Sussex P&Z indicates support for homeless project

While members of the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission were enthusiastic about the plan to resume a structured homeless encampment off Route 1 near Lewes, their attorney reminded them to delay their decision at an April 16 meeting.

“It’s vastly needed and much better than people setting up tent-based shanty towns around the Walmart and other areas,” said Commissioner Scott Collins after a public hearing on the proposal.

“And it’s a great location,” added Commissioner Holly Wingate. “And we appreciate all the volunteers who keep them all in check.” 

That’s when attorney Vince Robertson interjected.

“I’m going to be the bad guy in all this, not about the approval or not,” he said. “But what the commission typically does when we have an application like this, when there is a lot of information that was submitted ... the commission typically defers action on these.”

“I don’t want you to read anything negative into that whatsoever,” Robertson added. “The reason we do that is because we have to make a recommendation to county council. And it helps county council – and frankly, the public – immensely if that recommendation is thorough and well thought out, with good reasons and good conditions. We have found that that doesn’t happen if we try to do it on the fly right after the hearing occurs.”

Code Purple at the Cape is seeking conditional-use approval to place 28 tents, a trash bin and a toilet facility at the site of the former Delaware State Police Troop 7 barracks, left vacant when police moved to Mulberry Knoll Road in 2019. 

In his presentation to the commission April 16 explaining how the camp operates and the need for it, Mike Agnew of Code Purple described Tharros as a low-cost, self-governed village for unsheltered individuals.

“We are all very familiar with the issue,” said Chair Robert Wheatley. “We want to know, why is this the place?”

Agnew said the 7-acre wooded site provides privacy and has access to public transportation along the Route 1 commercial corridor, where some residents work. There are strict rules at Tharros, which is supported by a network of 300 volunteers.  

Code Purple at the Cape, which provides emergency housing for the homeless, operated a structured tent encampment on a trial basis from Oct. 15 to Nov. 30 last fall. It closed when the group opened its seasonal shelters for the winter.

Plans to reopen camp Tharros, named for the Greek word for courage, at the former Troop 7 site March 15 stalled when organizers found out they would need approval from Sussex County officials.

In January, the state announced a study to determine a long-term plan for the property. A report is expected to be released next month.

County staff were asked April 16 to draft a recommendation to county council for the planning & zoning commission to adopt at a future meeting. It is expected to be voted on by the commission in time to send it to council for consideration.

After closing the public hearing, during which supporters urged approval, commissioners were obviously leaning heavily in favor of the Tharros Village project when Robertson noted reasons for delay. Wheatley then asked their opinions.

“I fully support the application,” Commissioner J. Bruce Mears said. “I look forward to working on the motion.”

“I completely agree,” added Wingate. “I truly appreciate the passion that you all have shown, and it is something that is seriously needed.”

“I concur that it seems like a model that might need to be replicated throughout the county and in different areas,” Collins said.

“That’s something that is really exciting to me,” Wheatley said. “Not only do I think this project needs to happen, this needs to happen in other places across Sussex County.” 

Agnew said afterward he’s encouraged by the commission’s response.

“They were moved,” he said. “It was awesome.”