Sussex P&Z denies revised plan for Route 9 gas station

September 27, 2024 3

A revised plan for a gas station with a proposed McDonald’s on the corner of Route 9 and Fisher Road near Milton was denied by the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission Sept. 25.

The need for a greater easement along the busy corridor was the main reason for the unanimous denial of the revised preliminary plan.

“Route 9 is developing like nobody’s business,” said Robert Wheatley, commission chair.

With the parking area located along the roadway, commissioners agreed, future road improvements and expansions could decrease the size of the site and leave it out of compliance.

Existing wetlands and a retention pond are located at the rear of the proposed plan.

In other business, the commission unanimously approved a revised plan for Anchors Run off Beaver Dam Road to increase the size of its pool from 1,500 square feet to 3,525 square feet. The addition of two proposed pickleball courts on the northeast side of the existing clubhouse with access off Snug Berth Drive will be considered at a later date.

The commission also unanimously approved the final subdivision and landscape plan for Twin Masts.

The cluster subdivision will have 249 single-family home lots on a 133-acre parcel on the north side of Round Pole Bridge Road and west of Route 1 near Milton.

Access to the community is planned for Round Pole Bridge Road. Delaware Department of Transportation officials will not allow an access road from Route 1. Developer Twin Masts LLC will be required to improve the property frontage road with 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot shoulders.

The projected average daily traffic count generated by the subdivision is 1,185 vehicle trips (in and out of the subdivision) with a nighttime count of 240 vehicles.

Plans include a pool and pool house, pickleball courts, a 30-foot forested/vegetated perimeter buffer, central water and sewer service, a trail system, 53% (70 acres) open space, sidewalks on both sides of interior streets with a connection to a multimodal path on Round Pole Bridge Road.

All buffers must be noted as areas of nondisturbance with signs posted every 300 feet.

A 4-foot berm is required with vegetation along the border of Route 1 to shield residents from highway noise. The berm must be installed prior to the issuance of the 162nd building permit.