Olde Town at White’s Pond approved by Lewes council

Lewes Mayor and City Council voted unanimously Sept. 13 to approve the final site plan for an 85-unit major subdivision called Olde Town at White’s Pond. 

Developer Showfield LLC is planning to build the community on a 37-acre parcel at the corner of Freeman Highway and Monroe Avenue across from the Lewes Public Library. The project has previously been known as White’s Pond Meadow and was at one time planned to be part of the adjacent Showfield community.

The planning commission voted unanimously July 21 to recommend approval of the subdivision plan.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority, which owns and maintains Freeman Highway, has agreed to have a traffic signal at the intersection of Freeman Highway and Monroe Avenue. The intersection will also be improved to include turn lanes. The light will be installed by Delaware Department of Transportation.

Ring Lardner, the developer’s engineer with Davis, Bowen and Friedel, said the signal agreement between DelDOT and DRBA was finalized Sept. 10. The cost of the signal will be partially paid by the developer. A draft of the agreement will be presented to city officials and adjacent land owners soon, he said.

Mayor and city council revised a recommended condition for approval related to the signal. Planners wanted the signal installed as soon as possible, but the developer requested to be given some extra time. Council agreed to allow no more than 14 homes to be built before the signal is installed.

The project plan also includes a connection via Monroe Avenue to the Showfield community to the south. The project does not include a connection to the Bay Breeze Estates community to the west; however, a stub street has been provided if the connection is ever desired.

Several Bay Breeze residents wrote letters and spoke at an Aug. 30 public hearing to say they’re against a connection.

The White’s Pond plan preserves the clump of trees in the middle of the existing farm field. A small amount of trees along the edge of the property near Freeman Highway will be removed. The plan includes 28 percent open space, Lardner said.

As for the homes, Lardner said, there will be no builder tie-in. Like its neighbor Showfield, future residents will purchase a lot and find their own builder.