UPDATED: Sussex County Council to Meet Tuesday – Hear More on Land Use Code Ordinance Amendments
UPDATED – 03/10/26 – The Sussex County Council met Tuesday afternoon in the Council Chambers in Georgetown. During public comment the Council heard from Beth DeFrancis, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Frankford Public Library. She is asking support for a modest adjustment to the library tax – an increase of about a total of $20. Frankford Public Library is an independent library and in need of additional funding for books and services. Jeff Sammons of Milton also spoke to the Council requesting that they look at school impact fees.
The President and CEO of Bayhealth, Terry Murphy, spoke to the Council about Bayhealth – discussing the Route 9 Total Care at the intersection of Route 9 and Hudson Road. He also discussed the main Bayhealth Sussex Campus and changes that are taking place there and about Medical Education. Bayhealth became a teaching hospital in 2019 and is working to increase the number of doctors in Sussex County and the state.
The Council recognized retiree Earl Chaffinch, Junior who has worked for the county for 20 years and five months as an Emergency Communications Specialist at the Public Safety Emergency Center
County Administrator Todd Lawson reminds anyone who feels the assessed value of their property doesn’t reflect fair market value as of July 1, 2023 – may file an application for appeal. Applications must be filed by 4:30pm on March 15, 2026. Click here for more information – https://sussexcountyde.gov/news/sussex-county-accepting-applications-property-assessment-appeals
County Administrator Todd Lawson tells the Council that updating the County Code on Land Use Applications has continued to evolve since the Council packet was posted. These ordinances come from the 20 plus recommendations made by the Land Use Reform working group. Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson said that there has been some concern on how the introduction of these ordinances would play out with land use applications in the meantime. He also discussed a possible limited moratorium on certain types of land use applications – which will be discussed during next week’s meeting. The Council did introduce several of the ordinances – more will be coming in the future. Public hearings will be held on the ordinances before the Planning and Zoning Commission and the County Council.
There were two public hearings on land use applications held by the Council. Both were approved by the Council with unanimous votes. A third public hearing has been pulled from consideration by the applicant.
The Sussex County Council will meet next Tuesday – at 10am in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE FOR COUNTY AGENDA FOR 03/17/26
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ORIGINAL STORY – 03/09/26 – The Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday – beginning at 12:30pm. The Council will hear a presentation from Lindsay Rhodenbaugh, president of the Bayhealth Foundation and senior vice president and chief development officer of Bayhealth Medical Center. Assistant County Attorney, Vince Robertson will discuss and possibly introduce several proposed ordinances to the County Code on Land Use Applications. Beginning at 1:30 the Council will begin public hearings on one change on zone and and two conditional use applications. The Council will meet at 12:30 in the County Administration building on The Circle in Georgetown.
CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNCIL AGENDA
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL PACKET