Sussex County Council Approves Property Management Agreement for Pepper Fork Preserve & Discussed Land Use Reform Code Ordinances
UPDATED – 03/03/26 – The Council recognized retiree Robert Mauch, III, who was the Public Safety Emergency Services Deputy Director and retired after 26 years and one month serving Sussex County. County Administrator read a tribute and Mauch was presented with a plaque. He told the Council that he’s seen two constants throughout his career – growth and change and support from the County Council – regardless of who sat on the Council at any given time.
The Council approved a property management agreement with the Sussex County Land Trust for the Layfield property – known as the Pepper Fork Preserve near Dagsboro. The over 163-acre property is off Dagsboro Road just north of town and is currently leased to a local farmer. That lease will remain in place until the property’s use changes requiring the farming operation to end. The property management agreement specifies the roles and responsibilities of The Sussex County Land Trust in managing the Pepper Fork Preserve. The agreement is for 25 years with a 25 year extension. The Land Trust will serve as the day-to-day manager and is also responsible for the long-term maintenance of the facility. The Council approved the agreement with a unanimous vote.
The Council approved a Library Advisory Board Appointment to fill a vacancy for the District 2 seat. The Council approved Vivian Erickson for that seat.
The Logistics Manager for Sussex County EMS, Kristen McAfee, came before the Council to request the termination of a current lease for Paramedic Station 114, which is temporarily being housed on Rehoboth Avenue Extended while the new Dewey Beach Town Hall and Police Headquarters are being constructed and where the permanent home of Station 114 will be. McAfee told the Council the current location on Rehoboth Avenue Extended is on a slab – and the property has flooded twice in the past year and crews are sandbagging the station and raising furniture when coastal flooding is in the forecast. The landlord has leased another property on Church Street and offered to sub-lease this as an alternative. This property has a foundation and is larger. The Council approved the termination of the current lease and approved the new 2-year lease for Paramedic Station 114 until it can move into its permanent home in Dewey Beach in 2027.
Three items regarding the runway expansion at the Delaware Coastal Airport were approved by the County Council. The Council approved design and bidding work associated with the continuing construction of Parallel Taxiway B for $500,000.
The Council also approved $95,000 for a survey by Delta Airport Consultants now that the Runway 4 obstruction study – the removal of trees – has been completed. The survey and mapping is for the proposed extension of Runway 4.
The final item is for approval to submit a grant application to the FAA’s General Aviation Airport Runway Extension Pilot Program in the amount of $42,522,000. These grants are provided to no more than 2 general aviation airports per fiscal year – they are used to plan, design or construct a project to extend an existing runway by not greater than 1000 feet in order to accommodate larger aircraft that cannot be accommodated with the existing runway length.
In Old Business, the Council was informed that the Planning & Zoning Commission has recommended approval for Conditional Use No. 2530 on behalf of Whitney Price. Written comment from the public on the P&Z’s recommendations to Council can be accepted for 5 calendar days when the record will then be closed.
The record has now been closed for Change of Zone No. 2033 for Springpoint at Lewes, Inc. The record had been left open in order to receive specific documents which have been received.
The final item of Old Business is Ordinance No. 25-02, which deals with sediment releases and control and stormwater management. There were technical changes that have been amended – a total of 16 which were each approved by the Council and the amended Ordinance No. 25-02 was approved by the Council with a unanimous vote.
County Administrator Todd Lawson brought for discussion the first round of County Code Ordinances focused on Land Use Reforms – which builds on the last Council workshop that was held on January 24th. The first round of ordinances deal with the Sussex County Rental Program, Open Space Requirements, Preliminary Plat Requirements, Interconnectivity and Superior Design, Subdivisions in Rural Areas and Growth Areas, Forest Preservation and New Code definitions. This was only an update on the on-going discussion. The proposed ordinances will again be discussed and possibly introduced during next week’s meeting.
The Sussex County Council will meet next Tuesday – beginning at 12:30pm in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA
====================================================================
ORIGINAL STORY – 03/02/26 – The Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday morning – beginning at 10 in the County Administration building on The Circle in Georgetown. The Council will hear a presentation from Mimi DuPont and the University of Delaware Aquaculture and Hatchery, review and approve the property management agreement with the Sussex County Land Trust for the Pepper Fork Preserve near Dagsboro and hear from Delaware Coastal Airport Manager Bob Bryant on several items – including an update on the extension of the main runway.
The Council will also revisit three items in Old Business – two are updates, however a vote could be taken on a proposed amendment to Ordinance No. 25-02 – which deals with sediment releases and control and stormwater management.
Planning and Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse will also update the Council on County Code ordinances focused on Land Use Reforms.
There are no afternoon public hearings on the agenda.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL PACKET