Multiple developments move forward in Sussex County

GEORGETOWN, Del.- Two controversial developments are moving forward.

The Sussex County Planning and Zoning commission gave multiple reason to approve plans for developments around the county.

The first one spoken about was a development called Twin Masts. This development is planned to be built off Round Pole Bridge Road and Route 1 outside of Milton. The plans currently call for 249 homes on over 100 acres of land.

People have voiced opposition to these plans- with some of them being concerns for traffic on a very curvy Round Pole Bridge Road, its close proximity to Hudson Fields airport, and it being built near nearby wetlands.

The commission approved the preliminary site plans under multiple conditions, including road improvements, and setting an area where nothing can be built. That area must be approximately 100 feet in width and 2000 feet in length in the line of the flight path from Eagle Cross Airdrome. Pilots have voiced concerns of these homes being built in an emergency landing zone if they have a bad takeoff. This is to address those concerns.

The development still needs final site plan approval. You can read more on Twin Masts here.

The other development in question is owned by the Freeman Companies. It would be 23 multifamily units off of Route 54 and Bennett Ave outside of Fenwick Island. 

The Freeman Companies also asked to rezone the nine-acre parcel of land from Agricultural Residential to Medium Density Residential. According to the commission, this is because the area in question is expected to become more urban. This request was approved.

The commission granted conditional use due to the developer working to ease traffic concerns by improving the intersection. The commission also cited the proposed use is consistent with the county's comprehensive land use plan. According to the commission, it is in a coastal area according to the plan, which is a growth area.

Neighbors have voiced concern with more traffic on an already very busy Route 54. But in a statement to CoastTV, Michelle Freeman, CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, said:

"...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.  We also continue to move forward with significant road improvements along the property frontage including the realignment of Bennett Ave with Madison Avenue along with the installation of a traffic signal for this new and much safer intersection."

You can read more on this property here.