A proposal to build 1,922 homes and nearly 451,000 square feet of commercial space off Route 9 near Lewes is set for a public hearing on Wednesday, May 7th.
The hearing, hosted by the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission, begins at noon and will be a critical step in the approval process.
What the Plan Includes
The Cool Spring Crossing development would span 637 acres and be divided into seven distinct villages.
Housing would include a wide mix:
- 534 single-family homes
- 339 townhomes
- 334 duplex units
- 288 condos
- 233 villas
- 144 quadplex units
- 50 patio homes
Additionally, the plan offers 174 affordable apartments under the Sussex County Rental Program.
The commercial aspect would feature over 450,000 square feet of space and could potentially include:
- Grocery and convenience stores
- Retail shopping and restaurants
- A large hotel, theater, and bank
- A YMCA and assisted-living facility with potential medical offices included
- Various medical and educational facilities
Community Concerns and Opposition
Opposition is already forming, particularly from the Sussex Preservation Coalition, which is urging residents to attend the hearing and express their concerns.
Their primary worries include:
- The scale of the project
- Increased traffic on Route 9
- Environmental impacts, especially deforestation
This project would dwarf the 852-home Northstar project approved in October between Route 9 and Beaver Dam Road, farther east toward Lewes.
Joe Pika, a board member of the coalition, referred to the overlapping timing of large developments as “The Nightmare on 9.”
Next Steps
The project still requires several approvals:
- Future land-use map amendment
- Rezoning from agricultural-residential to medium-density residential planned community
- Conditional uses for multifamily housing and assisted-living
Environmental Considerations
Nearly 300 acres would be preserved for open space, recreation, wildlife habitat, and stormwater management.
However, about half of the site’s 208 acres of forest would be cleared in order to make room for this development.
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Source: Cape Gazette