By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Heightened security around the Rehoboth Beach home of President Joe Biden has been granted.

Acting on mandates sought by the U.S. Secret Service, the Sussex County Board of Adjustment on Monday approved variance requests for increased fencing and wall heights bordering the Biden property at 32 Far View Road in the North Shores subdivision.

The request was submitted by Turnstone Holdings of Rehoboth Beach.

Following a public hearing, the board voted 4-0, with support from Jeffrey Chorman, John Hastings, Kevin Carson and chairman John Williamson.

“I believe that the property has unique and physical conditions, that the property can’t be developed in strict conformity, that the difficulty has not been created by the applicant, that the variance will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood, and the variance represents the minimum necessary to afford relief,” said Mr. Carson.

Harvey Ryan, CEO of Turnstone Holdings, presented the request on behalf of first lady Jill Biden, the listed owner of the property.

“We are seeking a variance from the maximum fence-height requirements, specifically a variance of 3 feet, to permit a 10-foot-tall fence with stone columns along the rear and sides of the property, and a variance to provide a 4-foot stone wall along the front,” Mr. Ryan said.

“The requested variance is the minimum variance that will afford the relief and represents the least modification possible. The variance requested is the minimum required to implement the security measures identified by the U.S. Secret Service.”
Outlined by Sussex County planning director Jamie Whitehouse, the three variances include:

• A 3-foot variance along the side and rear from the 7-foot maximum requirement, allowing a 10-foot height.
• A 6-inch variance in the front yard, increasing the total height to 4 feet from the maximum 3.5 feet.
• A 6.5-foot variance from the 3.5-foot maximum along the side yards from the street to the front yard setback, allowing a 10-foot height.

Without the variances identified by the U.S. Secret Service, Mr. Ryan said the “property cannot otherwise be developed. … Developing the property in strict conformity with the zoning code will not meet the U.S. Secret Service mandates. Therefore, the variance is necessary to enable the reasonable use of this property by its owner.”

He added, “The property was purchased by the owner well before the U.S. Secret Service security standards became necessary. The applicant has not created any of the conditions that require this variance. The U.S. Secret Service has requested this variance after an extensive survey process.”

Materials will match the appearance of those already in use on the property and will be consistent with the community’s standards.

The variances have also received the approval of the neighborhood’s homeowners association.