Eul Lee is a resident of Lewes.
Does anyone see the parallel between the past 20-plus years of growth in eastern Sussex County and the Peter principle of hierarchical promotion structure — where competent employees will continue being promoted as they learn skills and display competency at new positions, until they get stuck, now incompetent to perform tasks required for new positions? Do you see how the beautiful coastal/growth areas in Sussex County grew so fast, with continued rave reviews, but are about to get stuck in doom?
Eastern Sussex County had been viewed as a rural gem in the mid-Atlantic region, and many retirees like me found it a nice place to live. Sussex government spread the welcome mat with brand-new subdivisions converted from agricultural fields and with low taxes. The good revenue stream gave a sugar high, and the county kept approving more subdivisions. The roads were widened, and sewer networks grew. Meanwhile, wetlands and floodplains were covered with houses (some even on stilts), and roads were elevated. Mature woodlands gave their ghosts to houses and roads.
Screams from the residents get louder as each huge development threatens to change the character of the place we know and test the infrastructure limit. Take Cool Spring Crossing, Northstar, Belle Mead, Atlantic Fields.
Please tell me how the traffic situation will not get worse as Costco Wholesale and Target open businesses, spewing endless streams of cars and freight trucks onto Del. 24. If one is approved, it will open floodgates of urban development in eastern Sussex, and there will be no return. Are we ready for that? Should we give up on Sussex County being a nice place to live?
The sought-after coastal growth areas are at their saturation points. Particularly, when already jammed Del. 24, Del. 26 or Del. 54 are backed up with unexpected delays, there are often no alternate routes because of the bays on one side. The coastal areas around Del. 24, Del. 26 or Del. 54 cannot function as growth areas any longer. The arcane land use map and zoning code must be revamped.
County Council may soon make decisions on Cool Spring Crossing, Belle Mead and Atlantic Fields, which will dictate the direction of Sussex County. It is time for the residents and decision-makers to stand up, arm in arm, then push back the wall of urban invasion and say no!
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
