Four New City Policies Threaten Residential Homes on Lewes Beach (10/6/21)

Four new, interrelated city policies are threatening homes on Lewes Beach. First, the city of Lewes is blocking building permits for homes on Lewes Beach, even if they comply with the current building code. Homeowners must now comply not only with the building code but any proposed changes to the building code. A FOIA request is being submitted to discover the authority for this policy.

Second, recently, the city staff refused to even consider a building permit application because it failed to comply with a proposed rule on roof pitches, flat roofs, and observation decks that has yet to be scheduled for a public hearing, let alone a vote. (For more, see the report - City Proposes New Rule on Roofs but ONLY for Lewes Beach.) Third, the city is requiring homeowners to tear down the existing home before submitting a building permit application for the replacement. (For more, see the report - First Tear Your Old House Down - Then Find Out What the City Will Allow You to Build.)

And fourth, the Mayor and City Council are scheduled to vote on Monday, October 11th on a another Planning Commission proposed “flood plain” rule which, among other things, requires all homeowners on Lewes Beach to eliminate floodwater infiltration into any new or replacement water or sewer system. (For more, see the report - Planning Commission Floodplain Reg Proposal.)

It’s rumored there will be a public hearing on the proposed “roof” rule on October 26th but, as of today, no information about the hearing has been made public.