Development moratorium pitched in Sussex

One of three new Sussex County Council members – all elected on a platform of controlling development in rural areas of the county – is calling for a 12-month moratorium on large development in agricultural zones.

Republican Matt Lloyd, who represents District 1, dropped the bombshell as he made his first public comments after being sworn into office during the council’s Jan. 7 meeting.

“I am going to continue to address it,” he said Jan. 9. “I have not wavered on the idea.”

Lloyd said he has received support from residents in the form of emails, phone calls, text messages and postings on social media.

He said he was concerned about the effects of development in agricultural-residential zones, which he believes is burdening roads, other infrastructure and public services. Lloyd said he wants to halt review of such projects for a year to give the council time to draft changes to limit plans for large developments in those areas. A state planning official recently said Sussex County has been the fastest-growing county in the state for the past five years.

“But as we begin to have more frequent and serious discussions about that, I want to plant the seed, and I think it’s appropriate to discuss the concept of a building moratorium,” Lloyd said during the comment period of the Jan. 7 meeting. “That’s the total stoppage of applications being submitted, specifically for, in my mind, major subdivisions in the AR lands.”

Carol Everhart, president and CEO of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, said Jan. 9 that she received an email that morning about the possibility of a moratorium.

“I’m sure there will be some concerns,” Everhart said. “I feel safe to say that.”

Lloyd said he plans to introduce a resolution calling for a moratorium during the next council meeting at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Consideration of his proposal would likely be months off, and a public hearing would precede a vote by the council, he said.

With the three new members calling for a new approach to development now comprising a majority of the council, Lloyd said he wants to avoid a rush by developers to file project applications before any changes can be enacted. He said he wants county staff to spend time drafting new rules to limit development rather than processing many development applications.

No discussion of Lloyd’s recommendation was held Jan. 7, as the issue was not on the meeting agenda. The topic of development issues is on the agenda for next week’s meeting. 

“Historically, moratoriums, the knee-jerk reaction is, ‘Oh, they’re illegal,’” Lloyd said. “Well, they don’t have to be. They’re usually succeeded by very significant changes to the zoning code, changes that I think people have been expecting and I am going to advocate for.”

Steve McCarron, a newly elected council member representing District 2, said Thursday he did not support a moratorium.

“It’s not in my plans,” McCarron said. “I’m excited about the work we have to do. I didn’t campaign on that.”