Cecchett: Sussex’s Cool Spring Crossing needs support

We understand that change can feel uncomfortable and that growth must be thoughtful and well planned. But opposing workforce housing simply because it is nearby harms our community’s future.”

Shelly Cecchett is the executive director of the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance.

Sussex County is experiencing tremendous economic growth, yet businesses across the region are struggling to find and keep the employees needed to sustain that success. The No. 1 challenge they cite is the lack of attainable housing close to available jobs. The Cool Spring Crossing proposal presents a responsible solution, one that helps to ensure that the people who support our economy can also be part of our community.

As the Kent Sussex Leadership Alliance, our members represent employers deeply invested in Sussex County’s long-term prosperity. They are hiring. They want to expand. But they need workers, and those workers need homes.

Here are a few key highlights of the Cool Spring Crossing project:

• Diverse housing options — Cool Spring Crossing will include single-family units, townhomes, duplexes, condos, quadplexes and villas designed to accommodate a wide range of income levels. Of these, 700 are designated workforce housing units, with 175 specifically reserved for the Sussex County Rental Program.
• Environmental sustainability — The plan preserves 295 acres (46%) as active and passive open space, protects 114 acres of trees and maintains eight times the required buffer space. The entire on-site natural resource area will be protected.
• Public benefits — Cool Spring Crossing is focused on its town center, adjacent to an existing Bayhealth facility, with both serving as anchors for health, well-being and community connectivity. This vibrant center features a proposed YMCA, which would bring family programming and well-being services, offering greater access for the essential workers who serve our county.
• Infrastructure improvements — The developer anticipates $15 million-$17 million in transportation investments and expanded trail networks to support safe and efficient pedestrian and bicycle access.

We understand that change can feel uncomfortable and that growth must be thoughtful and well planned. But opposing workforce housing simply because it is nearby harms our community’s future. When “not in my backyard” becomes the default stance, we block the very people who make Sussex County vibrant, like teachers, nurses, first responders, restaurant workers, contractors and so many others.

Sussex County has the opportunity to champion solutions rather than stall progress. Cool Spring Crossing is a thoughtful and meaningful step toward ensuring that the workers who support our daily lives can also afford to live and raise their families here. We respectfully encourage leaders and residents to support this project and others like it, so that Sussex County remains a place where the local workforce isn’t just commuting in but is truly part of our community. We encourage residents to learn more about this project and its benefits before assuming that all growth is harmful. Thoughtful development can strengthen our community when it responds to real needs like housing for our workforce.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.