❌ Why the Planning & Zoning Commission Got It Wrong

On November 5, 2025, the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission approved the Tepache Farms subdivision despite overwhelming public concern, clear environmental red flags, and a documented history of septic limitations on the site.

This decision ignored both common sense and historical precedent. In 2019, the very same property was unanimously denied by the Planning & Zoning Commission after the USDA soil survey and other evidence showed that the land was not suitable for septic systems. Those findings have not changed—if anything, the conditions have worsened.

So what changed?

Not the soil. Not the elevation. Not the drainage.

Only the willingness to look the other way.

Instead of protecting public health, nearby waterways, and future homeowners, the Commission relied on outdated and inconsistent data provided by the developer—data that conflicted with federal reports, aerial imagery, and firsthand accounts from residents who have lived on Burton Road for decades.

During the approval meeting, they claimed that this application included “12 fewer lots than before.” If they had been paying attention during the testimonies, they would have understood that since the 2019 denial, the developer worked the system to get 8 lots approved separately—and those homes have since been built on the same property originally proposed in 2019.

So, 12 fewer lots? 12 - 8 = 4.

The details matter. Understanding the math means understanding the application.

The decision sends a dangerous message: as long as a subdivision “checks the boxes,” it will be approved, regardless of whether those boxes reflect reality.

This is not responsible planning. It’s bureaucracy over judgment.

The Commission had the authority—and the responsibility—to say no. Instead, they chose the path of least resistance, likely out of fear of legal challenges.

Approving development on low-lying, flood-prone land with limited septic capability is not progress—it’s a step backward for responsible growth in Sussex County.

We deserve better. Our county deserves better. Our environment deserves better.