GEORGETOWN, Del. - Georgetown Town Council held the first reading Monday night of an ordinance to rezone 16 parcels at the intersection of Zoar Road and Sussex Pines Road.
The proposed change would shift the zoning from Neighborhood Residential (UR 3) to Urban Residential (UR 1) to allow the construction of 78 single-family homes.
Grayway Developers, LLC submitted the request as an official zoning map amendment. According to the developers, the proposed UR 1 zoning is consistent with the town's most common residential zoning classification. One primary difference between the zoning districts is the minimum lot size: 10,000 square feet in UR 3 compared to 7,200 square feet in UR 1.
Developers say the smaller lot size supports the construction of more affordable homes and lowers infrastructure costs.
Hannah Hopkins has been working in Georgetown for about 10 years and says even though the town is already crowded, they need more housing.
"It would be a good way to go, because we have a lot of people here, and we definitely need more housing for ones that needs, that can't afford the more expensive ones that are coming up now," Hopkins said.
The project site is directly across from properties being redeveloped for a larger church campus for the Church of God Prophecy and an expanded school campus for Delmarva Christian School.
Map showing where the parcels are.
Hopkins added that even though the traffic won't be a problem for her, she does worry about delivery drivers that work with her and take these roads a lot.
"It would really affect them because it would hold them up and slow them down," Hopkins said.
The ordinance will remain open for public comment until the next Town Council meeting. A second reading and possible adoption is scheduled for April 28.