Sussex County Council’s unanimous decision on Terrapin Island (TI) on Oct. 26 was disappointing but not surprising. Arguments for the developer seemed to hinge on two sentiments: First that the West Bay Park and Bayfront communities’ positions were not relevant, and second that they didn’t matter.
That sums up how many of us in Sussex County feel, that we’re irrelevant and that we don’t matter.
Every week, we see another development spring up with no additional infrastructure to support it. Roads are clogged now. What will happen when more homes bring thousands more car trips? Don’t tell me that the bike lanes in front of new developments constitute infrastructure!
And will the 22 conditions placed on the TI developer stand up? And if they don’t, will the public even know if changes are granted?
One has to guess that the Preliminary Land Use Service report saying the TI parcel was not suitable for development was considered irrelevant, along with the fact that the property is in a Level 4 investment area and considered rural by the state.
If, as suggested by attorney Richard Forsten, the state reports are not relevant because Sussex County officials make land-use decisions, why does anyone bother with state review processes? Last time I looked, Sussex County was still in Delaware. With TI having a zoning classification permitting residential development, that was all that mattered. That was relevant.
The residents of Marsh Farm Estates found out how relevant they were when trying to get rid of a dangerous crosswalk on Camp Arrowhead Road. Many protested, but in the long run, they didn’t matter. The crosswalk stayed with more lights — distracting, probably; helpful, I doubt. I’ve written many officials about the dangerous crosswalk on Camp Arrowhead. I’ve contacted them about vanishing bike paths. For a long time, I’ve written about no plan to widen the Love Creek Bridge and about no plan to dualize Del. 24, an evacuation route! If I’m lucky, I get lip service, but my concerns do not matter. I guess they are irrelevant.
It seems to me, especially after sitting through two Tuesday sessions dealing with TI, if you already own a home in Sussex County, you don’t matter. If you are a developer or potential homebuyer, you really matter. It’s that easy!
So to those who may one day own a home in Terrapin Island, what will you do when your property is underwater? What will you do when you can’t evacuate because Angola Road is congested and Camp Arrowhead, too — your only roads out? That is, if you can even get to them from a flooded Terrapin Island. Once the developer has your money and the county starts to collect fees and taxes, you won’t matter either. You, too, will be irrelevant.
Judy Kane
Lewes
