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County OKs Nature Conservancy field office at Edward H. McKay Preserve
Summary
Council granted conditional-use approval to allow the Nature Conservancy to convert an existing dwelling into a field office on 3.8 acres at the Edward H. McKay Preserve, subject to conditions recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission.
Sussex County Council on June 24 approved a conditional use to allow the Nature Conservancy to convert an existing house into a field office at the Edward H. McKay Preserve, near Milton. The council followed the Planning & Zoning Commission’s unanimous recommendation and adopted the application with the commission’s conditions.
John Horner, counsel for the Nature Conservancy, said the nonprofit seeks to convert an existing single-family dwelling for a small local office to support field staff working across Sussex County. He described the preserve as publicly accessible and said the Conservancy has limited staffing to manage daily gate operations; “public access to the land would suffer” if gates were closed, Horner said, explaining why a permanently locked gate was not proposed.
Natasha Wetzel, stewardship manager for the Nature Conservancy in Delaware, said the organization manages five preserves in Sussex County, that Edward H. McKay Preserve is roughly 143 acres with more than three miles of hiking trails, and that the house on the parcel has deteriorated from disuse since its donation in 1993. Wetzel said the planned renovation and office conversion would provide a local base for Conservancy operations and that the organization already uses an on-site equipment barn for storage.
County staff noted three written comments had been submitted into the record, primarily from adjacent property owners who expressed concerns about trespassing, dogs off-leash and the gate remaining open. Horner and Wetzel said the Conservancy posts leash signage, and that staff patrols and increased on-site presence once an office is established should help address those concerns.
The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of conditional use 25-71 with eight conditions. The ordinance approved by council grants the conditional use for a field office on a 3.8-acre parcel on Round Pole Bridge Road (911 address 27167 Roundpole Bridge Road, Milton), and applies the commission’s recommended conditions and findings.
Councilwoman Gruenbaum moved for approval citing the Planning & Zoning recommendation; the motion was seconded by Councilman McCarran and passed unanimously (Miss Gruenbaum: yes; Mister McCarran: yes; Mister Lloyd: yes).
