Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Cape Gazette
Lewes, Delaware
Jim's Towing Service
June 9, 2000     Cape Gazette
PAGE 16     (16 of 116 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 16     (16 of 116 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
June 9, 2000
 
Newspaper Archive of Cape Gazette produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




16 - CAPE GAZEIWE, Friday, June 9 - June 15, 2000 County approves massive Villages of Five Points plan By Michael Short It may be the largest residential development ever approved in coastal Sussex County. The Village of Five Points, all 586-units of it, was approved by Sussex County Council Tuesday, June 6. While it is dwarfed by the size of the proposed Americana Bay- side project off Route 54, it may be the largest single project in Cape Region history. County Council approved the plan with 26 stipulations on everything from requiring a first time homebuyer program to mak- ing road improvements and limit- ing how quickly the project can develop. The plans are for land near Wescoat's Corner on both sides of Sussex 269A. There will be 260 single-family homes, 110 townhomes, 144 apartments and 72 flats located on almost 200 acres of land within site of Five Points. Because the land area is so large, the project has a low densi- ty of 3. I units for each acre. The project, to be developed by Mike Lynn and Craig and Joe Hudson, has also won high praise for side- walks, bike paths, open space, providing a recreational field open to community use, being willing to reconfigure the Wescoat's Comer intersection and dozens of other amenities. In short, even it's harshest crit- ics have said it is well-designed and attractive. Those critics have worried about roads and traffic, the one is- sue that seems inescapable now in this area. County Council President Lynn Rogers noted that density is low in the proposed project and Said that "I think they will do it right. The applicant has done everything he can to work with the opposi- tion." Rogers said the road sys- tem is the biggest concern and that improvements must be made. He added that New Road could be one of the areas which potentially require improvements. Councilman Dale Dukes also noted that this is not considered a high density project. "They have tried to meet the needs of the com- munity," Dukes said. "I think it is a project that will enhance the area," said (ouncil- man Finley Jones. The project was approved unan- imously. Here are some of the specifics of the project to be de- veloped by Olde Towne Point LLC. At least eight acres of land will be reforested. There will be a multi-use community sports field open to the public. The Villages of Five Points The project seems chock full of bike paths and sidewalks. There is abundant green space and a town center with shops and offices. Plans call for a grocery store, bank and medical offices within the community. The bank will have a program designed to assist first-time home- buyers. Amenities include two swim- ming pools and eight tennis courts. There will be transit stops included in the plans and the de- velopers have agreed to reconfig- ure Wescoat's Corner. That inter- section will become a more tradi- tional T-shaped intersection, which is expected to simplify traf- fic flow and the developers have said they believe most of the trees at the current intersection can be kept intact. The council is requiring the project to be phased in with a maximum of 100 units built per year. Lewes Continued from page 1 house Pond; and all the homes along Kings Highway and along the streets that intersect with Kings Highway to the southern point of Stango Park. Clark Williams, resident, con- firmed that the historic district committee hasn't met for a long time. "I'm a member of the his- toric district committee which has never had a meeting since I've been a member and that's eight years. I think it's our responsibili- ty to preserve the historic integrity of the city and the buildings in it." Bisbee said a number of amend- ments and changes were suggest- ed in 1988 along with some guidelines at which time the whole matter was tabled and en- forcement ceased. The workshop brought forth a wide variety of viewpoints. Here's a sampling of them: • "We don't need to regulate col- ors and roof texture," said resident Bob Bainbridge. "We just need to take a look at the basic shape of houses and how they should fit with the street they're on. We need a common sense approach to look at what alternatives we have before houses are swept away to the landfill. Over the last three years the fabric of the community is changing. The way we're going doesn't fit in." • "We need to make it difficult for people to tear down a house," said resident Wendy Richardson. "If they don't like the regulations, they can move to another commu- nity." Councilman Jud Bennett said he felt it wasn't fair to make people spend the extra money to fix up an old house when they could tear it down and build an- other of similar architectural style for less money. Council member Stephanie Tsantes said she also had a problem with telling some- one they couldn't build their dream house because they could- n't afford to build what the com- munity wanted them to build. • Nina C-annata noted that the former Bill Reynolds house on Market Street was demolished and replaced with a structure which she considers appropriate for Lewes Beach but not for the town's historic area. "We need some rules and regulations to pre- serve the integrity Of the historic area. It doesn't have to be as re- strictive as Charleston. It doesn't have to be onerous." • "There are some people in town," said resident Mike Tyler, "who don't grasp the sense of ownership of history or charm that Lewes has. Some have put houses on lots sideways and that's inappropriate to the architecture of the community. As far as de- molishing houses goes, we've now gotten agreement from the building official that Lewes His- toric Society will be notified when a demolition permit is granted. That way we can get a photograph of the structure and some history recorded so we don't lose it completely. It's time to roll up our sleeves and bear down on some ordinances. We're tearing the soul out of our town by getting rid of some of these buildings." • Council member Tsantes said she saw three approaches to the issue. "We could develop guide- lines that we would give to people and suggest that they follow. We could develop regulations and force them to be followed. Or a group of citizens could purchase old buildings and then resell them with certain covenants attached to preserve them. Who is govern- ment to say what is right in this matter?" • Barbara Warneil, resident, suggested Lewes take a look at regulations in place in old New Castle. "We have a community that's worth struggling to fight and protect. You [council] are charged with having to do that for the better good of the community over the long term. We need to write guidelines or say good-bye to what everyone loves." • Former Lewes Councilman Jack Vessels suggested that the town inventory its historic struc- tures and determine parameters for preservation. "Somehow we have to get personal taste out of the picture. It's a tough job. Good luck." • Mike Clemmer, resident, sug- gested that the city expand its thinking to include Lewes Beach. "It's a shame what's happening down there," said Ciemmer. "We truly have some atrocities that are ruining the old feel of the beach." Tdsh Vernon photo Lewes is a town of great history. The Ryves Holt House on Second Street, built in the mid 1650s, is Delaware's oldest house still standing on its original site. Connie Costigan, a resident of the Lewes Beach area, agreed: "I'm disappointed and a bit annoyed that Council is not considering Lewes Beach. Mayor George Smith said he would use the next month to con- sider the make-up of the review committee and its charge. "We're getting some ideas now to cure some of our ills. But I don't think this will happen With- out some regulations. We're go- ing to need some enforcement."