In a recent article, the Cape Gazette wrote about a recent meeting of Sussex County Council in which the recommendation for a moratorium on building by Councilman Matt Lloyd was met with attacks from various groups. A closer look at this article indicates an interesting cross section of those who opposed the building moratorium.
A stream of builders, contractors, housing advocates, real estate groups, bankers and others spoke strongly against any cessation of the development explosion we are presently experiencing. Strangely, the group or voices not heard from were the residents of Sussex County who inhabit the southern part of the county where the development growth has been occurring.
The most vociferous groups were those who stand to profit from continued building in this already-crowded region. One wonders how many in this group actually live here. Our infrastructure is already outdated and overwhelmed, our schools already overcrowded, our community experiencing a shortage of contractors and healthcare staff, and our businesses short on staffing, and yet we have a large number of new developments with unfilled houses and apartment complexes that will contribute to a larger population.
The proliferation of new homes sprouting up approaches the point of diminishing returns. Yet the protesters wish to bring more people to the area when those who live here do not have sufficient services. Their mantra seems to be: build until every green space in this region is eliminated and developed and then move on.
Again, the old guard on Sussex County Council, the ones who have brought us to the situation we now live in, support unfettered growth in the region. Intelligent, updated, comprehensive planning and growth is what we have yet to see from this county council. Let's hear from the residents of southern Sussex County on how they feel about their quality of life here and how it is changing.
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Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and building pages, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
