At its Aug. 14 meeting, Sussex County Council unanimosly approved two applications related to a multifamily housing project outside Lewes.

The Evergreene Companies LLC filed to rezone a 7-acre parcel from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to MR, medium-density residential, and a conditional use for multifamily housing at 16386 Gills Neck Road near the Showfield and Hawkseye communities.

Although the original proposal included 26 duplexes in 13 buildings, county planning and zoning and county council amended the plan to a maximum of 24 units for a density of 3.27 units per acre. Officials wanted fewer units to allow for a wider setback from Gills Neck Road to match other developments along the road.

Jim Fuqua, the developer's attorney, said the county has already approved 660 multifamily units along Gills Neck Road.

He said most of an existing wooded area on three sides of the property would remain, with a 20-foot wooded buffer on the east and west boundaries, and a 10-foot wooded buffer along the rear of the property. Fuqua said the buffer would be adjacent to an existing 20-foot buffer along the Showfield property, making it 30 feet.

Gills Neck Road is included in the Lewes Scenic and Historic Byway master plan. To comply with the plan, Fuqua said, the developer would construct a shared-use path along the frontage of the property with connection to the nearby Junction and Breakwater Trail.

Fuqua said there would be extensive landscaping along the road frontage with a stormwater pond near the entrance to the community. Central water would be provided by Lewes Board of Public Works and sewer would be provided by Sussex County. Curbs and gutters, sidewalks on both sides of all streets, and a pool and pool house are planned. Each unit would have a two-car garage and provide two additional parking spaces in the driveway.