UPDATED: Sussex County Council Approves First Land Use Reform Working Group-born Ordinances
UPDATED – 06/09/26 – The Sussex County Council started late this week due to a lighter agenda. County Administrator Todd Lawson thanked the community which turned out last month for the 3rd annual EMS Blood Drive which was held at the Public Safety Complex in Georgetown. The blood drive brought in 45 units of blood and coincides with the start of the EMS whole blood program which began in 2023.
In Old Business the Council revisited two ordinances born from the County’s Land Use Reform Working Group which brought together multiple stakeholders in multiple meetings to make technical changes in the County Code. Twenty recommendations came from the group – the first two worked into ordinances No. 26-01 and 26-03 were approved this week by the Council. These ordinances deal with the Sussex County Rental Unit Program (SCRP) and design criteria and interconnectivity. This is just the beginning as the County begins to work on the State-mandated update to the comprehensive plan which must be adopted by 2028.
Also in Old Business, the Council was updated on Conditional Use No 2631 / Zion Church Ventures which was still waiting for a recommendation from Planning & Zoning. That recommendation to deny was made at the last P&Z meeting – and the record will remain open for five business days for written public comment on the recommendation. A vote on the application by the Council is on next week’s agenda.
The other 2 conditional use applications – CU No. 2554 and CU No. 2555 were both approved by the Council with unanimous votes.
Each numbered oval represents a solar project / Image courtesy of Sussex County Planning & Zoning
Planning & Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse discussed Solar Arrays with the Council. He told the Council that since 2020, there have been 59 solar projects that are being tracked. So far 14 have been approved and have building permits. Nine solar projects have been withdrawn and 21 are awaiting P&Z recommendation or Council votes. There is one project that was deferred by the Council which will be up for a vote during the June 16th Council meeting and one was denied by the Council. Whitehouse told the Council that one reason there have been so many applications is that the Planning Commission and Council are just a step in the middle of this process. The applicants have to get land use approval before they can apply for interconnection approval – and then go for the building permit to actually build the solar array.
There were three public hearings scheduled – one Change of Zone, No 2053 and two Conditional Use applications – No 2540 and No. 2604. Unfortunately the County’s stream had technical difficulties, but according the agenda for the June 16th meeting – the public record has been left open for each of those applications and will be closed during next week’s meeting.
The Sussex County Council does meet next Tuesday, June 16. The Council will also hold a public hearing at 10:15am on the proposed FY 2027 Budget and related ordinances for the county water and sewer and new fees – including a school surcharge on building permit applications to generate revenue for capital improvements for the local school districts and Sussex Tech. Next week’s meeting begins at 10am in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE FOR JUNE 16th AGENDA
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The Sussex County Council will meet beginning at 12:30pm on Tuesday. The Council will honor the Cape Henlopen High School Girls Lacrosse State Champions and will revisit several items in Old Business – including two ordinances from the Land Use Reform Working Group that were updated to the Council during last week’s meeting.
Planning & Zoning Director Jamie Whitehouse will discuss solar arrays with the Council.
There are three public hearings scheduled beginning around 1:30pm – one Change of Zone and two Conditional Use applications.
The Council meets at 12:30 Tuesday afternoon at the County Administration building on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA
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