In a rare move, the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended denial of a rezoning request, seeking to restrict commercial development along Route 9 between Lewes and Georgetown.

At its Jan. 11 meeting, commissioners took a bold step and unanimously denied an application filed by Dale Lomas/Seashore Highway Associates LLC to rezone a four-acre parcel near the Josephs Road intersection west of Lewes from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to CR-1, commercial-residential.

The developer has proposed using the property to expand Building Supply Depot on an adjacent parcel.

Commissioner Bob Wheatley said during recent discussions on the 2018 comprehensive land-use plan, the commission agreed, in order to stop over development along Route 9, commercial development should be clustered near signalized intersections. He said county officials should take action to halt the type of commercial development that has occurred along Route 24.

Wheatley said the proposed rezoning was contrary to other zoning in the area that was primarily residential with 44 single-family homes and 60 manufactured homes within 1,000 feet of the parcel.

He also said CR-1 zoning is the most intense commercial zoning; it allows dozens of uses.

“This is only a recommendation. County council has the last word,” Wheatley said.

Council's public hearing on the application is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

Jim Griffin, former Sussex County Council attorney who lives in Stillwater Farm across from the property, spoke at length against the application during commission's hearing. He said approval would lead to a wall of commercial development on land zoned for agricultural and residential uses. It would also create more traffic on an already heavily traveled road, he said.

“The arguments raised by the opposition were compelling,” Wheatley said.