Sussex County Board of Adjustments allows West Rehoboth redevelopment

GEORGETOWN — A now-vacant lot at 31 Duffy Street in West Rehoboth has been granted a special use exception to allow the construction of a nearly 3,700 sq. ft. main home, a swimming pool and an 840 sq. ft. accessory dwelling unit on the 8,750 sq. ft. lot, which will pave the way, the Sussex County Board of Adjustments noted, for future projects like this one.

“I grew up with a lot of people back there, went to high school with them, but it’s a sign of the times,” Jeff Chorman, board chair, said. “If a man has a farm and wants to sell it, he can sell it and do what he wants to with it. And that person who buys it can do what they want to with it.”

When the process for establishing accessory dwelling units was established earlier this year, a mechanism was added for properties with less than 10,000 sq. ft. of space.

Applicants wishing to construct an accessory unit of this type would need to get a special exception from the Board of Adjustments, according to county code. At the Board of Adjustments, Dr. Kevin Carson, District One, explained the test for special exceptions is not the uses of the neighboring and adjacent properties, but if the proposed use of the property would substantially impact neighbors.

Laura Mattheu, neighborhood resident brought a petition of about 30 other residents who also thought they might be impacted by the proposal.

“The houses are getting larger. The parking is becoming an issue,” she said. “The houses that are rentals in the community now have between 12-18 people.”

Brenda Milbourne said the neighborhood doesn’t have adequate drainage, and when it rains, the water just sits. She argued adding more houses into the neighborhood would just exacerbate these concerns.

“I think adding these two houses will be a problem for us and our community,” she said.

James Sharp, primary attorney for the board, said there was nothing in the record about this property having a long-term, historical drainage problem and so cautioned the board about considering such issues.

After the admonition from Mr. Sharp, and through several long, pregnant pauses, the board decided the proposed use would not substantially affect neighbors, and so voted to allow the special exception.

Staff writer Brian Gilliland can be reached at bg@iniusa.org.