Sussex County Council wants to require a traffic signal as a condition of approval for a townhouse project along Route 24 near Long Neck.

But because the Delaware Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over roads and intersections, it may not be able to. Council wants a traffic signal at the Route 24-Hollymount Road intersection to be in place as construction of two projects near the intersection takes place.

“I'm not aware something like this has ever happened,” said county attorney Everett Moore. “I'm not comfortable adding this as a condition.”

Sussex Director of Planning and Zoning Janelle Cornwell said DelDOT officials would require a signal justification study before deciding on whether or not a signal could be placed at the intersection. She said the developer has already agreed to fund the signal, but it's not the developer's decision when installation would take place.

On the suggestion of Councilman George Cole, R-Ocean View, council voted 5-0 requesting the county's legal team research the options. “I think we need to try something different,” Cole said.

The question centers around a conditional-use application filed by Burtons Pond LLL-Section II for a 100-unit townhome project near Route 24 at Hollymount Road. It's across the road from the first phase of the project, which includes 265 single-family home lots on a 159-acre parcel. According to state preliminary land-use service records, Burton Bray Properties LLC is owner of the property and Ocean Atlantic of Rehoboth Beach is the developer.

The county's planning and zoning commission has recommended approval of the application but did not address the traffic signal issue in its proposed conditions. Included in the project is the relocation of Sloan Road – the proposed entrance to the townhomes – to match up with the Route 24-Hollymount intersection.

County officials heard numerous complaints about dangerous traffic conditions at the intersection along a busy section of Route 24.

“I'd like to see decisions from Sussex County Council when we see traffic issues,” Cole said. “People complain that they will never see a traffic light.”

Cole and Councilman I.G. Burton, R-Lewes, said even a blinking yellow light would be a safety improvement at the intersection.