UPDATED: Sussex County Approves New Commercial Zoning Ordinance, Turns Down East Gate Farm Application

UPDATED – 2-27-18  2pm – The Sussex County council has approved a new commercial zoning ordinance. The new ordinance has been under discussion for several months and included public comment as well as staff recommendations. The council approved the new commercial zoning ordinance by a 5 to 0 vote – it will go into effect on July 1st.

A change of zone application (CZ 1831) for the East Gate Farm near Milford has been denied by the County Council. Residents spoke during a public hearing in late November that the east side of Route 1 was not the place for a commercial zone and that it should remain AR-1. Councilman I-G Burton agreed as did the rest of the council who voted 5 to 0 to deny the change of zone application.

The council also denied an conditional use application (CU 2107) for a mini storage facility proposed for Muddy Neck Road west of Bethany Beach and they approved a change of zone (CZ 1839) for property on the north side of Route 9 in the area of Cool Spring. The council felt that other property owned by the same company was already zoned commercial and this would provide the full property with uniform commercial zoning. The council was unanimous in all four votes.

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The Sussex County Council revisit several items during Old Business Tuesday.  Over the past several months, the council has been working to update and amend the Commercial Zoning Districts.  The council will hear more on that as well as a Change of Zone for the East Gate Farm property near Milford.

During a public hearing before the council in November, area residents spoke out against a proposed change of zone (CZ 1831) from A-R-1 to Business.  The council will also revisit a Change of Zone (CZ 1839) for a 4 acre property on Route 9 near Cool Spring which the developer is asking be changed from A-R-1 to C-R-1 (commercial-residential).

There is also a conditional use application (CU 2107) back before the council for a mini-storage facility on Muddy Neck Road west of Bethany Beach.  The council meets Tuesday morning at 10am on the Circle in Georgetown.