The Agenda

• The Bethany Beach Traffic & Parking Committee will meet Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at the town hall. The agenda for the meeting includes:

o Discussion of preparing white paper for the town council on Article IV 197, sections 8 through 13;

o Proposing of changes to handicapped parking privileges at parking meters, including possibly putting an end to free meter use; and

o Review of the marking of driveways in the 300 block of various streets that have permit parking on the west side of Route 1.

• The Bethany Beach Charter and Ordinance Review Committee (CORC) is scheduled to meet Thursday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. in the town hall.

• The Bethany Beach Town Council will host public hearings on Friday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at the town hall, on:

o An ordinance to amend Section 245-83 (“Dimensional Exceptions”) of Chapter 245 of the Town Code (“Zoning”) to authorize the placement of temporary structures in required yard setbacks in order to accommodate the requirements of physically-handicapped persons if approved as a special exception by the Board of Adjustment; and

o An ordinance to Chapter 245 (“Zoning”) of the Town Code to establish and define a “conditional use,” to define a “public utility” and to amend various sections of the zoning ordinance to allow wireless communications facilities to be permitted in all zoning districts if approved as a “special exception” or as a “conditional use”; and to allow public buildings, public service buildings; water towers and public utilities if approved as a “special exception” in the C-1 and C-2 commercial zoning districts.

• The Bethany Beach Town Council will meet at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 20, in the town hall. The agenda for the meeting includes:

o An appointment to the Planning Commission;

o A second reading for the town’s proposed property maintenance ordinance;

o Consideration and vote on the above proposed ordinance to amend Section 245-83 (“Dimensional Exceptions”) of Chapter 245 of the Town Code (“Zoning”) (scheduled for a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., prior to the meeting);

o Consideration and vote on the above proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 245 (“Zoning”) of the Town Code regarding conditional uses, etc., (scheduled for a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., prior to the meeting);

o Consideration of a resolution for the appointment of Charles McMullen to the position of assistant alderman;

o First reading of an ordinance to amend the town code of the Town of Bethany Beach to transfer all fines and penalties to one chapter;

o First reading of an ordinance to amend the town code of the Town of Bethany Beach to set out the fines and penalties for violations of all town ordinances in one chapter;

o First reading of an ordinance to remove Chapter 238, Waters and Sewers, Article VII, [Transportation of Sewage] through the Town of Bethany Beach;

o First reading of an ordinance to amend Sections 200-6 and 200-22 of the town subdivision ordinance and to amend Section 245-2 of the town zoning code to clarify the “grandfathering” provisions regarding planned residential developments (“PRD’s”) containing less than 50,000 square feet;

o Consideration of a contract from Clean Delaware for sludge removal at the water plant; and

o Consideration of a “Yes to Beaches” resolution that could include standard language for such resolutions, ending with the statement that the town “urges Congress to reject all efforts to withdraw from or limit the Federal government’s role in our Nation’s beach nourishment projects and to recognize that continued Federal support is critical to the sustained environmental and economic health of our coastal resources and communities.”

• The Bethany Beach Planning Commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, in the town hall.

Fenwick Island

The Fenwick Island Town Council will hold a special meeting on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 9:30 a.m. at the town hall. Included on the agenda for the meeting are:

• Review of the draft first reading of an ordinance on floor area ratio (FAR) that could become a construction guideline;

• Withdrawal of previously approved first readings on commercial signage and front-yard setback;

• Discussion of the renovation of men’s bathroom in the town hall;

• Discussion of the proposed town hall renovation.

Ocean View

• Ocean View Town Council will hold a special town council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 4:30 p.m. at town hall, to discuss the town’s mission, goals and expectations for the town’s various departments.

• Council members will reconvene for the regularly-scheduled workshop session at 7 p.m. later that same night (Jan. 17). It’s budget time again, and they’ll consider “needs lists” from the department heads (Police Chief Ken McLaughlin for the police department, Administrative Official Charlie McMullen for public works and Town Manager Kathy Roth for the administrative department).

• On Thursday, Jan. 19, the town will hold another special meeting on Route 26 design standards, at 1 p.m. at town hall. On the agenda, continued discussion of the design standard ordinance, now approaching completion, and discussion regarding: (1) a possible tree ordinance, and (2) predevelopment meeting requirements.

• The town’s Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission will meet later that night, at 7 p.m. (Jan. 19). The commission is slated to review two site plans, for: (1) Rupert Smith’s 11 townhouses plus two single-family homes on Woodland Avenue, and (2) Doug Brown, on behalf of Bear Trap Farms, for construction of a water-treatment facility near the Village of Bear Trap Dunes’ water tower. The commission will also consider an ordinance related to serving of alcoholic liquor at outdoor restaurants.

Sussex County

Sussex County Council will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m., in Council Chambers at the Sussex County Administrative Office Building, Georgetown. On the agenda:

• Council Member George Cole’s proposed ordinance to amend the Cluster Development Ordinance, as modified, is advertised for public hearing at 10:30 a.m. The title reads “to add a requirement that all AR-1 (Agricultural Residential zoning district) cluster developments be located within a development district as shown on the adopted Comprehensive Plan for Sussex County.” However, additional language has been added that would allow cluster development in low-density areas, but with a 25 percent reduction to the area of the parcel prior to calculating gross density.

• The Moderately Priced Housing Initiative is back on the agenda – the ordinance would offer developers bonus densities for building projects within reach for working families of moderate income. There are various non-income related criteria for participation as well, and guarantees against profiteering.

• Under County Administrator Robert Stickels’ agenda, a draft ordinance relating to C-1 Commercial and CR-1 Commercial Residential zoning districts, for discussion and introduction, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and Sussex County Council.

Indian River School District (IRSD)

The IRSD School Board special meeting regarding the Dobrich v. Indian River School Board lawsuit (alleging religious intolerance), which was scheduled for Jan. 9, was postponed late last week. No new date has been announced.

Selbyville

The Selbyville Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m. in the town hall to review plans for the proposed Strawberry Center retail center.