News Briefs 3/15/24

Coastal corridors meeting March 19

The Delaware Department of Transportation will hold a public workshop to discuss the draft report for the Coastal Corridors Study at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, at Mariner Middle School, 16391 Harbeson Road, Milton. The public can provide comments on the report during the meeting. For details about the study, go to deldot.gov/projects/Studies/404.

Sussex council meeting March 19

Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 19, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a tribute to Joe Thomas, who is retiring as director of the county’s emergency operations center. Also included is the introduction of the proposed perimeter buffers ordinance, a discussion and possible approval of the county’s memorandum of understanding with Delaware Dog Control and an update on American Rescue Plan Act funding.

A full agenda and meeting materials are available at sussexcountyde.gov/agendas-minutes/county-council. Meetings are held in person, livestreamed at sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast, and available by phone at 302-394-5036 using code 570176.

Lewes budget hearing reset for March 18

Lewes Mayor and City Council has rescheduled its budget hearing and special meeting to 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 18, at city hall. It was originally set for 9 a.m., Friday, March 15.

The agenda includes further discussion and possible action on the fiscal year 2025 budget.

See the full agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Lewes parks panel to meet March 18

The Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 18, at the Rollins Center.

The agenda includes discussion and possible action regarding the commemorative tree and bench policy. See the full agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Quiet title successful in Rehoboth Beach

During a Rehoboth Beach commissioner workshop March 4, City Solicitor Alex Burns announced the city’s quiet title action for two lots along the north end of the Boardwalk was successful. The two lots, together about 12,500 square feet, are undeveloped and sit in between the Boardwalk and property owned by Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad Veterans Employees Association. The association had a 99-year lease on the lots, but that expired in June 2021, and city commissioners decided not to renew the lease.

A Chancery Court hearing was held Feb. 22, and Burns said no one challenged the city’s ownership of the lots.

Rezoning sent to Rehoboth planners

The rezoning application for 60 Sussex St. in Rehoboth Beach has been sent to the planning commission for evaluation. The lot in question is the rear portion of the Cultured Pearl building. Sussex Street used to be zoned commercial, but city officials changed that designation decades ago. However, the lot at 60 Sussex was already in commercial use as a hardware store. 

The Quillen family that owned the hardware store and the entire building is looking to rezone the property. During a March 4 workshop, city commissioners decided to remand the proposed rezoning to the planning commission for further review.

Special Rehoboth meeting set March 18

Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m., Monday, March 18, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for an executive session to discuss the qualifications of individual candidates for employment as city manager. Commissioners are seeking a replacement for former City Manager Laurence Christian, who left the city in November after roughly 10 months on the job.

A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. Only in-person attendees may make comments. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

Lewes updates bike group bylaws

Lewes Mayor and City Council unanimously approved amended bylaws March 11 for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.  Up to seven members may now be allowed on the committee, and it will now meet at 5:30 p.m., the fourth Tuesday of every month at city hall.  The committee selected Mary Roth as its new chair and Glenn Dunnington as vice chair at its Feb. 27 meeting.

The panel also welcomed new members Aaron Huertas and Kevin Smith.

Sussex council awards grants to nonprofits

Sussex County Council awarded the following grants at its March 12 meeting: councilmanic grants of $1,500 to Nanticoke Little League (Seaford) for a new pitching machine, and $1,000 to Milton Little League for concession stand upgrades; and youth grants of $2,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware for its group mentoring program at Stevenson House, and $1,000 to Sussex Technical High School for its Journal Club to conduct research on acute myeloid leukemia.