As a strong indication of growth in Sussex County, 263 land-use applications were filed during fiscal year 2018, which is 87 more applications than the previous fiscal year.

That was one piece of data included in the county's annual report to the Governor's Advisory Council on Planning that is required to be submitted each year, said assistant county attorney Vince Robertson during presentations to county council and planning and zoning commission. The report covers the time period July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.

County officials approved 22 new subdivisions with more than 1,960 lots. Also included in the applications were 22 rezonings, 42 conditional-use permits and 177 site plan reviews, up from 109 reviews in fiscal 2017. Not all applications have been acted on.

Robertson said the county has seen substantial growth in the area between Robinsonville Road and Mulberry Knoll Road from Beaver Dam Road to Route 24. Five subdivisions in the area – Headwater Cove, Fieldstone, Acadia, Outer Banks and Beach Tree Preserve – account for 848 single-family lots.

During the past year, county council approved a total rewrite of the county's commercial code. Previously the code contained only two major commercial districts: B-1 neighborhood business and CR-1, commercial-residential.

The new districts to replace them include B-2, business community; B-3, business research; C-2, medium commercial; C-3, heavy commercial; C-4, planned commercial; C-5, service/limited manufacturing; and I-1, institutional. The first applications with the new commercial districts have surfaced in the county's land-use process.

County council also approved a complete rewrite of Chapter 110 of county code regarding the creation, construction, expansion, operation and financing of county water and sewer systems.

In addition, in partnership with the state, the county took the first steps toward transitioning from a pivot spray irrigation system to a fixed-head irrigation system at its Wolfe Neck treatment plant between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

The area will no longer be used for farming but will be reforested and become accessible to Cape Henlopen State Park and the Junction and Breakwater Trail.

During the fiscal year, more than 1,500 new customers were added to county sewer systems.

Building permits are on pace to match the same number issued in 2017. In 2017, the county issued 1,961 building permits with 992 issued as of June 26 this year.