Questions and Answers
When will you be done the redevelopment? We are planning on getting married in Summer '09 and I was wondering if you will have space for a wedding reception?
Thanks,
Kristen
Developer's
Response
July 30, 2007
Kristen,
We would absolutely welcome the opportunity to host your wedding reception at the new Ruddertowne. As you are probably aware, we are still pursuing our approvals, but hopefully the Town will allow us to create a venue for great events such as wedding receptions. It is feasible that construction could be completed by the Summer 2009, so please stay in touch as we continue to work with the Town on the approvals.
Truly,
John Harvey
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In building over the existing parking lot
and increasing the need for parking with condos and hotel
units by approximatly 200 spaces not including the ones lost
from existing parking lot. Since these spaces will still
be needed with the stores and restaurants still in place.
How many spaces do you see creating with the 3 story parking
lot and where is this lot as the second floor looks like
store fronts. But besides this concern and the additional
traffic in a aready over populated roadways the building
looks fine and I see no problem with height and tapered design
as Rehoboth has building of this height on the board walk. William Peden
Custom Framers
Developer's Response
July 25, 2007
Mr. Peden,
Thanks for you thoughts and question. We plan on delivering
close to 500 total parking spaces on 3-4 floors of parking,
which includes the 209 that currently exists on the lot,
along with an appropriate parking count to support the various
uses that have been proposed for the new development. In
the end, we think that we will have approximately 200 spaces
available for public use in excess of what will be needed
to support the development. The structured parking will be
architecturally designed in a way that is as "hidden" as
possible. In other words, we intend to dress up the facade
of each parking deck in a way that makes each deck almost
appear to be simply just another level of occupied space,
not just layers of concrete decking. This is subject to final
design, ventilation requirements, and permitting of course,
but this is our intent.
I'd
like to also point out that while Route 1 does carry a large
amount of traffic peak season, some existing traffic will
be reduced by this project. The reasons for this reduction
is that when you create more commercial opportunities (e.g.,
small drug store, small grocery store, fun land for
small children, shopping etc.), many families will opt to
stay in Dewey and walk instead of getting in their cars and
adding more traffic to Route 1.
I hope I have answered your questions
here. Please don’t
hesitate to contact me further with additional questions
that you may have.
John Harvey
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July 12, 2007
We have owned property in Dewey Beach since
1976. We are appalled at the idea of a six-story building
at Ruddertowne, especially one that looks as out-of-place
as the drawing you sent. It looks like a Mayan temple has
been plopped down on the shore of Rehoboth Bay.
We will be sad to see the Rusty Rudder
and the rest of Ruddertowne close. But if there are really
only two choices, we think townhouses are a far more desirable
addition to Dewey.
No matter how many reassurances that this
would be the only exception to the height rule, we believe
that "the
only" would be the first of many. Grant one exception,
and the requests for more will pile on. And when they're
denied, how much will the town have to spend defending
the suits brought by prospective developers who won't take "no" for
an answer?
A six-story building does not belong in
Dewey Beach. It is out of character and in poor taste.
Regards,
Steve & Anne Ritchey
-------------------------------
July 13, 2007
Hi,
I've been checking the saveruddertowne site occasionally
today, and it looks like you're posting comments fairly
frequently. So I wondered why the one I sent yesterday
afternoon (when the Comment section was empty) hadn't been
posted.
When I looked back at the copy
of what I sent, I realized the signature somehow got truncated.
The letter should have been signed, "Steve & Anne
Ritchey." Perhaps
that's why it never got posted? (But of course, you have
my name because my email address is anneritchey@comcast.net
and the name registered in association is Anne Ritchey.
So you could have posted it.)
I'm frankly
surprised that all the notes are positive. I certainly
don't want to believe that the prospective developer,
who loves Dewey SO much, would have so little integrity that,
after soliciting comments, he chose to publicly display
only those comments that support his position!
And BTW, am I missing something, or are
5 of the 6 comments (at 7 Friday evening) from people WHO
DON'T EVEN OWN PROPERTY IN DEWEY BEACH?????
Anne Ritchey (my comment is below in the
forwarded message; wouldn't want you to miss it . . .) Developer's Response
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. We typically address ideas
or issues that have not been raised previously. Additionally,
we review incoming comments, and respond when appropriate,
on a weekly basis.
John Harvey
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July 16, 2007
Dear Mr. Harvey,
This response from you must be the
wrong form letter. It doesn't answer my question. I don't
expect you to "address" or "respond
to" my comment. I do expect you to post it, since you
solicited it.
Simply put, my question is: "You
ask for comments. I submitted one last Thursday. Why isn't
it posted yet?"
If the answer is that you'll only
be posting positive comments, then I suggest the "Send Comments" button be re-designed
to say, "Send Positive Comments Only."
Anne Ritchey
A Dewey property owner -- unlike six of the seven people
whose comments are posted now, at 5:30 Monday evening.
Developer's Response
Thank you for your response. As I indicated in our last
e-mail we will respond to your comment within a week of its
posting. Some of the information you seek is provided directly
on our web site. For example, state law is clear that the
newly proposed height of 68 feet would be limited to only
2% of town. Some of these legal provisions have been on the
books in Delaware since 1923 and none have ever been over-turned
by a court. That is why Rehoboth was able to permit taller
commercial projects in limited areas of the town without
it impacting other areas of the town. Thus, there is legal
proof and real life proof that your fears are unnecessary
and that an increase in height in one small area does not
legally impact the other areas of town.
One question I have for you is that
you refer to "we" in
your comment.
We have over 1300 petitions, obtained
in just one afternoon and evening, in favor of this project
based on the actual picture. Please disclose who you are
specifically speaking for when you use the word "we" so
we can better understand whose interest you are speaking
on behalf of?
Thank you & best regards.
John Harvey
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July 23, 2007
Dear Mr. Harvey,
How nice for you that you've obtained petitions
from so many people. But unless they own property or rent
full-time in Dewey Beach, their opinions don't matter and
they certainly don't change our views.
"We" is
my husband and I, Steve and Anne Ritchey.
See how easy it is to answer a direct
question?? The one I asked you requires only a "yes" or
a "no." So,
one more time, are you going to post my comment, or *any*
negative comments? It's now been a week and a half since
I submitted it, at your request.
Anne
Ritchey Developer's
Response
July 24, 2007
Anne,
Thank you for your reply and your answer. It was not entirely
clear to us who you were speaking on behalf of in your
last e-mail so we appreciate your clarification.
First, you state in your last e-mail that
unless folks who support us "own property or rent full-time
in Dewey Beach, their opinions don't matter". Actually,
as we know form the many public meetings that have been
held, many property owners and full time renters do support
our redevelopment proposal. Also, we respectfully believe
everyone's opinion matters in this debate. In fact, the
town's comprehensive development plan makes clear that
the opinions of property owners, residents, business owners,
and visitors all have a say in Dewey Beach's future.
Second, regarding your statement about
our petitions, in one afternoon and evening we received over
1300 petitions in support of our project. These petitions
were signed by folks through-out town, including property
owners, based upon an actual picture of our proposal. While
we do not necessarily believe petitions are the most exact
way to obtain public input on such a complex issue, we thought
it prudent to respond to a small number of folks in opposition
to our project who had engaged in a town petition a few
weeks ago. In fact, we received complaints about the opposition's
petition and methods used by the opposition to obtain their
signatures. This was again confirmed at our workshop meeting
this past Saturday, when two Dewey Beach property owners
advised everyone that they wanted their names removed from
the opposition's petitions because they felt they were
mislead by the opposition. Moreover, these owners explained
that they would not have signed the opposition's petitions
in the first place had all the facts been fully provided
by the opposition. You may be in the same boat, and may
not have all of the facts so we appreciate you giving us
the opportunity to respond here.
Third,
while we understand you do not like the proposed height,
most of the property owners we have spoken with do not
object to the height once they learn all of the details about
the project, including that it will not block existing views
of the Rehoboth Bay. Also, many buildings in Dewey Beach
are already over 35 feet in height today, and buildings
have been constructed in limited areas over 68 feet in Rehoboth
Beach. Those buildings in Rehoboth Beach have not adversely
impacted Rehoboth Beach in any way. So while we certainly
respect your position, we disagree and we do not believe
a majority of folks in town agree with you because, in
reality, the proposed 68 feet does not adversely impact anyone
in any quantifiable way when you consider all the facts.
Please see our pictures on our web site confirming that no
bay views are lost by our proposed 68 feet.
Fourth, while we respect your desire for
48 townhouses to be built and for Ruddertowne and the Rusty
Rudder to be demolished, the majority of folks in town we
have spoken to disagree with you. Most view the Rusty Rudder
and Ruddertowne as the commercial heart of Dewey Beach and
want it saved.
Fifth, our web-site contains
a great deal of information explaining while legally the
town is not exposed to any liability for permitting a height
increase in only one zoning district as we have requested.
In fact, State law on the books since 1923 and State law
regarding comprehensive development plans clearly protects
the town, as it has done for all towns in this State for
many many years. In fact, to the best of our knowledge
no town in this State has been sued for permitting greater
heights in one zoning district so long as they followed their
comprehensive development plan and State law. If some folks
want to file frivolous law suits against the town who is
simply following their adopted comprehensive development
plan as required by State law, a court will quickly dismiss
the claim. The reality is that threats of law suits are
not uncommon today and come with almost any rezoning
request. Further, you cannot expect the town to ignore
a comprehensive development plan it spent 5 years working
on with the public at a cost of over $250,000 simply
because some people may be threatening to sue the town.
In sum, we appreciated your comments but
respectfully disagree. In our humble opinion, and that of
many of your neighbors, the way of life in Dewey Beach will
not be negatively changed if the height is increased in one
zoning district to permit our proposed redevelopment project.
Rather, most folks we have spoken with believe that the Dewey
Beach way of life will improve if the 48 townhouses are not
built, the Rusty Rudder is saved and our redevelopment project
is approved. Indeed, most folks think 1st class hotel rooms
go hand-in-hand with a resort town at the beach. Folks feel
the same way about a fun land for families and their children,
public boat docks, spas, a small drug store and a small grocery
store, more restaurants, and an expanded bay center to
host weddings, proms anniversaries, and conventions off season.
Please keep an open mind, and help us
create a family destination point in Dewey Beach that is
not driven and dependent upon the sale of alcohol. In fact,
a large number of folks view Dewey as a college town without
a college due to all of the alcohol driven commercial development
you have today - please help us change this image so that
families have a place in Dewey Beach's public image as well.
Best regards and thank you again,
John Harvey |
