Eul Lee is a resident of Lewes. The following was also sent to Sussex County Council, the Office of State Planning Coordination and the secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation.
What does “growth” mean? Slow and organic expansion that is noticeable or an exponential expansion that our eyes cannot keep up with?
Growth areas must be capacity-controlled — in regard to traffic, drinking water sources, first responders, schools, etc. We have witnessed the lament of uncontrolled growth in many towns and counties across the country, including Sussex County. We must study the capacity of major resources and infrastructure, and then decide whether the area can handle more development.
For example, if the road is almost maxed out with 20,000 vehicle trips a day and 3,000 during peak hours, we cannot add a shopping mall with 26,000 daily vehicle trips.
In the case of drinking water sources, Rehoboth Beach’s water restriction in the summer is still fresh in our memory. Tidewater Utilities’ 2022 annual water quality report states that the Rehoboth/Lewes pump district was interconnected with the Angola pump district as of June 14, 2022. It also shows, on Page 33, that the Rehoboth district’s susceptibility for all tested contaminants was either “Exceed,” “High” or “Very High.” (The Royal Farms at Tanger Rehoboth Beach’s Seaside venue is sitting on top of a huge wellhead protection area.) Was the Rehoboth water source getting constrained and needed water from elsewhere? Will it eventually affect Angola’s water supplies, too? I raised these questions in the past, but no one paid attention. Lewes’ wellhead protection area was moved inland years ago due to saltwater intrusion. Doesn’t it make sense that overpumping underground water near the ocean creates the vacuum that pulls in saltwater?
Truly, what are the water capacities of the so-called growth areas? Can residents be assured that their children and grandchildren won’t have to scramble for water?
Another big problem with the idea of directing all new developments to growth areas is that it exacerbates the affordable housing crisis! Just decentralize job/economic centers and spread them around town centers where the state intends to invest. This will bring much-needed economic boosts to nongrowth areas, where employees can find affordable housing.
Do I mean indiscriminate spreading of any commercial or business developments in the rural areas? No! The farmland and recreational spaces must be preselected and preserved by compensating landowners fairly.
County Council members from nongrowth areas should actively pursue economic opportunities for their constituents as an integral part of their jobs.
For instance, in Sussex County, spreading large commercial developments away from Coastal Highway will help the county in many ways! Further, it will be in line with the Department of Transportation’s longtime effort to route Milford-to-Bethany beach traffic to U.S. 113, away from Coastal Highway.
Let’s rethink the growth areas and get the steam off the affordable housing crisis at the same time.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
