Developer says Cool Springs Crossing will protect Martin Branch wetlands while delivering jobs and workforce housing

Sussex County Council members heard a detailed presentation from the applicant for Cool Springs Crossing emphasizing wetlands protection, conservation dedications and economic benefits.

The applicant’s representative, Jim Fuqua, told the council that Army Corps of Engineers staff issued a jurisdictional determination on April 17, 2024, identifying 29.6 acres of stream and non‑tidal wetlands along Martin Branch at the site’s eastern boundary. Fuqua said the project will preserve a Martin Branch Conservation Area that exceeds the county’s 2022 resource buffer ordinance requirements and includes a 61.61‑acre voluntary conservation tract plus the formally required buffer strips. "We believe this is such a master plan mixed use community," Fuqua said, arguing the design keeps development out of FEMA flood‑zone areas and dedicates the most environmentally sensitive…