Sussex planning and zoning delays decision on Delaware Electric Co-op headquarters expansion

GEORGETOWN — The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission decided on Aug. 7 to delay allowing the Delaware Electric Cooperative to expand its Greenwood headquarters onto an adjoining lot it owns, but needs approval for.

Currently, the lot is zoned AR-1 Agricultural Residential, but is marked for future industrial use in the 2019 Sussex Land Use plan, according to the applicant.

“The existing Greenwood facility has become space constrained, and several activities on site need more room,” Dana Dunphy from Century Engineering, representing the utility said.

Original plans included relocating a section of Cart Brach Rd., but that option is no longer under consideration, she said.

Not all of the permits and approvals from other agencies have been received yet, Ms. Dunphy said, but Delaware Electric plans to begin construction as soon as they have been. No timeline for these approvals was given.

The expansion would include new buildings along Cart Branch Rd.: an approximately 14,500 square foot vehicle enclosure, and an almost 10,000 square foot maintenance building.

Also included are storage areas for utility poles, a gravel and asphalt yard, its own utility installation and a stormwater facility.

The applicant, Ms. Dunphy explained, felt there would be no impact on surrounding properties, in part due to a surrounding fence, with privacy slats, to be installed surrounding the entire facility.

This expansion would allow the utility to maintain its current level of service, while expanding to meet the needs of the developing areas of Sussex County, Ms. Dunphy explained.

District 2 representative Brian Butler said he had visited the site, and added, “I have no issues with anything, so I have no questions.”

Bruce Mears, district 4 representative on the commission, said he appreciated the privacy slats in the proposed fence, and also had no questions on the proposal.

County staff also confirmed they had no issues to address with the property.

Finding no one speaking in favor or against the application, except the applicant itself, the commission took its customary action of closing the hearing and waiting to take action until other applications had been heard.

When the discussion returned to this proposal, the commission voted unanimously to delay making a decision without further comment. The proposal will return at a future meeting, which has yet to be scheduled.

Staff writer Brian Gilliland can be reached at 410-603-3737 or bg@iniusa.org.