Small victory for local residents protesting senior living development

Rehoboth beach residents braved the cold to let their voices be heard chanting, "Read our letters…Read our letters….Read our letters."

They are all homeowners in the three developments along Shuttle Road in Rehoboth Beach. We're told they wrote over 40 letters to Sussex County Council voicing their concerns about the development of the Truitt Farm senior living community project.

They claim the protest is the result of their letters going unanswered.

"We're not opposed to the homes, we expected that, but in the middle of the homes, embedded in the middle of a completely residential neighborhood, they're trying to put a three-story 43-foot building for assisted living," exclaims Shuttle Road resident Renee Kinney.

Renee Kinney tells 47 ABC she came to protest rezoning saying the development project will negatively affect the daily lives of all who live in the surrounding communities, specifically because of increased traffic flow.
 
She explains, "It will increase our traffic by 900 vehicles a day we already can barely get out of our community."

Pictures from one resident shows how the construction is going on right in their backyards and according to locals, this is not what was first agreed upon.

Local Shuttle Road resident, Theo Braver, tells us when they first introduced the senior living homes it was just 90 single family homes for folks 55 and older.

Although, plans show this three story building covers two and a half acres.

Braver says, "If it was a retail shop they close at five or six, you have some quiet. This is 24 hours day with ambulances, sirens, you know food delivery trucks at 4 a.m. Whether its linens being delivered or shuttle buses taking the people places."

Although these protesters managed to delay the rezoning approval they say they'll continue to fight the development plans until it's completely off the table.

The Sussex County council plans to revisit the development plan on January 23rd.