Weather Alert

Small Craft Advisory from MON 8:00 PM EDT until WED 6:00 AM EDT

Freeman Companies propose 23 units at Fenwick property

Madeleine Overturf and Mallory Metzner
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 22, 2023 Updated Oct 24, 2023

Route 54 Parcel — Madeleine Overturf

Madeleine Overturf

FENWICK ISLAND, Del.- The Carl M Freeman Companies have once again set their sights on a parcel of land located off Route 54 in Fenwick Island.

According to Thursday's Planning and Zoning Agenda, the Freeman Companies are now seeking to rezone the nine-acre parcel of land, situated at the intersection of Route 54 and Bennett Road. The requested change is from its current zoning, which is Agricultural Residential, to Medium Density Residential. In addition to the rezoning request, the Freeman Companies are also seeking conditional use approval to build multi-family dwellings on this property. Their proposal includes a total of 23 units that will be part of the development.

This latest move comes approximately two years after their previous proposal to build a hotel and restaurant faced significant opposition and was ultimately rejected by the Sussex County Council. At the time, the developers said their plan would fit in with the other commercial districts nearby, and it would improve the road.

Scott Mumford, who owns Warren's Station in Fenwick Island, says he welcomes sustainable growth, but not when the infrastructure isn't there to support it.

"Our roads are single-lane," Mumford says. "We need Route 54, we need Route 26, we need Route 24, we need Route 9, all of those east-west corridors to be dualized at this point."

CoastTV News reached out to the Freeman Companies on Monday for a comment about their goals for the project. Their response can be found here.

Both of these new proposals are scheduled to be discussed by the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday Oct. 26 at 4 p.m.

Freeman Companies responds to Fenwick Island development

Freeman Companies responds to Fenwick Island development

"We remain committed to developing the property in a manner that is sensitive to the surrounding area and the environment," CEO Michelle Freeman told CoastTV News.

Madeleine Overturf

Evening Broadcast Journalist

Madeleine has been with Draper Media since 2016, when she first worked as Sussex County Bureau Chief. She helped launch the rebranded CoastTV in 2019. As co-anchor of CoastTV News at 5 and 6, Maddie helps organize the evening newscasts and performs managerial responsibilities such as helping find and assign stories, approving scripts, and making content decisions.

Mallory Metzner

Evening Broadcast Journalist

Mallory was born and raised in Lewes, DE, where she lives today. She graduated from Sussex Tech High School and the University of Delaware. Mallory interned at WRDE in 2017, started reporting in 2018, and is now one of the station's evening anchors.