WHEREAS, Sussex County, the State of Delaware and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, through the endorsement of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for the Inland Bays, have determined that the Inland Bays Watershed is particularly vulnerable to insensitive development, and that past inattention to environmentally sensitive land use planning has contributed to loss of valuable habitat and increased pollution of the area's waterways; and

WHEREAS, House Resolution 32 enacted in the 140^th General Assembly established a working committee (HR 32 Committee) comprised of state, county and local representatives, under the leadership of Representative Shirley Price; and

WHEREAS, the HR 32 Committee was charged with reviewing the Sussex County Comprehensive Plan and land development ordinances, and with making recommendations for implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for the Inland Bays; and

WHEREAS, the HR 32 Committee completed its work; and

WHEREAS, among the HR 32 Committee recommendations was legislation offered in the 140^th General Assembly (HB 626) and again in the 141^st General Assembly (HB 39), the purpose of which was the creation of a process for review of land development actions in the Inland Bays Watershed based on a set of assessments addressing environmental, land use, public facilities and transportation impacts; and

WHEREAS, discussions with stakeholders in the Inland Bays Watershed have focused on the desirability of developing the criteria for the impact assessments prior to enactment of legislation.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 141^st General Assembly of the State of Delaware that the Inland Bays Watershed shall be recognized as a critical area wherein the impacts of future land development must be fully and carefully considered.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a committee to be known as the Assessment Criteria Committee shall be established to examine and make recommendations regarding the appropriate factors to be considered in evaluating potential impacts of future development activities in the Inland Bays Watershed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assessment Criteria Committee shall include a representative of each of the following organizations and agencies: the Secretary or designee of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; the Secretary or designee of the Department of Transportation; the Sussex County Administrator or designee; the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Office; the Sussex County Association of Towns; the Center for the Inland Bays; the Sussex County Association of Realtors; the Home Builders Association of Delaware; and the Delaware Manufactured Housing Association. Additionally, the committee shall include a representative from each of the following professions, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Sussex County Council, such individuals to be properly authorized to and actively engaged in the practice of their profession in the State of Delaware, a registered civil engineer, a registered landscape architect, a certified planner, a registered geologist, a Wetlands Scientist, an Environmental Scientist, and a Commercial or Industrial Land Developer. The Governor shall designate one of the members to serve as the Chair.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair shall call together the Assessment Criteria Committee no later than August 30, 2001. The Office of State Planning Coordination shall assist the Assessment Criteria Committee in its deliberations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that meetings of the Assessment Criteria Committee shall be properly noticed and open to the public.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Assessment Criteria Committee shall deliver its report to the General Assembly no later than February 28, 2002.