Coastal Point — January 9, 2026

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Sports

Splash

Freeze

Unified team tops Cape on the hardwood

Bethany revelers splash into new year

Fenwick Freeze draws dedicated crowd

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JANUARY 9, 2026

THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

Volume 23, Issue 2

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Millsboro opts not to pursue moratorium By Laura Walter Staff Reporter After a long debate and public input, Millsboro Town Council voted to stop considering a six-month moratorium on new development. Technically they hadn’t even drafted legislation, but with early public input on Jan. 5, the majority of council felt that a moratorium was not the best way to anticipate Delaware

Frankford officials take a look at sign regs

General Assembly’s potential actions on affordable housing. In fact, many feared it would put a target on Millsboro’s back, especially since no mandates have been enacted yet. They voted 4-2 to stop pursing this moratorium, (Matt Davis absent), with dissent from Marty Presley and Mayor Bob McKee, who argued, “A six-month break is not going to stop the wheels of progress.”

Councilmember Presley had suggested a six-month moratorium on new housing permits for projects of 10 houses or more. This would exclude: commercial projects; projects already in the pipeline with preliminary site plan approvals; and projects of nine homes or less. He proposed this moratorium in response to the State’s legislative discussions and potential for housing

mandates. The goal was to give the Town “time to understand … any actions they may take against town rule. What it’s not is any attempt to limit affordable housing. In fact I think it’s just the opposite. It would allow time to clarify what affordable housing looks like in Millsboro. We don’t have that information right now.” Six months See MORATORIUM page 4

That’s a little... intimidating

By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter Frankford’s Town Council this week took steps to tighten up its sign regulations, largely to set up different regulation for highway businesses versus those “in town.” The extensive changes were recommended to the council following evaluation by the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission as well as its engineering consultant, AECOM. They also include the addition of definitions of terms not previously included or defined in the town’s sign ordinance, ranging from “animated sign” to “window sign.” The revised ordinance was passed unanimously at the Tuesday, Jan. 6, Town Council meeting following a public hearing during which no public comments were made. It lays out separate regulations for businesses zoned General Commercial in town limits along Route 113. These include limiting the number of signs to two per business unit or other non-residential unit. The new regulations also Special to the Coastal Point • Theresa M. Yanick

See FRANKFORD page 3

An encroaching snow squall in Bethany Beach on New Year’s Day made for a spectacular sunrise show.

Hudson, Rieley re-elected to County leadership positions By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Sussex County Council President Doug Hudson and Vice President John

Rieley were unanimously re-elected to those positions by Council at the Tuesday, Jan. 6, meeting. Council also reappointed County Attorney J. Everett Moore Jr. and Assis-

tant County Attorney Vince Robinson. County Administrator Todd Lawson told Council it’s customary for officers to be elected, and appointments made, at the beginning of each calendar year.

Council approved amending the Rules of Procedure to include a new

See COUNTY page 4


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