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Neighbors ask Sussex County Council for delay on Reed Farm rezoning rehearing
Summary
Speakers representing nearby neighborhoods asked the council to delay consideration and allow homeowners time to retain counsel and expert witnesses before a rehearing on the Reed Farm rezoning (CCZ-1923); county counsel said Chancery Court ordered a rehearing and comments today won’t be part of that record.
Residents and homeowners’ association representatives urged Sussex County Council to delay action on the Reed Farm rezoning application and to ensure nearby property owners can prepare for the upcoming rehearing.
Anthony Scarpa, who said he represents the Pemberton Homeowners Association, told council he had previously submitted a letter and asked for a 90‑day hearing delay so residents could "hire a zoning attorney [and] expert witnesses to oppose this application for zone change." Scarpa said the property’s proposed change from R‑1 to HI‑1 would "have a grave impact" on property values and quality of life for nearby developments including Milton Village and The Granary, which he described as near the Reed property.
County counsel responded that the Chancery Court had directed a rehearing on the matter and that the rehearing will proceed "forthwith without delay," cautioning that any testimony read into today’s record would not be part of the record at the rehearing and that the council should consider only the official record at that time.
A second public commenter, Judy Rose Seibert of Lewes, urged the council to require traffic analyses (average annual daily traffic and road-capacity data) for development applications so the county can compare projected post-development traffic to capacity and better evaluate roadway impacts.
What happens next: County counsel said the Chancery Court’s rehearing will be scheduled promptly; comments read today will not be part of that rehearing record. Residents seeking to participate should monitor the county hearing schedule and the official record for the rehearing.
