Freeman presents 637‑acre “Cool Spring Crossing” plan; traffic, housing and sewer capacity dominate council hearing

For the record, attorney Jim Fuquay, representing Freeman Companies, told the Sussex County Council on Nov. 4 that his clients are seeking four interrelated approvals for a 637‑acre mixed‑use community called Cool Spring Crossing: an amendment to the county—s future land use map from “low density” (rural) to “coastal area” (growth area), a change of zone to MRRPC (medium density residential, residential planned community) and two conditional uses for an educational facility and an assisted‑living/medical office campus.

The applications together would allow 1,922 residential units (534 single‑family and 1,388 multifamily), a town center with retail, cultural and recreational facilities, a 100‑bed assisted‑living campus and associated medical offices, and an educational component. Fuquay told the council that Village A would contain 700 multifamily units, with 175 units (25% of Village A) proposed to participate in the county—s rental program (SCARP) to provide lower‑cost rental housing.

Why it matters: The hearing centered on whether the property should be reclassified from the comprehensive plan—s low‑density rural designation to a growth designation that allows the MRRPC overlay and higher densities. Proponents argued the site is already surrounded by services and infrastructure — including the Bay Health emergency and urgent care facility, existing commercial corridors on Route 9, the Lewis–Georgetown bike trail and an Artesian water tower and mains — and that the project would add mixed housing types and capacity the county lacks.…