Sussex County Council on July 29 deferred action on a conditional‑use request for an outdoor athletic field and a concession trailer/food truck on Camp Road in Bridgeville after questions about conditions placed by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Planning staff said the application covered two parcels totaling about 8.07 acres and that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval subject to nine conditions intended to limit noise, lighting, parking and hours, and to require perimeter fencing and a gated permanent entrance near the parking and field area. The applicant told council members the field had been used by local teams and that they were willing to accept conditions; the applicant also said they had not received the written list of recommended conditions until recently.

Council members and staff discussed the cost and scope of a required fence and the meaning of “screening” for light and noise. Council members expressed concern that requiring fencing around large perimeters could be cost‑prohibitive and asked staff to clarify whether the screening requirement meant fencing the entire parcel or only the areas where people park and gather. The applicant said temporary lighting and generators are used and that they would work with neighbors on placement; neighbors’ concerns raised during the planning commission hearing were reflected in the recommended conditions.

After discussion, Councilmember McCarran moved to defer the application to allow the applicant and planning staff time to address the fence, lighting and other conditions; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Why it matters: Conditional‑use permits for recreational venues can produce neighborhood impacts such as increased noise, lighting and traffic. The deferral gives the applicant and staff time to refine site plans and conditions to reduce community impacts before council vote.