Community Facilities Committee
Committee Chair: Don Deraska
George Rayburn
FENCES AND GATES
ROADS
Speed Hump Info (updated 3/11/2025)
COMMUNITY DRAINAGE
Personal Presidential note emphasized: if I were dictator, there would be nothing except ground cover (grass or similar) growing between our streets and the homeowner side of each of our drainage ditches except for the possibility of some ornamental plantings in the vicinity of a driveway. Many owners rely on plantings on MBA property to shield their view of things beyond their respective lots. However, may times there are legitimate reasons-usually related to drainage or sightlines at intersections, why such MBA plantings need to be significantly trimmed back, or removed. If there’s something beyond your property lines that you don’t want to see on a regular basis, consider plantings on your own property (and not directly adjacent a ditch).
Errett Road (updated 3/19/25) – planning is underway for April/May 2025 work. See THIS CHART, which shows the anticipated work in front of each property.
Evergreen Road – last year, this street was considered for the next big drainage project due to the large number of corrugated steel pipes under several driveways which are rusting away. In one case, MBA was able to run a smaller diameter ADS pipe through one before it collapsed completely. There are significant obstacles, including landscaping and retaining walls, that are in the way along the existing ditch that will require additional planning and discussion with affected homeowners.
External Drainage – Separately, since (2021??) several members of the Board have been pushing DNREC to improve the flow of water between our community and the Assawoman Canal. We have seen the basics of the plan, which is still being tweaked to avoid underground obstructions-mostly utilities. There is currently a 15″ diameter pipe under Kent Ave which carries water from Short, Bayberry and Errett Roads towards the canal; the plan calls for this to be replace with a 30″ diameter pipe. This is fairly close to the cross section of 6 12″ pipes, which is basically the amount of water that tries to leave the northern half of our community during and after a storm. Additionally, the “tennis club ditch” west of Bridge Road will be replaced with a 30″ diameter underground pipe that (after picking up some other water) flows towards the canal. The plan also calls for a one-way valve that is to keep the Assawoman Canal from backing up into South Bethany and our community during high water events.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Community Facilities Committee (CFC) is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of, and developing plans for improvements to, the common grounds owned by the Middlesex Beach Association. It was formerly named the Public Works Committee, until someone pointed out that there is very little about Middlesex Beach that is Public.
This includes the roadways and associated grass areas, fencing along the highway, the community signs located in the DelDOT median of Coastal Highway, the Guard House, the walkways to the beach, the dune fencing, and, as is stated in the deed to our property, this includes all land “to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean”.
The CFC’s primary concern is functionality, but it works with the Landscaping Committee to make things aesthetically pleasing.
Additionally, the committee has responsibility for the community’s drainage ditches (parts of which are located on individual member property), and the dunes (parts of which are located on individual members property).
None of the various utilities in the community are owned by the MBA.