Why Should Delaware Care?
Delaware’s government has scores of elected bodies, commissions, working groups, agencies and legislative committees that are accountable to the public. Their decisions impact land use decisions, taxation, public safety and more.
Correction: Sussex County Council will interview nominees for the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment, rather than two nominees for the commission. We regret the error.
We’ve begun to hit the doldrums of the summertime in Delaware. It’s common for many public bodies to take time off in July, especially those connected to the state government coming off the six-month legislative session that concluded June 30.
However, there are still debates of note being had around the state this week, including in Sussex County as well as in the City of Newark.
Sussex to consider P&Z, BoA nominees
The Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission, which hears the initial applications for rezonings in the county and therefore has become a lightning rod for attention and criticism, will be a topic at the Sussex County Council meeting Tuesday.
The term of Commission Chair Robert Wheatley expires this year, and at least one county councilman has expressed a desire to replace him.
Nominee Jeffrey Allen will have a public interview for the five-member commission.
Likewise, Nathan Kingree has been nominated to take over an open seat on the county’s five-member Board of Adjustments, which hears smaller variances to the county’s permitting code, particularly around buffering of parcels, and special use exceptions. The term of board member Kevin Carson expires this year.
Kingree, a staff attorney with the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court, will be interviewed Tuesday.
The interviews will be part of the council meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, taking place at the Sussex County Administrative Office Building, located at 2 The Circle in Georgetown. The meeting will also be streamed here.
Newark to discuss Main Street cameras, UD tax
The Newark City Council will meet tonight at 6 p.m. and will discuss a few matters of interest including a plan to install automated speed cameras on Main Street and the plan to tax the University of Delaware for each student.
The state legislature funded the speed cameras in its bond bill appropriation, and their introduction could help to reduce overall speeds on the stretch of road that has seen several fatal pedestrian crashes this year. Any new ticketing measures will surely draw some public criticism though.
The city is also moving forward with a plan for a $50 head tax on every UD student for each fall and spring semester, and the university has said that it plans to pass those costs to students.
Newark council will also consider a proposal to allow a marijuana grow facility at 302 Markus Court in the Sandy Brae Industrial Park. The city Planning Commission has already signed off on the plan from Herbal Growers LLC.
To attend the meeting remotely, click here.
