Belle Meade rezoning draws hours of testimony over traffic, infrastructure and affordable‑housing claims

Sussex County Council heard extensive testimony on Change of Zone CZ 2001, a request to rezone approximately 39.22 acres on John J. Williams Highway (Route 24) in Lewes from AR‑1 (agricultural residential) to C‑4 (planned commercial). The applicant (presented by Becker Morgan Group) sought the C‑4 map amendment and a master‑plan site element to build a mixed‑use development — a mix of garden‑style multifamily apartments, mixed‑use buildings with residential over retail and commercial pads — and estimated 334 multifamily rental units.

The applicant’s presentation (Mike Reim and the Becker Morgan team) emphasized that the site lies within the Henlopen Transportation Improvement District (TID), cited PLUS comments and staff analyses, and described project elements that the developer says satisfy C‑4 criteria: access to the planned arterial (Route 24), stormwater and wetland avoidance with a 100‑foot buffer, preservation of about 50% of the site trees, automatic fire sprinklers, electric vehicle‑capable parking (5% per state statute) and a mix of housing types and neighborhood‑serving commercial uses. The developer reported planning & zoning commission support (a recommendation of approval with conditions) and said the project includes off‑site and impact contributions: a traffic‑related contribution estimated near $2,000,000 (including a signal at the entrance),…