Small Town News

Planners approve office at Shady Road intersection

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Dr. Jose Pando wants to relocate office

Sussex County planning and zoning commissioners recommended approval of a conditional use for a professional office on a 1-acre parcel at the intersection of Shady and Plantation roads near Lewes.

Dr. Jose Pando, a rheumatolo-gist who currently rents space on Savannah Road, wants to relocate his office to the parcel. He has plans to build a residential-style, two-story, 6,000-square-foot office with 38 parking spaces. Part of the space could be rented out to another professional.

"Our main interest is for a facility that would complement our practice," Pando said during the commission's Thursday, April 8 public hearing. He said a therapy pool for arthritis patients could be added to the office.

Tim Willard, an attorney representing Rheumatology Consultants of Delaware, said county officials approved a similar application in August 2005 for the parcel, but the application had expired.

Pando currently has four doctors and 12 others employed in his practice. Pando, who lives in Lewes, has been in Sussex County for 14 years.

Willard said a traffic impact study and state review of the project were not required. He said the Delaware Department of Transportation has requested the entrance to the office be off Shady Road.

Four nearby residents spoke in opposition to the project, and all talked about heavy traffic in the area.

Marc Collard, who lives in Eagle Point, said with all other pending projects, including the Arbors of Cottagedale apartment complex, expansion of Henlopen Landing and a professional office complex at the Cedar Grove and Plantation roads intersection, attention needs to be paid to Shady Road.

The road is a connector between Route 1 and Plantation Road.

"With all this new construction, it may have to become a 4-lane road with traffic lights and turning lanes," he said.

Glenden Jackson, who lives 500 feet from the parcel off MacKenzie Way, said traffic sometimes backs up the entire stretch of the road. "And for people trying to get onto Shady Road, I'm seeing trouble in the future," he said. "Plantation Road is locked top to bottom in summertime on Saturdays," said Betty Deacon, a resident of Sandy Brae. She suggested the commission restrict Saturday hours and force the developer to put in a traffic light at the intersection.

The commission is suggesting the hours be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Deacon said the area around Plantation Road is primarily residential with more than 1,500 homes in the area "It's why a lot of us bought property there hoping and thinking that it would remain residential," she said.

"I foresee a great deal of commercial development on an otherwise very nice residential road," said Julia Morey of Plantations East.

Jackson questioned why medical offices were being built away from the two primary locations close to Beebe Medical Center facilities on Savannah Road and Route 24. "For the life of me I can't understand why they can't be put in one location Route 24 is an ideal place for it," Jackson said. "I don't have a problem with responsible growth, but it's not very responsible to put a business of this caliber in that location."

County council will make the final decision on the application.





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