Sussex County Council defers Atlantic Fields rezoning after hours of public opposition over traffic, safety and environment

Sussex County Council voted Thursday to defer action on a proposed rezoning that would convert about 73.5 acres at Route 24 and Mulberry Knoll Road from AR-1 agricultural/residential to C-4 planned commercial, giving DelDOT, DNREC and the conservation district two weeks to respond to council—s technical questions and setting a two-week public response window after the agencies reply.

The public hearing on map amendment CZ 2037, "Atlantic Fields," drew dozens of residents, a state representative and business representatives who spent nearly three hours describing traffic congestion, potential delays for emergency responders, risks to nearby elementary and middle schools, stormwater/runoff concerns and other issues the speakers said the TIS (traffic impact study) and project plan did not adequately address.

An attorney for a neighbor, Sean Maloney of Maloney Almond & Spence, said the plan identifies "Entrance 4" as running through his client—s Parcel 57 on Plantation Road and that the entrance had been approved and recorded when the property was zoned AR-1. He said the entrance "was approved by the county council and by ... DelDOT" and that the easement and the way the entrance was built were sized for lighter, lower-volume traffic. "Unless there's some changes to this plan, we strongly object and would protect our…