Rehoboth Beach, Delaware has been a wonderful vacation venue for members of our family for more than 60 years. The allure is diminishing.
Like Sussex County, in which it is located, growth and more growth seem to be the guiding planning principles. As I wrote more than four months ago complaining about the ugly transformation of Middletown, DE in New Castle County, I see only commercial and residential development gone awry, seemingly unchecked, in our once favorite beach town.
Build and they will come. That seems to be the mantra.
My wife and I spent three days in Rehoboth Beach last week, finding ourselves incredulous about the number of people on the beach in early May and the number of cars on Route 1 leading into and out of this beach city. The shopping outlets continue to be immensely popular in a state already popular for its lack of a sales tax. Traffic in the summer months is horrendous.
Since this is my second rant about runaway development in the First State, readers may conclude that I am anti-development, anti-change and just plain cranky about our neighbor to the north. Not so.
I simply see no planned development, no thoughtful strategy. Farmland continues to vanish in the face of commercial and residential development. Does anyone care?
Rehoboth Beach has always been special to our family. We feel comfortable there. We have celebrated numerous special occasions at this beach resort. And it is so convenient to Easton.
Our new plan is this: visit Rehoboth Beach only in the fall and early spring. That’s too bad.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in political science and journalism and a master of science degree in strategic intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College.
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Jacques Baker says
Keep on ranting, Howard!
J
John Pierson says
Like Howard, I too am sadden by tricky tacky T-Shirt shops with printed phrases on the front of the clothing that would make a sailor blush, and unrestrihed commercial development in our beloved Rehoboth. The Town is turning “ugly”…..and those of us who have been coming here for generations will only have memories of yesteryear . Just come off season…..nope…..maybe not at all!!