Bob Cummings is a resident of Lewes.
As a Lewes resident, I have reached out to all five elected Sussex County Council members. Lewes is the “First Town in the First State,” and everyone can agree how very special it is to live there. You were voted into office by residents who trusted your words and visions to preserve what makes this town so unique. Yet, if you approve the Atlantic Fields megamall in the agricultural/residential zone at Del. 24 and Mulberry Knoll Road, do you think you would be betraying each of yourselves with your very own words? To all the media organizations I’ve contacted, it’s my hope that you will help these five stewards of our community answer this question.
Your own statements reflect commitments to balanced growth, community preservation and responsible stewardship — values that demand scrutiny here.
Council President Doug Hudson: Your priorities emphasize “the overall welfare and the quality of life for the citizens of Sussex County,” and you note that “land use and development as a whole touch every one of us.”
Councilwoman Dr. Jane Gruenebaum: As the founding president of the Sussex Preservation Coalition, you’ve dedicated yourself to “balancing the economic growth of Sussex County with the need to preserve the natural environment that protects and nurtures its residents.”
Councilman Matt Lloyd: You prioritize “better-managed land use; smaller, more efficient government; and fiscal responsibility.”
Councilman John Rieley: You’ve expressed concerns about “the effects of development in agricultural-residential zones,” which you believe is “burdening roads.”
These ideals are echoed in Sussex County’s guiding documents, which you are bound by as elected officials.
From the Planning & Zoning Office: The comprehensive plan is the core tool for ensuring developments align with community values, including harmony with surroundings.
The Planning & Zoning Commission webpage: It implies blending via recommendations to City Council that prioritize compatibility with the “historic and small-town character” of Lewes.
Some of the problems that have not been addressed regarding Atlantic Fields in this location not only disregard the quality of life but threaten the lives of residents and children riding on school buses on the two-lane country road (Mulberry Knoll Road) that will not be widened:
Lest anyone forget the elephant in the room: This isn’t about having or not having a mall with Costco Wholesale and Whole Foods in Lewes. That can still happen, benefiting our economy, if this project is relocated to an already commercial-zoned area or just north along Del. 1. Everyone supports growth; the issue is where it serves the community most. What I fear is that more money stands to be made by a few (e.g., through discounted farmland purchases) in this confined ag/residential spot than in a properly zoned site, prioritizing profit over people.
On Oct. 21, will each of you council members tell the public and the media that, if you vote for Atlantic Fields in this location, it is your opinion that this megamall will integrate with existing neighborhoods, avoid disrupting the community’s scale and charm, and align with your own past statements, while abiding by the Planning & Zoning Commission’s guidelines on development?
As stewards, turning down this location doesn’t mean no mall; it means a safer, more responsible site that saves lives, avoids traffic collisions and truly blends with our community. Will you five individuals honor and stand by your words and protect Lewes’ soul?
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
