Town Council Votes to Advance Controversial Development Plan

By Philip Rucker, Washington Post Staff Writer

The Dewey Beach Town Council last night voted 3 to 2 to advance a developer’s proposal to build a luxury hotel and condominiums and retail shops that would be nearly double the tiny Delaware beach town’s building height limit.

A separate measure to hold a public referendum on changes to zoning laws that would allow buildings taller than the resort town’s height limit of 35 feet failed to win a majority of votes from the council.

Last night’s six-hour meeting lasted until about midnight and featured vigorous debate, residents said. More than 100 people appeared at the meeting in a jurisdiction that has been riled by a proposal to redevelop the popular Ruddertowne area into a six-story, mixed-use development.

“There was so much comment,” said longtime resident Diane Hanson, 61, who opposes the project. “It was contentious. Obviously you have a line in the sand, and people have their opinions.”

By its vote, the council sent to the town planning commission the proposal to change zoning laws to allow the 68-foot-tall development.

Since the proposal was introduced, public outcry in the town of 311 full-time residents has been intense.

Citizens to Preserve Dewey, an opponent of the project, collected petitions from more than 800 property owners. Mayor Dell Tush, who voted against the project, received more than 100 letters from property owners, the majority of whom opposed the proposal.

Some residents say the development — which would be the tallest building in Dewey, a peninsula town a mile long and two blocks wide — would destroy Dewey’s quaint character.

The developer, Harvey, Hanna and Associates, says the $40 million development could be a tourism attraction that would help Dewey come out of the shadow of Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Ocean City.

“Dewey Beach has been a cherished tradition in my family for generations, so this project is very near and dear to me,” E. Thomas Harvey III, president of the company, said in a statement yesterday. “We want to retain all of the wonderful elements of Ruddertowne and marry them with some responsibly planned family attractions that will enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors to our community.”

The developer says panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay from the top two floors are vital to making the property profitable.

Town Commissioner Mike Eisenhauer said last week that the development would be a “very positive change” for Dewey, making the town more of a tourist destination.

Although Dewey’s population swells to as many as 30,000 on a summer weekend, the pace is much slower than at other beach resorts along the mid-Atlantic seaboard. The town has fewer restaurants, entertainment options and retail stores than Rehoboth or Ocean City.