A Sussex developer just got closer to building 651 homes near Millsboro, after the county Planning and Zoning Commission granted the application preliminary approval Thursday.

The Keastone Bay subdivision will span just over 310 acres and is located on Green Road, off Route 24 and behind Baywood Greens. The original plan requested approval for 675 homes.

Commissioners said the development will have 136 acres of open space — about 43% of the site.

Delaware Department of Transportation is requiring "extensive" roadway improvements from the developer, Baywood LLC. Sussex Realty Co. is also involved in the application.

In 2007, a subdivision for 597 lots was approved for the same lot, but that application had since lapsed and required a new traffic impact study.

Residential development booming in Sussex

Keastone Bay's size is equivalent to nearly a third of all residential permits issued in Sussex County in 2017.

In 2018, commissioners gave a dozen subdivision applicants the green light to build over 1,900 homes across Sussex County. That number surpasses 2,100 when conditional use applications are included.

Over 600 residential lots were granted approval for subdivisions in 2019 — a noticeable drop, though the Keastone Bay application was submitted and later deferred last year.

Three applications for over 450 homes were introduced just two weeks into 2020, including a controversial application to build 227 homes on environmental sensitive land with tidal wetlands and forests.

That application was deferred the same night commissioners approved Keastone Bay.

MORE DEVELOPMENT: Residents denied entry to public hearing on 227-home proposal in Sussex

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