Sussex County Council approved a new produce and meat market for Route 113 outside Georgetown at the afternoon session of its Tuesday, Feb. 2, meeting.
Curtis McDonald has worked as a butcher for nearly 28 years. Now, he and his family want to start their own business providing produce and fresh-cut meat to customers in Sussex County.
Until recently, McDonald worked as a butcher for SuperFresh. During the Feb. 2 Sussex County Council meeting, McDonald's plans for a produce and meat stand on Route 113, south of Halfinger Road (Road 625), were approved. The less than 1-acre site has served commercial uses in the past, including a flea market and motorcycle shop. It lies across the highway from Wilson's Auction and is surrounded by other commercial/retail operations, said Mark Davidson of Milton-based Design Consultants Group, representing the application.
The plan was recommended by approval by the county planners because it promotes local agriculture and is a desirable new business for the county. The new market will create about eight new jobs and will operate seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The property currently has an unoccupied shack and cement curbs and an island on it. McDonald also rents it out. The new site plan will remove the shack and the cement barriers and create a new entrance, which has been approved by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) because the new plan is more desirable than what currently exists, said Davidson.
DelDOT has also requested the creation of a multi-use path along Route 113 for pedestrian traffic. McDonald plans to build a new 4,000 square-foot building to be set farther off the highway than the current structure. He will also have a new wastewater system installed. Dan McClain, who lives next to the property, said the new plans look like an improvement for the property.
"It would be nice to see that shack on the roadway go away," said McClain.
No one spoke in opposition to the project and the council approved the plan unanimously. Councilman Sam Wilson was absent. "It seems like it will be a good use of the property," said Councilman Mike Vincent.
The final plan must be approved by county planners.
