By Brian Gilliland

GEORGETOWN — Finding a number of issues still needing council input, Sussex County staff prepared a review of the legislation to establish perimeter buffers between developments and neighborhoods in the county on Tuesday, rather than scheduling a vote as they did with Accessory Dwelling Units earlier in the meeting.

“Some of these you’ve heard and the public has heard,” Vincent Robertson, attorney representing the county said, before going over a number of proposed clarifications, definitions and explanations of the measures taken within this current version of the bill.

The Sussex Council has also directed county staff to post the ordinance online, where it can be found at: https://sussexcountyde.gov/ordinance-regarding-perimeter-buffers-around-residential-developments.

“We’re going to put it on the website for people to view it, but they can’t comment on it,” Council President Michael Vincent said. “Because we have closed the public hearing and the public record. And we cannot, any of us, we cannot discuss it with the public to help in our decision making process.”

Mr. Robertson indicated that was indeed the case.

“So we’re just going to defer this again I assume so we can read through it, understand it, and if we have questions we can certainly address the three individuals who did this: two standing in front of me, and one at the dais,” Mr. Vincent said.

The individuals Mr. Vincent identified were Mr. Robertson and Jaime Whitehouse, director of planning and zoning, who were in front of the council, and Todd Lawson, county administrator, who was seated with the council.

Mr. Vincent instructed the council to direct their questions at the identified staff only, and said once the council better understand the proposed modifications they will move forward on the legislation “at some point in time.”

He then called for a motion to defer, which passed unanimously.