By Brian Gilliland

ANGOLA — While a proposed Royal Farms at the intersection of Angola Road and Del. 24 has been garnering criticism since last year, the idea and the company are gaining some support before an April 24 Planning & Zoning Commission hearing.

A website recently set up by Royal Farms to endorse the project, angolarofo.com, includes project information, a petition and easy methods to declare support to Sussex County officials. Since the end of February, more than a few of the comments backing the project owe a debt to the tools provided on the page.

“The proposed project holds significant promise for enhancing our neighborhood’s infrastructure to support the thousands of new homes being built in the area as well as improving the quality of life for the residents of the surrounding area,” read several of the letters of support, using language provided by a form.

The letters go on to commend the corporation for its environmental stewardship, in particular stormwater management, community-centric activities like 24-hour food service and economic growth.

However, on the other side, those same points are used against the plan, which would include dozens of gas pumps, a carwash and a convenience store.

A few opposition statements include this sentence: “The traffic and congestion that a Royal Farms would bring to not only the commuters but also to the residents of over 20 surrounding communities can not be overstated.”

These opposing letters accuse Royal Farms of having no interest in environmental stewardship and say its stormwater management efforts offer basic protection, at best.

“Furthermore, 24-hour fuel and convenience store centers such as this have been shown to increase crime and decrease quality of life for the surrounding areas affecting community health, well- being, and sustainability in a negative manner. This resonates poorly with the values of our residents and their neighborhoods,” some critics wrote.

With dozens more examples, the letters expressing dissent offer a wider variety of opinions and anecdotes on why the store should not be allowed to proceed.

One of the themes is a resistance to increased traffic at the intersection. However, the Delaware Department of Transportation is expecting to perform a major upgrade at the site and on the roads surrounding it, and it plans to start soon.

“Construction starts in late spring, and we expect our intersection improvements to be completed by the end of the year,” said spokesperson C.R. McLeod. “Road improvements are expected to be done before the Royal Farms is built.”

A rendering of the intersection provided by the department shows additional travel lanes and upgrades to existing turning lanes.

And, as for the Sussex County Council portion of the deal, where its ultimate approval rests, the two members who share Del. 24 as the dividing line between their districts aren’t voicing any opinions.

“The attorneys tell us we act as a judicial body in these matters, and so, it would be improper to discuss it with you,” District 3 Councilman Mark Schaeffer said. “I’m not ducking the question because we’re acting as judges.”

Council Vice President John Rieley, who represents District 5, agreed.

“I’m going to base my decision on the testimony during the hearing. We’ll wait until then,” he said.