LEWES, Del. - A battle over a proposed mixed-use development of the 73 acre Belmead Farms along Route 24 in Lewes is now headed to the Delaware Supreme Court after the project's developer filed a motion to dismiss an appeal challenging the project's approval.
Back in January, the Route 24 Alliance appealed the Sussex County Council's decision to rezone the land for the Belmead Farms development. Now, Capano Management, the project's developer, has filed a motion seeking dismissal of the case.
The dispute over the proposed development at Belmead Farms, located off Route 24 in Lewes, has been one of the county's most controversial land-use debates for years.
The property could become home to a large mixed-use development, but residents remain divided over whether the project is beneficial for the community. According to Capano Management, the project plans include more than 300 apartment-style homes and ground-floor retail spaces.
Some residents have described the proposal as "a nightmare," while others say, "I think growth is good."
The development was approved by the Sussex County Council before the Route 24 Alliance appealed the decision in January.
Marty Joyner tells CoastTV he is not opposed to development but believes infrastructure improvements should come before new projects are considered.
"We chose to retire here. We want to be able to get around conveniently and not simply just be looking at the big box stores," Joyner says.
Neighbor Gary Vorsheim says he is also not against development but worries the area will become even more congested than it already is, particularly with nearby schools.
"It's just total chaos. Now that's just school pickup; then you go down the street, Saddle Ridge, Hart's Landing, those people who wanna exit and come toward Lewes, sometimes especially during rush hour, have to wait 15 minutes," Vorsheim says.
For now, the land remains undeveloped, but the debate surrounding its future continues to grow louder.
CoastTV reached out to Sussex County, which declined to comment on what comes next for the development, citing the ongoing litigation.
