Sussex County purchases 165 acres of farmland, forest near Dagsboro

Georgetown, Del., Oct. 1, 2024: Fall's familiar hues of red, yellow, and orange are near, but Sussex County - or at least a piece of it - will be staying green for many seasons to come.

County officials on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, announced the purchase of a 165-acre tract dubbed the 'Layfield property' off Del. Route 20, lying just outside the northwest edge of the Town of Dagsboro. The County is purchasing the property at a cost of $2.65 million from Riverview Associates III LLC, which reduced the sale price by a little more than a half-million dollars.

The purchase is the latest in a series of County acquisitions in recent years aimed at preserving the landscape to ensure Sussex maintains its rural character amid development pressure.

"This is a meaningful investment in Sussex County's future by protecting a piece of its natural and agricultural past," said County Councilman Doug Hudson, whose district includes the parcel. "Constituents repeatedly tell us how much they want to see green and open spaces protected. This purchase certainly helps to satisfy that public priority now, but more importantly, it will ensure we leave something for our children and grandchildren."

County officials said there are no long-term plans as of yet for the parcel, though the County will work with the Sussex County Land Trust, which will manage the property, to develop a future master plan. In the interim, the property - most of it currently in agricultural production - will remain farmland, though some wooded areas may be augmented in the years ahead with a partial reforestation effort, County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said.

Funding for the acquisition comes through the County's portion of realty transfer tax revenue.

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