farmers, other land owners, and the rest of the residents of Sussex County. There are other areas in this country have been successful at managed development. Let us find some models to assist us in generating plans for our managed growth, before it is too late.
Let Rich Collins know how angry you are, if you are angry, at his stances against managed growth, and let the above named neglectful politicians know as well.
Positive Growth Alliance
17577 Nassau Commons Blvd.
Suite 201
Lewes, DE 19958
(302) 644-3579 Phone
(302) 644-3879 Fax
Email: information@pgalliance.org
http://www.sussexcountyde.gov/departments/countycouncil/index.cfm
http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/sen?openview&nav=senate
http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/Reps?openview&Count=75&nav=house