Public hearing opened, left open for two weeks on Sussex Pines rezoning request

A public hearing on March 24 drew developers, nearby residents and town council to discuss Case 2024‑23, a zoning map amendment request to change 16 parcels on Sussex Pines Road from urban residential district UR‑3 to urban residential district UR‑1.

The application was presented by David Hutt, an attorney with Morris James LLP, representing applicant Greyway Developers LLC. Hutt said the properties total roughly 24.5 acres, were subdivided into 16 lots in 1996 and annexed into Georgetown in 2004. He told council the requested UR‑1 designation is the town’s most common single‑family zoning classification and that the change would align these parcels with surrounding UR‑1 parcels shown in the town’s 2021 comprehensive plan. Hutt said the town’s UR‑3 district requires a larger minimum lot (described in the presentation as 10,000 square feet) while UR‑1 requires 7,200 square feet, and that the smaller lot standard could support more affordable single‑family housing and spread sewer infrastructure costs across more lots. He also said the town’s engineers performed a utility plan review that indicated a regional pump station would be needed to extend sewer service to the area.

The applicant provided a conceptual sketch plan showing a potential future subdivision layout; Hutt emphasized the sketch was conceptual, not engineered. Hutt said the planning commission issued a unanimous recommendation in favor of the rezoning and asked council to adopt that recommendation.

Several residents raised concerns during public comment. Adam Wachowski, who gave his address as 200 South Bedford Street, said he feared the redevelopment would replace 16 owner‑occupied lots with up to "78 rentals," a change he said would undermine homeownership and local investment. A speaker identified as Joe (resident) and another resident who said she lives in the area said they worried about traffic, school and emergency service impacts if higher density development proceeds. Councilmembers also raised emergency service capacity as a concern during the hearing.

A representative of the applicant responded that the proposed lots would be for sale — "for sale product" — not intended as rental units. The applicant said Greyway would sell lots to buyers who would then build homes through local contractors.

Council did not vote on the rezoning at the March 24 meeting. The mayor (presiding) said the public hearing would remain open for two weeks to accept written comments for and against the application before the council takes further action.

The hearing remains open; council asked residents to submit written comments. No final rezoning ordinance was adopted at the March 24 meeting.