Local residents packed a public hearing held by the Sussex County Council yesterday over the controversial Gills Neck Village Center near Lewes.
The developer JG Townsend Jr. and Company has proposed a 75-thousand square foot shopping center at the Gills Neck Road and Kings Highway intersection.
Despite downsizing the project from 521-thousand square feet the city of Lewes as well as a citizens group have lodged their opposition to the center.
Gene Bayard with the developers got some tough questions from council member George Cole.
Since the downsizing Cole wanted to know what the developers planned for the now unused portion of the land.
“…to ensure that the intent is not to come back in a couple of years so that there is some thought going towards the balance of the land. Because there is substantial land there. I understand that its valuable land. And I understand all of that. I think it would be good for mixed uses or apartments or more senior houses or …”
Bayard interrupted Cole saying, “That’s not part of the land use process.”
A key concern of the City of Lewes involved the fact that the shopping center would be located near the well heads that use the underground aquifer.
Bayard replied that there were other projects located near well heads in the region where the issue was never raised.
And he pointed to the Cape Henlopen High School situated next door to the Lewes well heads.
But, Council member Joan Deaver admonished the developer indicating a mistake in the past should not be repeated.
“All of these wrongs you pointed out, don’t make a right.”
He replied, “It’s not a wrong it’s just a fact, Mrs. Deaver.”
But, she argued, “They don’t make a right.”
Bayer went to argue that everyone agreed the county should abide by the local water protection ordinance.
Critics of the project are also concerned about the increased traffic – especially with the additional developments.
Townsend argues that with the number of new developments in place, the center would alleviate traffic to other parts of town as well as to other shopping outlets along Route 1.
