Promote quality of life for all and economic prosperity.
Quality of life for residents includes a vibrant economy and a healthy environment. It is not an either/or choice. We can have forested land and new housing. We can have population growth and accessible health care. The built environment can live in harmony with the natural environment. But it takes careful planning to keep development in balance with elements that promote quality of life.
Growth is not inherently good or bad, beneficial or harmful. The codes and ordinances that govern growth can ensure that growth adds to quality of life. But when roads can’t handle the traffic or schools become overcrowded or medical appointments must be delayed for too long then growth has diminished the quality of life.
County Council makes the “rules” that govern development. As a member of the Council, I will work to change codes as needed to protect our forests, wetlands and open spaces. I will work with county officials, the Council and State officials to address traffic concerns. I will work with other Council members to bring as many resources as we can to create affordable housing and to support our schools. I will engage with both business and nonprofit communities to address the problems we face.
“I will prioritize the interests of the people who live here ahead of the interests of people who build here.”
Provide for the health and safety of our community.
The first and most important job for County Council is ensuring the health and safety of the residents. That means supporting our first responders: our firefighters and police, and our emergency services.
Supporting our first responders means providing adequate training, quality equipment, fair pay and benefits, and an infrastructure that assists them in performing their duties. It also means minimizing the stress on their services posed by population growth. The number of calls to emergency services rises with population and the ability of emergency vehicles to respond is impeded by clogged roads. The impact of growth on our first responders must be taken into account when considering all new developments.
A community’s health is also dependent on clean water and clean air. Forests, wetlands, and open spaces are nature’s tools to help absorb and filter pollution and accommodate excess water during storms. We cannot provide for the safety of the community in the face of severe weather if we destroy our natural and best defenses.
“We cannot continue to prioritize growth over quality of life. Whether you have lived here all your life or for only a few years, you know that our quality of life is dependent on clean air and water, abundant open space, protected forests and wetlands, and a minimum of light and noise pollution.”
Synchronize growth with infrastructure improvements
Some infrastructure elements are not under the control of the County Council. Roads and schools are built by the state. Physicians, hospitals and clinics are under private or non-profit management. Affordable housing is developed by private and nonprofit entities.
While council does not have direct responsibility for those elements of infrastructure, it does have responsibility for controlling development in a manner that supports a strong infrastructure. It can provide incentives and investments to support affordable housing.
Every element of infrastructure is adversely affected by over-development. No development should be considered until current, accurate data is available from independent sources. No development should be built unless there is a clear achievable plan for creating the necessary infrastructure.
“The problems we face are complex and can be solved only when we all work together. I will work to create strong partnerships across all sectors – business, non-profit, government — to meet the challenges posed by excessively rapid growth.”
Promote citizen access and transparency
While just about everyone in eastern Sussex and many in western Sussex are alarmed by the rate of development and its effects on the quality of life, very few understand the process by which applications for building are reviewed and approved. It is complex. But County Council sets the “rules” governing developments. Overdevelopment is a consequence of decisions made by County Council. Making sure people understand that is the first step in transparency.
Transparency means making it easier for citizens to engage with their government by allowing remote participation in all meetings, by alerting neighborhoods to possible new development in time for their input, and by seeking input rather than just receiving input.
“Citizens have a right to know what government is doing and government has an obligation to inform the citizens. Technology has given us the tools to communicate effectively about vital issues affecting our community. I will work to ensure timely, clear communication about critical issues before Council.”
Rethink
We are not the first community to face overdevelopment or the need to protect a fragile environment. We do not need to start from scratch. We can learn from other counties in Delaware and in neighboring states. We can look at new ideas and examine new technologies.
Our road problems cannot be alleviated if we fail to find alternatives to needing a car for every trip. We should look at new ideas like the mini-transit systems being piloted in Georgetown and Millsboro. We can improve road safety for bikes and scooters. We need to look for efficient, environmentally friendly, and pleasant alternatives to cars. Not to replace cars but to lessen our dependence on them.
Fees like the Voluntary School Assessment should be re-examined to find ways to bring more resources to our stressed school system.
First and foremost, we must stop the practices that make our community more vulnerable to severe weather and rising sea levels. We must stop the practices that are drowning our marshes and polluting our waterways. We must act and act boldly if we are to ensure that our community will thrive into the future.
“If we do nothing now – there will be nothing here in the future.”