UPDATE: Sussex County Council Advances Forest Preservation Measure, Approves Land Use Amendment

April 21, 2026/Mari Lou

UPDATE-04/21/26:  At today’s Sussex County Council meeting, the Council voted to introduce a proposed ordinance related to Forest Preservation. County Attorney Vince Robertson emphasized the need to get this process started…

He says that going forward they’ll be looking at dates for Sussex County Planning & Zoning. Also, the now introduced ordinance will be posted online. For more information go to https://sussexcountyde.gov/county-council.

The County Council today voted to adopt Ordinance 20-07, which would amend the future land use map in relation to 3 parcels south of Route 16 on Gravel Hill Road and change the designation from low density to a developing area. Council Member Steve McCarron made this clarification about the ordinance…

A public hearing on Ordinance 20-07 was held before the County Council on January 6th of this year. 

 

Also, the Council held public hearings on six conditional use applications including this one, which they voted to defer:

Conditional Use No. 2622 filed on behalf of Tharros Village (c/o Code Purple at the Cape)
“AN ORDINANCE TO GRANT A CONDITIONAL USE OF LAND IN A C-1 GENERAL
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TO AMEND CONDITION K OF CONDITIONAL USE NO.
2583 (ORDINANCE NO. 4003) TO ALLOW FOR YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR STORAGE
TO REMAIN ON THE PROPERTY AS PART OF A CAMPGROUND FOR THE
UNHOUSED TO BE LOCATED ON A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LYING AND
BEING IN SUSSEX COUNTY, CONTAINING 7.16 ACRES, MORE OR LESS” (property is
lying on the south side of Coastal Highway [Rt. 1], approximately 0.2 mile northwest of the
intersection of Coastal Highway [Rt. 1] and Dartmouth Drive [Rt. 9]) (911 Address: 17996
Coastal Highway, Lewes) (Tax Map Parcel: 334-6.00-526.01)

 

The Sussex County Council meeting this week included several public hearings including one pertaining to the homeless tent encampment at Tharros Village and stored items at the site. Frank Arena who is a Volunteer at Tharros Village says Planning and Zoning has reviewed this and made new recommendations with modified language.  


He says Tharros Village is in full agreement with the proposal from Planning and Zoning and endorse moving foward with the plan. The property is located in the Lewes area on the south side of Coastal Highway -Rt. 1-, approximately 0.2 mile northwest of the intersection of Coastal Highway [Rt. 1] and Dartmouth Drive [Rt. 9]. The Council voted yes to defer the proposal.  

Full Audio:

 

Original Post: 

The Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday – beginning at 12:30pm in Georgetown. Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson is expected to further discuss and possibly introduce a proposed ordinance related to Forest Preservation. In Old Business the Council will revisit Ordinance 20-07, which would amend the future land use map in relation to 3 parcels south of Route 16 on Gravel Hill Road and change the designation from low density to a developing area. The Council deferred action after a public hearing in January.

The Council will hold public hearings on six conditional use applications at 1:30pm.

The meeting begins at 12:30pm Tuesday at the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL PACKET

 

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