(OCEAN VIEW, Del.) - While residents continue to move into Silverwoods, its developer, Bob Thornton, is hoping to add some guests. He wants to build a hotel right in the neighborhood and residents are far from on board.
The Durivages don't see any benefit. "A hotel, I don't think it fits," says Mr. Durivage.
Hotels and apartments are currently not permitted in Ocean View, but Bed and Breakfasts can usually get a special exception.
Director of Planning, Zoning, and Development Kenneth Cimino explains, "There's currently a pending request for textural change to the land use and development code to add a hotel and other lodgings as a special use exception on parcel B. It's a 9.8 acre parcel of land."
Parcel B lies just on the edge of the development, just off of Beaver Dam Road. Right now it is approved for multi-family units such as condominiums and a hotel would not meet the requirements that Planning, Zoning, and Development has set for the town.
"The process from this point forward is someone on the town council would need to introduce this ordinance," says Cimino.
Even before such ordinance has been introduced, residents are strongly opposed.
"Doing that is going to put a bunch of people in here that don't belong," says Mr. Durivage.
Scott Flemming says he was quite surprised. "When we purchased in this community, we had advance notice of all the other construction that was going to go on. They talked about future communit development, but we weren't aware of commercial spaces."
"We signed up for a community, not anything commercial and I wouldn't like traffic coming through my street," adds Mrs. Durivage.
WRDE reached out to Bob Thornton to ask how a hotel could benefit Silverwoods and the town, but we haven't heard back.
This isn't the only controversy in Ocean View between a community and a developer. Right donw the road in Fairway Village, homeonwers sued LC Homes over rental units that are in violation of Home Owner's Association Rules. A chancery court judge has the case and could rule at any time.
The process to get a special exception to build the hotel is in preliminary stages. If the ordinance is introduced, it would have to be voted on at several meetings with planning and zoning, the town council, and the board of adjustments.
Cimino says this will be a lengthy process and could take up to 5 months.
There will be various times for community to participate in process. Meeting dates and other information will be posted on the town website.