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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."