Expansion to Nanticoke community center in Millsboro approved

GEORGETOWN — A proposal to allow the Nanticoke Indian Cultural Community Center in Millsboro to build out its structure and offer more services was approved by Sussex County Council on Tuesday.

“This would double the size of the cultural community center, allow it to have some new restrooms, a food bank, a flex space for children’s areas and classrooms, additional meeting rooms for arts and crafts,” said David Hutt, an attorney representing the Nanticoke Indian Association before the council.

He added that the approval will also permit existing space in the 27073 John J. Williams Highway facility to be redeveloped.

Cultural programs like drum or dance classes can be held more easily in the larger space, Mr. Hutt added, while certain offerings that require more privacy, like internal ceremonies, can also have their own areas in the bigger location.

The expansion will address these issues and more, Chief Avery Johnson said during an earlier interview.

“We have a lot of elders, so we have to make sure we are prepared. We offer financial literacy and financial independence training, computer training, along with other important issues like the domestic violence roundtables and other discussions we have,” he said, explaining the building’s necessity for growth.

Mr. Hutt continued, “The association plans to extensively renovate the existing structure, as well, and to provide outside added parking areas, walkways, native artwork and some new lighting and landscaping.”

To complete these plans, the applicant sought a change to the conditional use of the property, which has limited building size.

In addition to the size restrictions, the parcel on which the center sits has several legal constraints upon it, including a provision that would revert ownership of the land back to the Indian River School District should it ever not be used as a tribal center, Mr. Hutt said.

So, to establish an improved community facility and be more receptive to its users, the applicant petitioned to ease the building regulations because it couldn’t be much else without running into legal entanglements.

Based on the site plan presented to the county, council reasoned that the lot size and other conditions would govern the overall size of the redevelopment effort, thereby granting the conditional use.

“The purpose of the conditional use is when things are of a public or semipublic character and are essential and desirable to the general convenience and welfare of the residents of Sussex County,” Mr. Hutt said.

Every council member said he or she feels the proposal is a good one and agreed with the determination of the Planning & Zoning Commission to allow it.

Chief Johnson said he expects construction to take 16 months.