What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Hearing on the Proposed Ordinance entitled “Building Height, Etc.” 10/22/21
This coming Tuesday, Oct. 26th, the City will hold a hearing on a proposed ordinance entitled, Building Height, Etc. The proposal was first released in September and immediately treated as law by the city and used to deny building permit applications. On October 11th, the City Council stopped this practice, at least until the City conducts a hearing and the Mayor and City Council actually vote. We hope you will attend the hearing, either in person or via Zoom, and share your views.
The building height portion of the proposal only applies to Lewes Beach. As best as we can tell, properties in the flood plain owned by the Mayor and a member of the City Council are exempted. It nearly doubles roof pitch requirements in a manner which make many homes on the beach out of compliance. It applies these requirements to all roofs, even water-proof roofs over decks, entrance ways, and porches .
The proposals also would impose a wide variety of new requirements on off-street parking, some which are not clear and others appear to conflict with other rules or efforts of the city. And, it gives the City Planner wide control over construction throughout Lewes and the authority to determine how vague rules will be interpreted and applied. These provisions would apply to the entire city.
The city claims the new proposal is more of a housekeeping effort, that some of the new rules are already on the books. After being challenged, they admitted many of these rules have never been enforced. Depending upon who you talk to, this lack of enforcement extends between 10 and 34 years. Having reviewed these proposals, it is difficult to find a single property in the city of Lewes that will not be impacted.