NCC Comp Plan Public DRAFT REVIEW Forums: In-Person 4-7PM December 9th; VIRTUAL 6PM December 15th; Comments Due January 12th

What is New Castle County planning for future growh? Don't let the process go on without your input. 

December Comp Plan Draft review meetings links below.

The draft New Castle County Comprehensive Plan (NCC@2050) is available for review and comment. The plan can be downloaded here 

Here is how the public can participate in continuing to shape the final plan:

• December 9^th or 15^th for Public Forum 3: we will be discussing the draft NCC@2050 Comprehensive Plan: Please click on your preferred date and register: 4-7pm December 9th (in-person) and 6-7:30pm December 15^th (virtual).
• Review the draft and submit your comments by January 12: follow this link to the draft NCC@2050 Comprehensive Plan on the web where you can view/download any of the plan chapters and comment by email. (If you or someone you know is not able to access through the web, please contact us and we can get you a printed copy. Email NCC2050@newcastlede.gov or call 302-395-5400.
• Share with others! The plan website has a full range of project highlights and details: NCC2050.NewCastleDE.gov

 

About the draft NCC@2050 Plan

This is what readers will see in the draft plan:

• an introductory overview of the process;
• plan priorities, including a detailed listing of strategies for action;
• the draft future land use map and other associated maps;
• background on the conditions of New Castle County and analysis that informed this planning effort; and
• summaries of the extensive public engagement efforts.
• Some components of the draft are more specific and fully developed than others, especially the case in Chapter B (Plan Priorities and Signature Strategies) and Chapter C (Future Land Use and Implementation). Additional details will be added over the coming months.
• The draft is the result of 11 public meetings, dozens of community and stakeholder meetings, and thousands of website and web survey interactions.

And from MOT Alliance:  

ACTION NEEDED! If you have just five minutes before December 15th, please use this link to submit feedback on NCC’s proposed $30 million affordable housing fund.  

Write just a few sentences in YOUR OWN words of how you’d like to see such a program operate as building occurs in MOT.  

Remember: MOT Alliance represents RESPONSIBLE growth and development, and some of that growth will be affordable housing. Let’s define for our government officials what RESPONSIBLITY they have to make sure that growth promotes quality of life for ALL MOT RESIDENTS. Policies should not incentivize developers unless NCC ensures infrastructure is in place (services like public transit, job accessibility, health and emergency services, etc). Do not copy/paste this text in your submission but use it to influence your own words. Messages that convey racism, classism, and other stereotypes are not tolerated and do not reflect our mission.

 

CLNCC Monthly Public Meeting Set For 7PM Tuesday, November 16th Via ZOOM

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7 p.m. Tuesday, November 16th

ZOOM Program

Topic: CLNCC Zoom Meeting

Time: Nov 16, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8986924710?pwd=YmJMbUhpZlpoMUtGMERqdENCQlk5UT09

Meeting ID: 898 692 4710

Passcode: 12345

NCC Parks Hybrid Town Halls Start 6PM Monday, November 8th In New Castle And Continue Through November 22nd

 

NCC Parks Town Hall

6 - 7:30 p.m. Monday, November 8th

Route 9 Library

3022 New Castle Ave, New Castle, DE 19720

Parks Public Meetings Overview 

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, along with the general manager of the Public Works Department, Tracy Surles, have announced a schedule of public engagement meetings regarding New Castle County parks. 

The town halls will be held in person with limited in-person attendance and a virtual option. The County maintains 249 parks comprising over 6,000 acres of land.

Schedule

Monday, November 8 at the Route 9 Innovation Center & Library 

• In-Person registration
• Zoom Webinar registration

Monday, November 15 at the Bear Library

• In-Person registration
• Zoom Webinar registration

Tuesday, November 16 at the Appoquinimink Library

• In-Person registration
• Zoom Webinar registration

Thursday, November 18 at the Kirkwood Library

• In-Person registration
• Zoom Webinar registration

Friday, November 19 via Zoom Webinar Only

• Zoom Webinar registration

Monday, November 22 at the Claymont Library

• In-Person registration
• Zoom Webinar registration

NOTE TO CE Meyer - you should not conduct these meetings as a way to gather input for the Comprehensive Plan Update (CPU) unless THAT is clearly stated as one of the goals of these public meetings. 

At last Tuesday's Council Land Use Meeting, we heard from DLU GM Rich Hall that here is an Open Space Statement on a Comprehensive Plan Update Priority List that he shared was in the planning document draft (to be publicly revealed at the end of November).

Otensibly, to address this Future Planning Statement Goal, the Comprehensive Planning process would be collecting input on whether county residents want more open space, what kind of open space, how it should be used, and how much of it do New Castle Countians want to pay for

New Castle County Property Reassessment VIRTUAL Meetings Run October 20-28

From WDEL - New Castle, Kent counties to host property reassessment meetings

New Castle County will be hosting a series of meetings, both online and virtually, that start next week. Here's the schedule:

• Wednesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. 67 Reads Way, Gilliam Multipurpose Room | Register Here

• Thursday, October 21 at 2 p.m. 67 Reads Way, Gilliam Multipurpose Room | Register Here

• Thursday, October 21 at 6 p.m. 67 Reads Way, Gilliam Multipurpose Room | Register Here

• Wednesday, October 27 at 6 p.m. 67 Reads Way, Gilliam Multipurpose Room | Register Here (accessibility session with ASL interpreter)

• Thursday, October 28 at 1p.m. 67 Reads Way, Gilliam Multipurpose Room  | Register Here

To access these meetings on Zoom, click here. The webinar ID is  828 8241 0392 while the passcode is 716384. You may also call 312.626.6799 and use the aforementioned webinar ID and passcode.

CLNCC Monthly Public Meeting Set For 7PM Tuesday, October 19th Via ZOOM

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7 p.m. Tuesday, October 19th

ZOOM Program

Civic League for New Castle County  Zoom Meeting
Time: Oct 19, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8986924710?pwd=YmJMbUhpZlpoMUtGMERqdENCQlk5UT09

Meeting ID: 898 692 4710
Passcode: 12345

CLNCC Position on Ordinance 21-036 delivered to the NCC Planning Board 

ATTN: Chairperson Karen Peterson and Members of the NCC Planning Board 

c/o New Castle County Department of Land Use 

87 Reads Way New Castle, DE 19720 

Dear public officials and staff,

 

I write on behalf of the Civic League for New Castle County. Please know we stand opposed to the Council-sponsored NCC Department of Land Use Ordinance 21-036 .  

CLNCC POSITION: Any policy amendment to the 2012 Comp Plan should be done appropriately through the 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update currently underway.

We question why the county would want to incorporate their recent set of subregional masterplan workshop guideline drafts into the decade old 2012 NCC Comprehensive Plan half way through the current 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update (CPU), (NCC2050).

Could one reason be to give legal cover to the secret and private TDR deals that have guaranteed Mr. Capano a public sewer for his two Back Creek properties? 

The 2012 NCC Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map shows the Capano Carter Farm parcel new TDR development proposal as a "New Community Development Area" but it shows the second parcel does not comply with future growth investments. The Capano County Club Estate new TDR development proposal parcel is labeled in the 2012 CPU for "Low Density.." 

Is the motivation of the county in pushing their Ord. 21-036 into the old CPU to retroactively place the second of two Capano properties into the CURRENT existing Furture Growth Map? Is that not corrupt?

Did the residents of this area get a fair shake at contributing to the Southern New Castle County Master Plan (SNCCMP) when that series of workshops were advertized as planning for creation of guidance documents not as actual Comp Plan Update documents? THESE WERE NOT COMP PLAN MEETINGS. The public deserves separate COMP PLAN PUBLIC HEARINGS for the subregional plans.

Additionally, the original SNCCMP DRAFT was issued in December 2019. David Carter submitted twenty pages of comment, questions, and concerns that the county has barely addressed. I would encourage members to review those comments in detail.

Also, in December 2019 the first of the three Port Penn area secret TDR deals was signed off on by NCC CE Matt Meyer. Are we looking at a justification of the secret provision for a free public sewer to Mr. Capano in the West Wing in the county's push for Ord. 21-036 for the reasons noted above? 

.

I attended the Planning Board hearing for Ord. 21-036 which started and ended very late into the evening when many if not most of the people thinking of making public comment had tuned out. 

I appreciate your kind attention today.

Nancy Willing

VP CLNCC

5 Francis Circle, Newark, DE 19711

CLNCC Monthly Public Meeting Set For 7PM Wednesday, September 22nd Via ZOOM

CLNCC Monthly Meeting

7 p.m. Wednesday, September 22nd

ZOOM Program

The Civic League will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 22nd after our long summer break. 

Newly elected President Chuck Stirk will provide the agenda and zoom link shortly - Stay Tuned!

Update:

CLNCC 7PM Wed 22 Sept 2021

Time: Sep 22, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8986924710?pwd=YmJMbUhpZlpoMUtGMERqdENCQlk5UT09

Meeting ID: 898 692 4710

Passcode: 12345 

Oppose Adding The Unvetted Master Plan For Southern NCC To The 2012 Comprehensive Plan - Planning Board ZOOM Hearing 7PM Monday, September 13th

From the MOT Alliance aka West Wing Alliance ~ 

Public Hearing - Planning Board

7 p.m. Monday, September 13th

ZOOM Meeting

JOIN HERE

The NCC Planning Board is a 9 member public board. They will be considering Ordinance 21-036 which would establish the Southern New Castle County (SNCC) community area master plan and roll this into the Comprehensive Development Plan.

The draft SNCC plan was an output after public workshops, but has not had an individual public hearing. West Wing Alliance OPPOSES Ordinance 21-036, on the grounds of the lack of a public hearing on SNCC as a standalone plan that warrants a public hearing given it is the focal point for growth and new developments in our county. If the September 13th public hearing is intended to be the opportunity to give comment on the SNCC plan, then West Wing Alliance opposes the plan as written on the grounds that the infrastructure plans are inadequate to handle the influx of population, there are no plans for incorporating outdoor recreation, the population density is not located closest to the town center to take advantage of libraries, police, fire, etc etc etc.

Please come and voice your concerns with a plan that inundates the West Wing with new developments. In addition, please submit comments to LandUse@newcastlede.gov ahead of time - they will be added to the Public Comments section, seen here:
http://www3.nccde.org/project/details/default.aspx...

ZOOM Webinar log-in beginning at 6:45 P.M.
Log-in information for this meeting is posted below.

When: September 13, 2021 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Planning Board Public Hearing

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84969111786...
Passcode: 183535

Or One tap mobile:
US: +13017158592,,84969111786# or +13126266799,,84969111786#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 849 6911 1786

Note: The Civic League for New Castle County stands opposed to 21-036 for the reasons outlined above.

NCC Council ZOOM Meetings, Tuesday, August 31st, On Septic Ban, TDR Transparency, Flawed Master Plans, Residency Requirements, And More!

 From Councilman Dave Carter - 

The New Castle County Council Land Use Committee Meeting on August 31 at 3 PM and the Regular Council Meeting at 6:30 PM will have several items that significantly impact Southern New Castle County. These items will be discussed in the 3 PM committee meeting and then debated again and voted on during the 6:30 PM Council Meeting.  

These include Ordinance 21-018, making the septic moratorium permanent for any Suburban Zoned Land outside the West Wing and provisions to transfer their TDRs into the west wing, Ordinance 21-050 seeks to make the TDR process more transparent and understandable to the affected public, and Resolution 21-047 for the Plan of Copperleaf at Back Creek.  

And on September 13, the New Castle County Planning Board will consider Ordinance 21-036 to adopt the Southern NCC Master Plan and other master plans into the County Comprehensive Development Plan used to guide land use policy and legislation. 

Information on attending the meetings via Zoom or in-person is available on the agendas at the links below:

NCC Council Land Use Committee Agenda – August 31 at 3 PM

https://www.nccde.org/Agen.../ViewFile/Agenda/_08312021-2222

NCC Regular Council Meeting Agenda – August 31 at 6:30 PM

https://nccde.org/AgendaCe.../ViewFile/Agenda/_08312021-2223

New Castle County Planning Board Meeting – September 13 at 7 PM

https://www.nccde.org/Agen.../ViewFile/Agenda/_09132021-2220

Should you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at David.Carter@newcastlede.gov or Rachel Zara at Rachel.Zara@newcastlede.gov. Or call us at 302-395-8346.  

ORDINANCE NO. 21-018

TO AMEND NEW CASTLE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 40 (ALSO KNOWN AS THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE OR “UDC”), ARTICLE 22 (“DRAINAGE, UTILITIES, SEPTIC SYSTEMS, PARKING, LOADING, AND LIGHTING”), REGARDING ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT (SEPTIC) SYSTEMS.

SYNOPSIS: This amendment strikes the expiration date of August 26, 2021, from Section 40.22.320.D.

This ordinance makes septic moratorium permanent for areas not on sewer limiting Suburban Zoned land outside the west wing to no more than four lots, directing all growth to the proposed new sewer area in west wing growth zone. It also provides provisions for those outside the west wing to utilize Transfer of Development Rights to send additional development rights to the west wing.  

ORDINANCE NO. 21-050

TO AMEND NEW CASTLE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 40 (“UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE”), ARTICLE 7 (“TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND OTHER INCENTIVES AND BONUSES”) RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS SENDING AND RECEIVING AREA MAPS

SYNOPSIS: This Ordinance provides for a public process for the development of transfer of development rights eligibility maps that are proposed to be developed and adopted as part of the New Castle County Comprehensive Plan. It also provides a market analysis be done to better understand the potential number of units that might be transferred by the private-market or with County incentives. It requires that these maps then be adopted after hearing from the Planning Board and County Council.   

ORDINANCE NO. 21-036

TO AMEND THE 2012 COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A NEW COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN ELEMENT AND AMEND THE SEWER SERVICE AREA MAP AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN AREAS.

SYNOPSIS: This Ordinance adds a Community Master Plan element to the Comprehensive Development Plan, including specific plans for the North Claymont, Route 9, Concord Pike (US 202) and Southern New Castle areas associated amendments to the Future Land Use Map and an associated amendment to Sewer Service Areas (Map 5-1).

And from the MOT Alliance aka West Wing Alliance ~ 3PM Public Comment - Land Use Committee Meeting

The Land Use Committee Meeting begins at 3PM. Public comment is towards the end of the meeting, after the "Review/Discussion".

There are two ordinances our community may find important to give public comment on. Even if you speak for 2 minutes and say why you do/do not support the ordinances, it becomes a formal record. Getting many voices on record is very important!

Ordinance 21-018: removing the expiration date from the "septic moratorium" which essentially makes it permanent, meaning all new subdivision developments in our area MUST be on sewer, which will ultimately drive higher density housing. West Wing Alliance would like council to vote AGAINST this ordinance.

Ordinance 21-050: increasing transparency to the TDR process (Transfer of Development Rights) which would require changes to development plans such as what we observed with Carter Farms and Country Club Estates to go through a review and public comment. West Wing Alliance would like council to vote FOR this ordinance.

Zoom link is the following document:
https://www.nccde.org/Agen.../ViewFile/Agenda/_08312021-2222

Zoom link directly:
https://zoom.us/j/377322142 

Recommendation for giving public comment:

• the perspectives on "transparency",
• the wrongful claims of the detailed requirements for mapping that is not in the legislation that only asks to map "eligibility maps"
• the discussion of the need for a market analysis
• the discussion on backroom deals (not that the TDR agreements affecting you were done through confidential legal settlements, facilitated by the County who made a guarantee for sewer service within one year).
• the argument to consider TDRs through the Comp. Plan process, not legislation, while the Administration is pressing legislation restrictions on septic and funding sewer without first having a comp. plan that has gone through the State and County full approval process with public hearings. Why one process for the things they don't like, and another more immediate process for the things they do like. 

The discussion around Ordinance 21-089, a Residency Requirement for certain NCC Executive appointees should be interesting - Finance Committee meeting is at 5:00 p.m. Agenda HERE and will include discussions around Library and Housing funds' allocations.

ORDINANCE NO. 21-089 

°21-089: TO AMEND NEW CASTLE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 26 (“HUMAN RESOURCES”), ARTICLE 1 (“IN GENERAL”), SECTION 26.01.003. (“RESERVED”) REGARDING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN COUNTY EMPLOYEES. Introduced by: Mr. Carter, Ms. Durham

Brandywine Country Club Development ZOOM Public Meeting 5:30PM Thursday, September 2nd

 

From NCC President Karen Hartle-Nagle -

You Are Invited to an Open Public Information Panel for the Proposed Brandywine Country Club Development. Thursday, September 2nd, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Panelists:

• New Castle County Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle
• New Castle County Councilwoman Dee Durham
• New Castle County Department of Land Use
• State Senator Kyle Gay
• State Representative Debra Heffernan
• Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDot)
• Brandywine School District Superintendent Linc Hohler
• Capano Organization Representative

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Please click the link below to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88564653352?pwd=QTUxbGFhMEEzVFd1Qm9aWnVFSVdkQT09&fbclid=IwAR14QKd7eNGPpEMi0KL4H_DWUoUos3DfUKSpXcM-3O_p3AUn5ElivLt4fBs#success 

Or visit https://www.nccde.org/calendar.aspx?CID=38. 

County Comments: 2022 NCC Comp Plan, S-Zoning, Secret TDRs, Pike Creek Golf Course Update, Board Of Adjustment Mishaps And Civic Engagement

Catch up on the latest County Comments from the Civic League for New Castle County - What is Matt Meyer's Land Use Department up to? It isn't pretty and it is pissing people off.

Communities are organizing to try to impact the trajectory of the Meyer Comprehensive Planning initiative to include zoning category reforms so other neighborhoods won't experience the problems they are facing during the growth projected over the next 30 years for the southern part of the county.

And the evidence points to very much needed reforms for the Board of Adjustment.

Click HERE to Read CLNCC County Comments Summer 2021