Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, will speak at the Wednesday, July 13 meeting of Delaware’s 14th District Democratic Committee. He will discuss the just-completed legislative session and report on the latest bills passed in 2022.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. with a Dutch treat dinner at Iron Hill Brewery on Route 1 north of Rehoboth Beach, followed by Schwartzkopf’s remarks at 6 p.m. and committee business at 6:30. The 14th RD Democratic Committee represents Democrats who live in the communities surrounding Lewes, south to Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, and west to Angola.

All registered Democrats are welcome; those planning to attend the July 13 meeting should RSVP by July 12 to DE14RDDems@gmail.com.

Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 11, at City Hall.

The agenda includes requests for dedicated on-street parking for 12 Kentucky Ave., a landscape buffer reduction for 12 Jefferson Court, eliminating a portion of sidewalk along River Birch Drive in Lewes Waterfront Preserve, creating one new parcel of land in the Lands of Galasso at 111 New Road, and designated parking for 117 and 119 Front St.

Discussions will include development of a procedure document and a resolution to authorize the BPW to borrow funds for water and sewer expansion to serve Donovan Smith Manufactured Home Park.   

Find the full agenda and a meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Sussex County Council will meet at 1:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 12, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are four public hearings starting at 1:30 p.m., including a rezoning from GR general-residential to GR-RPC residential planned community filed by Boardwalk Development LLC for a 21-acre parcel on the north and northeast side of Banks Road approximately one-half mile from Route 24 in Long Neck.

A full agenda and meeting materials are available at sussexcountyde.gov/agendas-minutes/county-council. Meetings are held in person, livestreamed at sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast, and available by phone at 302-394-5036 using code 570176.

The Dewey Beach Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing and meeting at 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 12 at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave.

Attorney Glenn Mandalas, representing Bay Resort Hotel property owner Moore Blue Water, is seeking four variance requests, a special-exception request and a request to appeal the town building official’s decision that a proposed outdoor pool would not be in compliance.

Variance requests include one to permit a proposed pool enclosure and multi-level deck structure to extend seven feet into the 10-foot rear setback; another to permit a proposed new outdoor pool along Rehoboth Bay to extend four feet into the 10-foot side-yard setback; a third to permit a ground-level cabana to extend six feet into the 18-foot front-yard setback; and the fourth for a variance of 7.5 inches from the town’s 12 inches of freeboard requirement for nonresidential structures.

The special-exception requests are to relocate an existing gazebo to a location 12 feet into the 18-foot front yard setback, which is six feet from the front property line, and to permit an elevator bulkhead structure to extend 42 inches above the roof peak.

While requests to relocate the gazebo and to permit a new outdoor pool are on the agenda, Mandalas indicated in a May 31 letter to the board and Town Manager Bill Zolper that those variance requests would be withdrawn.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.