FENWICK ISLAND, Del. - The Carl M. Freeman Companies has responded to criticism around its proposal to build 23 units of multi-family housing on Bennett Avenue off of Route 54 in Fenwick Island. The proposal included a requested zoning change from agricultural residential to medium density residential.
"During the previous application and public hearing process, we listened to the feedback that the location of commercial uses was too intense and will not align with the surrounding area and land uses," CEO Michelle Freeman told CoastTV News. "With the valuable input from the public, the planning and zoning commission and county council, our proposal of a residential use better aligns with the surrounding area both in type and density."
In 2021, a proposal to build a hotel and restaurant in the same area along Route 54 was denied by Sussex County Planning and Zoning. Critics cited traffic and environmental concerns back then, saying that the plan would fit in other commercial districts nearby but not in the proposed location. Similar concerns were shared by the public again this week for the new proposal.
"We remain committed to developing the property in a manner that is sensitive to the surrounding area and the environment by proposing voluntary buffers from both tidal and non-tidal wetlands adjacent to the proposed development," Freeman continued. "We also continue to move forward with significant road improvements along the property frontage including the realignment of Bennett Avenue with Madison Avenue along with the installation of a traffic signal for this new and much safer intersection."
The project is on the agenda to be discussed at a Sussex County Planning and Zoning meeting on Thursday.