CLNCC Has Long Been Keeping An Eye On The Proposed US 301/SR1 Connector

Catch up on the latest US 301 news with links to past CLNCC essays on the subject:

Will The General Assembly REALLY Risk Our State Transportation Funds On The Bet That US 301 Will Pay For Itself In Tolls?

 (News Journal image)

 

CLNCC To Co-Sponsor DelCOG's 2014 Elected Officials Reception 5:30PM December 1st In Wilmington

Update: yes, it is confirmed that all are welcome Monday night - no prior RSVP will be necessary so come on out!

The Civic League for New Castle County will be a co-sponsor of this year's event! RSVP is due today but I'm sure people will still be welcome at the door. I am checking with John Flaherty on that today.

Delaware Coalition for Open Government

invites you to attend the . . .

2014 Elected Officials Reception

Ed Oliver Golf Club

800 North DuPont Road

Wilmington, Delaware

Monday, December 1, 2014

5:30 – 8 p.m.

Open to the public

Hors d’oeuvres  ~  Cash bar

Nominal charge: $3.00 at the door

All State, County and Municipal officials will be invited

 to attend this “meet and greet” with the public. 

If you wish to attend this years event, please let us know by November 20 

at jdf0000@aol.com   Thank you

Keeping government accessible . . . and accountable

www.DelCOG.org

Proposed NCC Traditional Neighborhood Housing Program To Replace Workforce Housing Legislation

The CLNCC will be discussing a Resolution in opposition to the proposed Traditional Neighborhood Housing Program ordinance as written at our meeting Tuesday night in New Castle. You can read the comments in the CLNCC newsletter November 2014 County Comments 

There is more information posted on the Delaware Way HERE.

And two meetings of interest this week:

At 9AM Tuesday ~

NCC Planning Board Business meeting 9AM Tuesday
New Castle Room Department of Land Use
87 Reads Way
New Castle Corporate Commons
New Castle, DE 19720

2014-0606-T.  To Revise Chapter 40 of the New Castle County Code (also known as the Unified Development Code – UDC), Article 7 (Transfer of Development Rights and Other Incentives and Bonuses) and Article 33 (Definitions) Regarding Elimination of the Current Workforce Housing Regulations.  Ord. 14-108 is a text amendment that will eliminate the current workforce housing regulations.  County Council sponsor: Penrose Hollins. 

2014-0607-T.  To Amend Chapter 40 of the New Castle County Code (also known as the Unified Development Code – UDC), Article 7 (Transfer of Development Rights and Other Incentives and Bonuses) Regarding the Creation of a Traditional Neighborhood Housing Program.  Ord. 14-109 is a text amendment that will create a new traditional neighborhood housing program.  County Council Sponsor: Penrose Hollins.

And 7PM Wednesday ~ Housing Legislation and Transportation proposals discussed

MODERATELY-PRICED HOUSING and

TRANSPORTATION...

YOUR INPUT NEEDED

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7 PM

WILMAPCO Office

850 Library Avenue, Suite 100, Newark

 

The League of Women Voters of New Castle County is hosting the double bill event described below. This event is an opportunity to give voice to your experience in accessing adequate transportation and moderately-priced housing and how your options could be improved. The experience you bring and your comments are important elements in tailoring transportation and moderately-priced housing planning now being proposed.

New legislation is being proposed to increase the supply of Moderately Priced Housing. Presentation of proposal by New Castle County Land Use Department General Manager Eileen Fogarty and County Councilman Penrose Hollins; comments and questions from the public to follow.

WILMAPCO is seeking your feedback on the draft of its 2040 Regional Transportation Plan. WILMAPCO's Heather Dunigan will present the plan; comments and questions from the public will follow.

No advance registration needed.

For directions call WILMAPCO at 302-737-6205 during business hours.

 

Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Pike Creek Golfcourse V. NCC On Deed Restrictions

Good news from Tim Sheldon today! This victory in the courts is welcome news for communities protected with deed restrictions. 

Good morning Concerned Citizens,

 

On November 12, 2014, the Pike Creek Golf Course (formerly Three Little Bakers Country Club) case went before the Delaware Supreme Court after the owners of the golf course filed an appeal following the Superior Court’s ruling.  The case involved the proposed development of the golf course and the property formerly known as The Three Little Bakers. 

 

Yesterday the County received the ruling.  Our office is pleased to announce that the Delaware Supreme Court is in complete agreement with Delaware Superior Court’s opinion.  The County won the case which means the owners of the golf course must adhere to the deed restrictions that were signed between the Pike Creek landowners and the County in 1964 and 1969 which requires 130 acres of open space that could be used as a golf course. 

 

We would like to thank all County staff who worked vigorously on this case.  And a special thanks to County Executive Tom Gordon and former County Executives Chris Coons and Paul Clark.  Also, thank you to everyone for believing in us. 

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tim Sheldon

New Castle County Councilperson

9^th District

 

 

 

MEETING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CVS AT THE EXISTING WHITEMAN’S GARAGE - 7PM December 4th At The Independence School

Attention: Civic groups of New Castle County

 

*this notice is from land use attorney Larry Tarabicos and the meeting has been organized by the applicant*

 

 

MEETING NOTICE  

 

TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CVS AT THE EXISTING WHITEMAN’S GARAGE – CORNER KETCH ROAD AND PAPER MILL ROAD

 

The owners and representatives of the proposed CVS invite you to attend a public meeting which has been organized to discuss the proposed construction of a CVS store on the property presently containing Whiteman’s Garage, located at the intersection of Corner Ketch Road and Paper Mill Road. The purpose of the meeting is to review the Plan for a neighborhood CVS store which has been discussed recently in local focus group meetings. We hope to gather information from the community about this proposal

 

Where: The Independence School  Multipurpose Room 1300 Paper Mill Road 

 

Date: Thursday, December 4, 2014  

 

Time: 7:00 pm

 

 

 

Contact: Sophia Tarabicos
Paralegal
Tarabicos Grosso, LLP
One Corporate Commons
100 West Commons Boulevard
Suite 415
New Castle, DE  19720
W: 302-757-7808
sophia@tarabicosgrosso.com

www.tarabicosgrosso.com
http://www.tarabicosgrosso.com

 

 

CLNCC Monthly Meeting Set For 7PM November 18th In New Castle

The Civic League for New Castle County's November monthly meeting will conduct General Business with a presentation by WILMAPCO.

7PM - Tuesday, November 18, 2014

 

Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety Building
3601 N. DuPont Highway New Castle, DE 19720

Civic League For New Castle County Meeting 7PM Tonight At The Millcreek Fire Hall

Civic League for New Castle County meets 7PM tonight

at the Mill Creek Fire Company Community Room
3900 Kirkwood Highway, Marshallton, DE 
 
AGENDA

What is the Grand Plan?

 

Check Out The CLNCC 2014 Candidate Forum Videos On YouTube!

Civic League for New Castle County

The Civic League for New Castle County has posted the 2014 Candidate Forum Videos On Our YouTube Channel

 

Click HERE

 

 

CLNCC 2014 Candidates' Forum 6:30PM Tomorrow Night - Participants and Schedule of Events

 

 

Schedule of Events

6:30-6:40 Attorney General Introductory Remarks

THEDODORE A. KITTILA - R

CATHERINE DAMAVANDI - G

 

6:40-7:00 STATE REP DIS 3

HELENE M  KEELEY - D 

ROBERT I BOVELL JR - R

7:00-7:20 STATE REP DIS 4 

ROBERT KEESLER  - R

GERALD L BRADY  - D

7:20-7:40 STATE REP DIS 9 

DOUGLAS A CAMPBELL JR  - IOD

KEVIN HENSLEY - R

7:40-8:10 STATE REP DIS 21 

MICHAEL RAMONE - R 

DAVID A  MCCORQUODALE - G

8:10-8:30 STATE REP DIS 22 

JOHN MACKENZIE - D

STEVEN NEWTON - L

 

8:30 - 9  MIXED PANEL

STATE SEN DIS 4

SARAH L BUTTNER - D 

STATE SEN DIS 10

JOHN MARINO - R

STATE REP DIS 2 

STEPHANIE BOLDEN - D

STATE REP DIS 6

KYLE BUZZARD - R

STATE REP DIS 7 

ROBERT WILSON - L

STATE REP DIS 12 

JEFFRY PORTER - D 

STATE REP DIS 15

MATTHEW LENZINI - R

STATE REP DIS 19 

JAMES STARTZMAN - R

CLNCC General Election Candidates Forum 6:30PM Tuesday September 16th At Cranston Heights Fire Company

The Civic League for New Castle County will be holding its General Election Candidates Forum 6:30PM Tuesday September 16th at the Cranston Heights Fire Company at Prices Corner.

All candidates for New Castle County's General Assembly races have been invited.

~*~

Watch The New Castle County Council 3rd District Debate!

CLNCC Videos are up!

New Castle County Council 3rd District in Delaware with incumbent Janet Kilpatrick (R) and primary challenger Michael Protack (R) September 2, 2014 Civic League for New Castle County 2014 Primary Candidates Forum Cosponsored with Greater Hockessin Area Development Assoc. and  Pike Creek Valley Civic League

Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80BqST44olE&index=1&list=PLI3uGLGU8U7B2M4j4aWTyc_PcwCD_T8Gb

Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff6y6A4ZoYc&list=UUTX9ekbofZSAFkAy7OuLaMQ

3rd District NCC Council And 22nd State Rep.Candidates' Debate Set For 6:30 Sept. 2nd In Hockessin!

Update: State House candidates will begin at 6:30 and New Castle County candidates at 7:40PM.

Hockessin Community News Editor Ben Mace Will Moderate The Debate For 3rd Council And 22nd House Races 6:30PM Tuesday

The Civic League for New Castle County, the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association, along with the Pike Creek Valley Civic League, are hosting a candidates' debate on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Hockessin Memorial Hall at 6:30 p.m. 

This year, there are two races that are of interest to residents the greater Hockessin and Pike Creek areas of New Castle County.

These are the County Council 3rd District with Incumbent Janet Kilpatrick (R) and primary challenger Michael Protack (R).

We also have the State Representative 22nd District with Incumbent Joe Miro (R) and primary challenger, Michael Smith (R) of which the winner will face John MacKenzie (D) and Steve Newton (L) in the November General Election.

For the 22nd representative race, we are inviting the declared and filed candidates for the Democrat and Libertarian Parties to participate alongside the Republican primary candidates.

The Civic League for New Castle County (CLNCC) and the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA), along with the Pike Creek Valley Civic League (PCVCL) are sponsoring and hosting a debate on Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m. to take place at the Hockessin Memorial Fire Hall located in downtown Hockessin on Lancaster Pike and Yorklyn Road.

We will have prepared questions available for the candidates and will be taking questions submitted in writing, from the floor, time permitting that evening that are submitted to the moderator panel.

The debate will be moderated by the Hockessin Community News editor Ben Mace. The basic format will be as follows:

6:30 - 7:35 p.m.: 22nd State Representative District

• Opening Comments/Statement - 3 minutes each
• Question and Answer Session - 40-45 minutes
• Candidate's Closing Statement - 3 minutes each

 7:40 - 8:30 p.m.: 3rd County Council District

• Opening Comments/Statement - 3 minutes each
• Question and Answer Session - 30-35 minutes
• Candidate's Closing Statement - 3 minutes each 

There will be strict adherence to time limits so as to keep things moving along smoothly and to afford all candidates equal time to speak and address questions. We believe in civility and courtesy and in having a productive, educational and informative debates.

Save the date!

 

September 2, 2014

 

6:30 - 7:12PM

 

3rd Council District

 

Janet Kilpatrick (R incumbent)

 

Mike Protack (R)

 

 

 

And 7:15 - 8:20PM

 

22nd Representative District

 

 Joe Miro (R incumbent)

 

Michael Smith (R)

 

John MacKenzie (D)

 

Steve Newton (L)

Also plan to come to the

Civic League for New Castle County 
2014 Candidates Forum

September 16, 2014 6:30-9:00 pm.

Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety Building 3601 N. DuPont Highway New Castle, DE 19720

 

Toll Brothers' Appeal Of County-Denied Traffic Impact Study Is Set For 6PM Thursday - NCC Board Of Adjustment

(image)

A friend called and warned that this Toll Brothers appeal Thursday is a very big deal for the future of control over development in New Castle County.

From the August 2014 New Castle County Council Third District newsletter ~

Former Hercules/Delaware National Golf Course property to go before the New Castle County Board of Adjustment

In 2010, a land use application was submitted to develop the remaining portion of the former Hercules/Delaware National Golf Course on Lancaster Pike. According the New Castle County Code, applicants have three years to record a plan or it expires. While the applicant was proceeding through the land use process, they were unable to obtain approval of their Traffic Impact Study by the Land Use Department. As such, their plan expired as Traffic Impact Study approval is required to proceed to record plan stage and without it, the three year timeframe, and all allowing timeframe extensions, were exhausted. 

The applicant has decided to appeal the Land Use Department's decision that the application has expired and that the Traffic Impact Study is not acceptable to the County's Board of Adjustment. This hearing will take place Thursday August 14, 2014 at 6:00 pm in the County Building, 87 Reads Way, New Castle. The County will defend its position that the plan is expired and that the Traffic Impact Study is unacceptable at this hearing. This hearing is open to the public, should you wish to attend.

For some reason the newsletter (sent out by Janet Kilpatrick's aide) neglects to name the applicant. It's Toll Brothers. And county land use documents show that Toll is being represented by John Tracey of YCST and that Greg Pettinaro represents Delaware National's interests.

(Little Falls Village images)

I found a lot of useful background information about the appeal on the Little Falls Village facebook site (note: the appeal was postponed from June 26th to this Thursday, August 14th).

From Little Falls Village ~

Toll Brothers, Inc. is appealing the January 7 Department of Land Use final decision disapproval letter, but we don't know what specifics they will offer until the public hearing. Presumably, they will offer specific changes to their plan to address the specific objections in the disapproval letter, but there were two pages of specifics in that letter ... that's a lot of detail to cover at a public hearing!

They have posted the NCC Land Use Department letter ~

Disapproval of Traffic Impact Study and Expiration of Application

This is the final decision from the Department of Land Use (DoLU) that is being ...appealed at a public hearing on June 26. Note that a DoLU procedure entitled the applicant to file an appeal within 20 working days from the date of this letter. Presumably they did, which resulted in the scheduling of the public hearing. Much of this letter is incomprehensible to lay persons, but after two pages of detailed specifics the conclusion is obvious ... without an acceptable Traffic Impact Study there will be “unacceptable level(s) of service ... on (m)any roadway segment(s) or intersection(s)” within the project’s “area of influence”. A number of roadways and intersections in our immediate area are described ... Little Falls Village residents will recognize them and their problems as we cope with them daily. Because of the inadequacy of the submitted TIS, the applicant's Record Plan submission expired and the applicant's $64,860.00 Record Plan review fee was refunded. See More

Also see ~

The four parcels of land include substantially all that remains of the former Hercules Country Club golf course that has not already been carved out for Little Falls Village, Centerville Point and other parcels such as the stone mansion fronting on Lancaster Pike. That includes the former fairways east of Penn Oak Drive, surrounding Little Falls Village west and south of Beaver Falls Place, across the Red Clay Creek and on both sides of Hercules Road ... over 200 acres covers a lot of ground ... pardon the pun!

The effects on Little Falls Village come from the deterioration of nearby roads and intersections and excessive traffic as described in the above letter rather than direct impact on our neighborhood. Our neighbors presumably understand and expect that Little Falls Village will eventually be surrounded by 'McMansions' similar to what Toll Brothers are building in "Greenville Overlook". They may be large, they may be garish and they certainly are inefficient and unjustifiable for all but the largest families, but most of all ... McMansions are expensive ... and it would be a good thing for property values in Little Falls Village to be immediately adjacent to more expensive properties.

So, if the issues of roads, intersections and traffic can be resolved without transferring the costs to the taxpayers, the effects on Little Falls Village are positive ... in the long-term. Until then, we must deal with inadequate roads and intersections, too much traffic and the temporary inconvenience of construction while McMansions are built around us.  

Here are URL's for the tax parcels ... each links to a map view:
http://www3.nccde.org/parcel/details/default.aspx...
http://www3.nccde.org/parcel/details/default.aspx...
http://www3.nccde.org/parcel/details/default.aspx...
http://www3.nccde.org/parcel/details/default.aspx...

It seems unlikely that the applicant has a chance of overturning the disapproval. What new information could they present since their original application? It seems they are exhausting every option ... spending another $3,000 for a non-refundable application to the Board of Adjustment to appeal the disapproval:
http://www3.nccde.org/Project/Details/Default.aspx...

Delaware National Development Plan

(these images are in black and white above)

This is old information and obsolete information, but it is interesting information. This was the original proposal for the development of 200+ acres of land surrounding Little Falls Village and Centerville Point ... 260+ residences of various types. Residents of Little Falls Village may remember our battle in the early years of this decade to keep the developers from using our neighborhood as a "run through" which resulted in legislative action to maintain our integrity as a neighborhood. Nonetheless, 260+ residences will be an enormous impact on the surrounding roads and intersections ... especially Lancaster Pike at the intersection with Hercules Road and Centerville Road and Centerville Road at the intersection with Red Clay Drive, which is our only access ... not to mention surrounding our neighborhood with McMansions that we must tolerate for their positive impact on our resale values. This plan is what was rejected as inadequate and that rejection will be appealed at a public hearing on June 26 August 14.

And for good measure, here's a link to the 2006 lawsuit Toll filed against DelDOT in Chancery Court objecting to Bond Bill epilogue language instructing DelDOT to purchase Delaware National property to prevent development ~ COURT OF CHANCERY - Justia

And (Community News) Grace Lo Porto reported in 2010 ~

Residents sound off on proposed golf course development

Dozens of residents living near Delaware National Golf Course expressed concern Tuesday over plans to build a 264-home community there.  The project, still in the early planning stages, would involve current owner Pettinaro selling the property to Toll Brothers Inc., who would build the community.  Toll Brothers is already building Greenville Overlook on an adjacent parcel that once was part of the golf course.  A major sticking point with residents is traffic.........Toll Brothers Division President Jeffrey Bartos spoke at length at the meeting. In response to traffic concerns, he said a Traffic Impact Study would be required before approval.  Asked if Toll Brothers would stop development if the study yielded unfavorable results, Bartos said no, the company would instead improve the intersections that had an unfavorable rating and continue with development.   

A second issue centered on the belief that toxic chemicals from the former Hercules Research Center have contaminated the site. According to Hale, there are rumors that Agent Orange was developed at the facility. The research facility was knocked down about two years ago; the area is now vacant, though still fenced in.  Dr. Randall Detra, Associate Professor of Science and Technology at Neumann University, also commented on the facility.  “I’ve seen vapor releases [from the facility] that kill large areas of vegetation and even two-story trees,” he said. “One thing about the [research] site is that they say it’s safe because there’s very little…people around, and that’s going to change if you start building.”   

Other community organizations, such as the Milltown Limestone Civic Alliance (MLCA), have expressed concerns about the pesticides that have been used on the property, and the high levels of chemicals like arsenic that resulted. Bartos has stated that Toll Brothers will be doing a cleanup of pesticide residue at the site similar to what was done at Greenville Overlook. Toll Brothers began a cleanup of contaminated soil there in last September and completed it in November.  Bartos said it was in the company’s best interest to make sure the site was completely safe.  “As a publicly-traded homebuilder, the cardinal rule is ‘Thou shalt not make mistakes,’” he said.

~*~

The Civic League For New Castle County Is Planning A Candidate Forum For September 16, 2014!

Keep an eye out for more information on the Civic League's September Candidate's Forum!

Unfortunately this will be after the September 9th primary, so we won't have a chance to hear from all of the area's candidates before then.

The forum is set for our regular third Tuesday monthly meeting at the Public Safety Building on Rte. 13.

Civic League for New Castle County Monthly Meeting 7PM Tonight

 

Civic League for New Castle County

Meeting Agenda

July 15, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Sweeney Public Safety Building

3601 N. DuPont Highway New Castle, DE 19

Meeting Agenda

- Officers Report

- Treasurer’s Report

- September 2014 Candidates Forum Discussion (Offices, CL Volunteers for event)

New Items and Updates

- Fort du Pont Redevelopment Corp. - Weymouth  

- Briefing on Advocacy Process - Against Proposed UDel / Newark Power Plant -Data Center - Willing  

- Where Will They Park Update - Whitehead 

-  TID / MOA /  TIS - Whitehead  

- Legeslative Session Comments  

- Brief updates from members on guest to alert others to any issues or problems. 

- Additional Community Updates and Issues 

- Other Items 

2014 Meeting Dates 

7PM on the Third Tuesdays of the month  

3601 N. DuPont Highway New Castle, DE 19720

15th July 

16th September 2014 
21st October 2014 
18th November 2014

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

President 

Charles C Stirk Jr.

Vice President

Mark Blake

Vice President

Jordyn Pusey

Treasurer

Scot Sauer

Secretary

Christine Whitehead