Maintenance Corporation Work-Shop 1PM June 11th And New AG Homeowner Organization Ombudsman Position In The Works

New Castle County Executive Office

Maintenance Corporation Work-Shop

Please take notice that the New Castle County Executive Office will hold a work-shop onWednesday, June 11, 2014, 1:00 pm (SHARP) at the Gilliam Building Multipurpose Room.

Agenda

Introduction: Inform the roles and responsibilities of Maintenance Corporations in New Castle County. 

Transferring Control of the Maintenance Corporation to the Homeowners 

Transferring title of the open space 

Governing Documents 

Assessments (Maintenance dues) 

Legal Transfer 

BREAK 

Tax Status 

Finances 

Members’ Rights 

Corporate Resolutions 

Liability for Acts or Omissions of the Governing Body 

Governing Body: Power and Duties; Authority 

BREAK 

Open Space 

Maintenance Responsibilities 

Storm water Management Facilities 

Community Maintenance Responsibilities 

Organization Annual Registration 

If there are any questions regarding this agenda, please contact Steve Burg Executive Office at 395-5057.

Also, Melanie George Smith's HB 308 (House Bill # 308 w/HA 1, HA 2, HA 3, HA 4) is fast-tracking itself through the General Assembly without much attention. It sailed through two House committees and drew a floor vote before the break and is scheduled to be heard in tomorrow's Senate Community/County Affairs Committee hearing at 1:30PM. 

Meanwhile, Paul Baumbach sent this along ~ 

MEMORANDUM
To: Members of the House Housing and Community Affairs Committee
From: Mark J. Cutrona, Deputy Director of the Division of Research
Date: May 14, 2014
Re: Definition of Common Interest Community 

QUESTIONS PRESENTED
1. Is there a uniform definition of a common interest community?
2. What qualifies as a common interest community? 

DISCUSSION
The definition of the term “common interest community” contained within House Bill
308 is taken from the Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (DUCIOA). In
DUCIOA, “common interest community” is defined as follows:
“real estate described in a declaration with respect to which a person, by virtue of
that person's ownership of a unit, is obligated to pay for a share of real estate
taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance, or improvement of or services or other
expenses related to common elements, other units or other real estate described in
that declaration. Common interest community does not include a campground
which is subject to Chapter 28 of Title 6 or those arrangements described in § 81-
224 of this title. „Ownership of a unit‟ does not include holding a leasehold
interest in a unit of a stated term of less than 20 years in a unit, including renewal
options.”1
The definition is all encompassing and is intended to apply to any real estate referenced in a
declaration2 and for which the owner has to pay their share of real estate taxes, insurance
premiums, maintenance, or other expenses related to common elements, including open space,
pools, and storm water management systems, described in a declaration.
1 § 81-103(11), Title 25 of the Delaware Code.
2 A declaration is defined by § 81-103(17), Title 25 of the Delaware Code. Essentially, it is a contractual document that creates a common interest community by referencing the real estate subject to the declaration and setting out that owners are required to pay for common elements.
This definition creates uniformity by including all entities that are (1) created by declaration and (2) obligate an owner to pay for expenses related to common elements referenced within the declaration. Furthermore, this definition allows for a concept that can be applied statewide, despite other names given to these entities by county or municipal governments or the terms of the declaration itself.
As a result, this definition includes condominiums,3 maintenance corporations, and home owners associations provided that these entities are (1) created by declaration and (2) obligate an owner to pay for expenses related to common elements referenced within the declaration. This definition would not include a civic organization, as civic organizations are generally not created by declarations and intended to obligate owners of property to pay for common elements. 

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the term “common interest community” in House Bill 308 is connected to a definition in DUCIOA. This term uniformly applies to those entities, however named, that are (1) created by declaration and (2) obligate an owner to pay for expenses related to common elements referenced within the declaration.
3 Condominiums are specifically defined as a common interest community by § 81-103(12), Title 25 of the Delaware Code.

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY Monthly Meeting 7PM Tonight In New Castle

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Monthly meeting 7PM tonight in New Castle

General Business Meeting

Location:
Paul J. Sweeney
Public Safety Building
3601 N. DuPont Hwy
(Route 13)
New Castle, DE

New Castle County Regional Community May Meetings - Check The Schedule!

 

New Castle County to Hold New Round of Regional Community Meetings

New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon invites residents to attend one of four regional, community meetings scheduled to take place in early to mid-May. These meetings will highlight advances made by the County in public safety, technology, land use, and assessment.

“As part of our open government platform, it is important for us to regularly keep our citizens informed about County operations and services,” County Executive Gordon. “Public Safety Director Joe Bryant and Community Governing assistant Stephanie Rizzo have worked hard to schedule these meetings in four different areas for your convenience."

Presentations for the community meetings include:

• Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi on GIS Mapping and the NCC Website 

• Land Use General Manager Eileen Fogarty on Strategic Planning for NCC 

• Property Assessment Services Manager Doug Sensabaugh on over 65 exemptions  

• Police briefing on burglaries and property crimes

Upcoming Regional Community Meeting Dates: All meetings will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

• May 5, 2014 – Claymont Community Center, 3301 Green Street, Claymont, DE 

• May 8, 2014 – Millcreek Fire Hall, 3900 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 

• May 14, 2014 – Appoquinimink Library, 651 N. Broad Street 19709, Middletown, DE 

• May 15, 2014 – Gilliam Building, 77 Reads Way, New Castle, DE

Civic League For New Castle County Monthly Meeting - 7PM At The Bear Library

Civic League for New Castle County monthly meeting ~

General Business meeting 

Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 7:00 PM

At the Bear Library

101 Governor's Place, Bear DE, 19701

The Politics of Free Speech: FOIA & Open Government in Delaware Panel Discussion In Lieu Of The CLNCC March Meeting

Reminder

March Newsletter HERE

The Civic League for New Castle County March monthly meeting is joined tonight with the

 Delaware Press Association and Delaware Coalition for Open Government 

The Politics of Free Speech: FOIA and Open Government in Delaware? 

During Sunshine Week each year we focus on the fight for open government. This fight is not easy; it has gone on for more than a thousand years. But unless citizens remain vigilant and are willing to take a stand for their "right to know," it all too easily can come to an end.

Join members of the Delaware Press Association and the Delaware Coalition for Open Government at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, to hear our distinguished panelists discuss the politics of open government, free speech, and government accountability in Delaware.

Welcome: DPA President, Mark Fowser

Opening Remarks: DelCOG President, John Flaherty

THE PANEL

Moderator

Chris Carl, Director of News and Programming, WDEL 1150-AM

Panelists

The Hon. Greg Lavelle, Delaware State Senator and Minority Whip (R-Sharpley)

The Hon. John Kowalko, Delaware State Representative (D-Newark South)

Jason Staib, Deputy Attorney General, State of Delaware

Jon Starkey, Government and Politics Reporter, The News Journal

Patrick Sweet, Data Journalist, The News Journal (on Tumblr at patmsweet.com)

In this public conversation about exercising our "right to know" – a cornerstone of democracy – the panelists will explore topics such as:  

• What is the state of open government in Delaware?
• How well does the Freedom of Information Act work in the First State?
• What tools do we need to effectively fight for government accountability and for better protection for working journalists? 

We like to say that we have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. What are the consequences of having a government that is not open to the people?

RSVP closed March 16
Widener University School of Law
Ruby Vale Moot Court Room
4601 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE
 

Catch The WDEL Video Of CLNCC February Guest Speaker DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt

WDEL 1150AM - VIDEO - Jim Hilgem reports: Bhatt talks transportation with New Castle County Civic League

www.wdel.com

The gas tax, snow removal and upcoming highway projects were all discussed by Secretary Bhatt and Civic League members. Bhatt says half of the proposed gas tax will be used to manage the state's remaining debt service. "We'll be down at the end of this fiscal year to about $850 million. So we've reduced the debt by about 30%, which is a big deal. And because our debt is down 30% we've actually freed up about $25 million a year," says Bhatt.
 
He says the budget includes some $3 million to add sidewalks around the state. Bhatt adds that thanks to the state's investment DART paratransit service is the best in the country. "It costs us $50 million a year to provide paratransit in the state. And that is for about 8,000 riders. We provide transit like nobody else does, better than any other state or transit agency," Bhatt says.
 
Bhatt was presented with a Civic League proposal which suggests a way DelDOT could add some $50 million to its coffers by taxing oil offloaded at the Great Stone Anchorage near Bowers Beach.

The Civic League 2007 Buck a Barrel Resolution ~ 

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY RESOLUTION WHEREAS: Governor Minner has proposed a 5 cent per gallon additional tax on gasoline sold in Delaware, starting on September 1, 2007; and
WHEREAS: The Controller General's Office has projected estimated revenues from such a tax at $23.4 million in FY 2008 and $28.6 million in FY 2009; and
WHEREAS: The Great Stone Anchorage in the Delaware Bay is reputedly the only sheltered east coast port between Maine and Texas capable of accommodating oil tankers with drafts as large as 55 feet; and
WHEREAS: Lightering of such tankers - - transfer of bulk product to barges or tankers of lesser draft to deliver product to refineries on the Delaware River and elsewhere on the eastern seaboard - - has been ongoing at the Great Stone Anchorage since before the June 28, 1971 effective date of Delaware's Coastal Zone Act (CZA); and
WHEREAS: Corporate entities involved in such lightering have never been granted CZA permits, and only one such entity (Maritrans) has been granted an Air Quality permit covering the activity; and
WHEREAS: In 2005, Maritrans requested an increase in the maximum amount of lightering permissible under its Air Quality permit(1) beyond the 100 million barrel ceiling (12 month rolling average basis) then permissible; and
WHEREAS: Imposing a $1 per barrel tax on oil lightered at Great Stone Anchorage would produce revenues in the neighborhood of $100 million per year; and
WHEREAS: Since a barrel of crude oil produces about 26 gallons of gasoline (along with other hydrocarbons), a $1 per barrel tax on lightered oil would have an impact on the price of gasoline no larger than 4 cents per gallon; and
WHEREAS: Because the revenues from such a tax would be spread over more than just Delaware, a tax of $1 per barrel of oil (less than 4 cents/gallon on gasoline) would produce more than three times as much Delaware revenue as the 5 cent per gallon additional tax proposed by Governor Minner.
NOW THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED BY CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY THAT
A tax no smaller than $1 per barrel of oil lightered at Great Stone Anchorage in the Delaware Bay be imposed with an effective date no later than September 1, 2007 and that the first $1 per barrel of such revenue be earmarked for Delaware's Transportation Trust Fund.
ADOPTED (in concept) without dissent
General Membership Meeting of May 15, 2007And read the CLNCC February 2014 Newsletter HERE

Articles:

• Questions for DelDOT

• Workforce Housing Debate

• Fogerty's Approach to Planning

DelDOT Guest Speaker Is Secretary Bhatt For Civic League's February Meeting - 7PM Tuesday In New Castle

Come out and hear DelDOT Secretary Bhatt's Presentation At The CLNCC Monthly Meeting Set For 7PM Tuesday In New Castle

Next Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 18
7:00 pm 

Location:
Paul J. Sweeney
Public Safety Building
3601 N. DuPont Hwy
(Route 13)
New Castle, DE 

Agenda

Come out to hear and ask any questions you may have for the DelDOT guest speaker at Tuesday's meeting!

Also:

The February 2014 edition of the "County Comments", the Newsletter of the Civic League for New Castle County, is now available for viewing and for printing directly from our website: http://www.civicleagueforncc.org/cc/14-02-cc.pdf 

Also, previous editions, dating back to April 2002 of the "County Comments" are available here: http://www.civicleagueforncc.org/cc/cl_high.html 

Access more information about the Civic League for New Castle County from the main page: www.civicleagueforncc.org

Update: CLNCC Monthly Meeting Tonight Is Rescheduled For 7PM January 30th In New Castle

__________________

The Civic League for New Castle County's meeting for this month has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 30th @ 7:00 at the Gillian Building, 77 Reads Way, New Castle, DE, 19892 .

________________ 

**Tonight's MEETING is CANCELED**

Due to poor weather conditions

__________________________________ 

 

 The Civic League For New Castle County 

 Guest Eileen Fogarty, NCC Dept. of Land Use

Ms Fogarty has taken on the challenge of repairing the UDC and upgrading our planning and zoning for the future development of this County.  She has many years of experience, many awards on her resume, and a national reputation as an inspired planner.  She has formed opinions about our current circumstances that you may wish to hear. 

Please take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts with one of the most powerful women in this State. It is your future she will help shape.

 TUESDAY, JANUARY 21st 

7:00 P.M. 

 NCC PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, DuPont Highway (Rt. 13)

Join The Civic League For New Castle County And Guest Speaker State Treasurer Chip Flowers 7PM Tuesday, November 19th

State Treasurer Chip Flowers will be the guest speaker at our monthly meeting 7PM Tuesday, November 19th in New Castle:
 

Next meeting: Tuesday November 19, 2013 at 7:00 PM

Location: Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety Building 3601 N. DuPont Hwy (Route 13) New Castle, DE Get Map

CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Join Us For The October CLNCC General Business Meeting 7PM Tuesday In New Castle

Civic League for New Castle County Monthly Meeting Set For 7PM Tuesday October 15th In New Castle

Join us!

Civic League for New Castle County's

Monthly Meeting 

 7PM Tuesday October 15th

at the Public Safety Building

3601 North DuPont Highway

Agenda

General Business Meeting

 http://www.civicleagueforncc.org/

The October 2013 newsletter of the New Castle County Civic League includes a letter from Charlie Weymouth, a Resolution from Vic Singer about DelDOT and the county's flagrant disregard for the state law, and an Arbour Park Civic Association communique on the Data Centers LLC Power Plant: http://www.civicleagueforncc.org/cc/13-10-cc.pdf

And don't miss it! State Treasurer Chip Flowers will be CLNCC's November 19th guest speaker.

Public Advocate David Bonar Is The Guest Speaker For CLNCC's September Monthly Meeting

Meet Delaware's Public Advocate At the CLNCC's Monthly Meeting Set For 7PM September 17th At Prices Corner

Join the Civic League for New Castle County in welcoming Delaware's Public Advocate, David Bonar, as guest speaker at our next monthly meeting!

The CLNCC will meet September 17th at 7PM at the Cranston Heights Fire Company on the Kirkwood Highway, Prices Corner (next to Sears) in the Chiefs' 2nd Floor Meeting Room. Access to the meeting room is at the back of the Fire House, away from Kirkwood Hwy.

http://www.civicleagueforncc.org/

---

 Delaware Division of the Public Advocate Outreach

The Division of the Public Advocate is the Delaware agency that advocates on behalf of consumers on utility issues.
The Division of the Public Advocate is reaching out to consumers to provide information about electricity issues and rates, and ways consumers can save money on electric bills.

Catch Chuck Mulholland's Interview With WDEL's Al Mascitti On Workforce Housing Accountability

Did Then NCC Executive Coons' Community Services Department Improperly Exclude Low And Very Low Income Units From Master Workforce Housing Agreements? 

 (Chuck Mulholland - News Journal image)

Some background ~ 

Penrose Hollins' 2007 Workforce Housing Ordinance 07-150

2011 DREC Sellers Disclosure Form

Delaware Way's WFH posts

Chuck Mulholland's Update on Workforce Housing in the Civic League for New Castle County's June 2013 newsletter.

For The Civics, The Clock Is Ticking On Affordable Housing Accountability From New Castle County

Kavips' 2008 post: A Tale of Two Meetings

Here's the sign in the front yard of Chuck's Vance Neck Road home ~ 

And here's Chuck's July 2013 WDEL interview on Workforce Housing ~

WFH PODCAST: Al Mascitti Civic activist Chuck Mulholland on problems with New Castle County's "workforce housing" ordinance (7/17)

http://wdel.com/features/0717mulholland.mp3

This is a fascinating interview. Chuck doesn't hold anything back, accusing the county and developers of Hypocrisy, Trickery and Deceit. Mascitti agrees saying "the complete botch that is the county's so-called WFH that was a stalking horse all the way through." Make pretend that housing for the public sector is soooooo expensive and set up special circumstances so developers could evade zoning rules.

Yup. That sums it up. Development attorneys like Pam Scott authored the WFH code for their benefit and NCC Council didn't even blink. WFH was sold as the end-all be-all for affordable housing but the evidence clearly shows that it isn't what has happened. 

The Gordon administration's investigation of WFH has found that only one Workforce Housing unit has actually been sold. EVER. In addition none have even been advertised as Workforce Housing projects. EVER.

How did this happen? Chuck points to contradictory language in WFH code for income levels.

In writing WFH plan contracts, NCC Community Services' selection of moderate and low income (UDC sec. 40.07.312) instead of low and or very low incomes (UDC sec. 40.07.321) reveals what appears to have been a level of discrimination against the very low income and low income households. 

Chuck writes "the language contained in the individual plan contracts (UDC sec. 40.07.341) for Bayberry North, the Ponds of Odessa, and High Hook, for instance, calls for only moderate income dwellings to be constructed". The selection of that section of the code for the creation of these plans is not supported by "the wording of UDC sec. 40.07.311A - compliance with all provisions of this Division - which would not permit such exclusion." 

Plus, the wording of UDC sec. 40.07.311B - that Any plan submitted pursuant to this division only shall be considered vested at the time of application - precludes any variance from the original Ordinance #07-150 as written, adopted and signed.

So there you have it. Currently, NCC has WFH plans with vastly increased density granted WITHOUT ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO SHOW FOR IT.

Meanwhile, New Castle County was unable to answer Chuck's FOIA (below). The Department of Community Services could not justify how they contracted Master Workforce Housing Agreements that gave density bonuses for moderate income-only priced housing for those WFH plans vested under code allowing density bonuses only for low and very low income-priced housing.

It is difficult not to conclude that the county's Community Services Department under Coons (presumably by then department manager, Anne Farley) improperly approved contracts for WFH developments to allow for moderate-only priced housing when the code these plans were vested under allow for only low and very low WFH pricing. And it's Tom Gordon's mess to clean up.
The unanswered FOIA ~

Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 10:23 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information request, contracts and agreements signed under 40.07.341
To: ccasey@nccde.org, SLGuy@nccde.org

New Castle County Department of Community Services

via email

RE: Freedom of Information request, contracts and agreements signed under 40.07.341 for the following projects / developments:

Regarding the following New Castle County Department of Land Use Projects numbered and titled as follows:

application 2007-0421, Marra Landing, agreement 20100128-004683 as filed with the Recorder of Deeds, signed by New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer Rick Gregory on 01/27/10, with page 1 , paragraphs 5 & 6, reading, in part, low and moderate income households;

application 2008-0804, Goldsborough Farm, agreement 20100804-0040615 as filed with the Recorded of Deeds, signed by New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer Rick Gregory on 07/29/10, with page 1, paragraphs 5 & 6  reading, in part, low and moderate income households;

application 2007-0438 , High Hook, agreement 20111024-0064361 as filed with the Recorder of Deeds, signed by New Castle County Executive Paul G. Clark on 10/10/11, with page 1, paragraphs 5 & 6  reading, in part,  moderate income households;

application 208-0917 , Ponds of Odessa, agreement 20110728-0042210 as filed with the Recorder of Deeds, signed by New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer Gregg Wilson on 07/28/11, with page 1, paragraphs 5 & 6  reading, in part,  moderate income households;

application 2008-0829 , Village of Bayberry North, agreement 20091228-0081362 as filed with the Recorder of Deeds, signed by  New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer Rick Gregory on 12/28/09, paragraphs 4 & 5  reading, in part,  moderate income households.

Given that each of these agreements lists the ordinance ( substitute 1 for Ordinance 07-150, adopted by New Castle County Council on 2/26/08 ) under which these agreements and applications were made to and by New Castle County Department of Land Use and the Department of Community Services, I am seeking the legal basis for the income levels cited and listed in these above  agreements, given the wording of 40.07.321 A & B as contained in Ordinance 07-150,ie low and or very low income households, and also the wording of 40.07.311 B, ie applications vested..

I also note that the term moderate income households does not appear in any density bonus section in Ordinance 07-150, and does not appear in an approved New Castle County Workforce Housing Ordinance until February 2009, as listed in Ordinance 08-121, and thus not appearing to apply to any of the above listed plans.

I have read the New Castle County FOIA policy and file this request by email to the Department Community Services of New Castle County.

Chuck Mulholland

President, Southern New Castle County Alliance

Vance Neck Rd

Middletown, DE 19709

4/22/13

Chuck's index for the WDEL interview with Al Mascitti ~

http://www3.nccde.org/PDFDocument/default.aspx?DocumentID=28:977AAF103AD0CFB2C0B4D7A43F10DF56DAE444000CE0492881ACBE2C9173EF545234F5F79DAD9F1C&x=temp.pdf

The above link is for the original ordinance that has created what David Grimaldi described as major problems.

Depending on what you wish to discuss I would reference the ordinance, and what has happened thereafter.

I will reference Unified Development Code sections
                      40.07.311 A , B and C; 

                      40.07.321 A 1 and 2;

                      40.07.312;

                      40.07.313;

                      40.07.331;

                      40.07.332 and 333;

                      40.07.341;

                      40.07.343;

                      40.07.345;

                      40.07.353 

and the Delaware Seller's Disclosure form for new construction -namely section II, line 13

http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/realestate/documents/DREC%20New%20Construction%20Property%20Disclosure%20effective%20010111.pdf  

David Grimaldi, NCC CAO, has promised that NCC’s workforce housing program will be among the first items the new Land Use General Manager will be asked to review.

And I am happy to report that State Senator Bruce Ennis is continuing to working hard to make sure Delaware gives full disclosure to home buyers of any unit under a Master Workforce Housing Agreement and that NCC's affordable housing policy is actually producing what it's selling to the public.

~*~

And as always, if you like our work at CLNCC and want to support it and see it continue,please consider joining! Individuals, businesses and civic associations are all welcome. 
See HERE for [Membership Form - PDF]

Civic League To Elect Slate Of Officers Tonight - 7PM In New Castle - Membership Renewal Time!

CLNCC Meeting Set For 7PM Tonight In New Castle; Is DelDOT Tapping Transportation Trust Fund For Perfectly Good County Roads?

CLNCC meets at 7PM tonight ~
CIVIC LEAGUE FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY

Chuck Mulholland, President

AGENDA

- Presentation by Community Services Division:  "Preventive Policing Program" of the New Castle County Police
 
- Election of Officers

The meeting will  be held at the Paul J. Sweeney Public Safety Building - 3601 N. DuPont Hwy, (Route 13), New Castle, DE (Map) 

 The League's Newsletter has some fantastic stories this month ~

• Update on Workforce Housing
• Farmland is N.C.C.'s Most Important Asset
• How Our Friends in Dover Perfected the Art of Wasting Public Dollars
• Nominees for Civic League Officers

 Click here to view newsletter [PDF]

The wasted public dollars in Chuck's essay (above) refers, in part, to unnecessary work being done by DelDOT contractors on Vance Neck Road near Middletown.......A few weeks ago, Chuck sent this along to the News Journal ~

Today a crew started ripping up intact road bed in front of my home, and replacing sections with new blacktop. As copied to you earlier in communication to DelDOT, many neighbors are loudly complaining about the waste of public money, given the construction activities east of me.

We took some photos of a few of the nearby areas marked for tomorrow's work, if you may use any of this for your watch on DelDOT and the continuing waste of public funds, or the $34M that they found and have to spend by the end of June. That's what was told to my neighbor by a road worker from Diamond Materials today.

We are excited about our slate of officers for tonight's election! 

William H. "Bill" Dunn - President

Mark W. Blake - 1st VP and Program Chair

Charles Stirk - 2nd VP and Editor of County Comments

Christine Whitehead - 3rd VP and Secretary

Scott Sauer - Treasurer 

If you like our work at CLNCC and want to support it and see it continue, please consider joining! Individuals, businesses and civic associations are all welcome. 
See HERE for [Membership Form - PDF]

• Mail your payment to:
  Civic League for NCC
  c/o R. Romanelli, Membership
  109 Coopers Dr
  Newark, DE 19702 

- Pay using your Credit Card or PayPal account
 

Annual membership includes ten copies of the newsletter, County Comments, and one copy of the Membership Directory.

• Individual & non-profit organizations, $25
• Business -
  • 99 employees or less, $25
  • More than 100 employees, $50

Chancery Decision Goes To Save Our County And The Gordon Administration!

Thank You Chancellor Sam Glasscock For Giving Us A Barely Mill Plaza Rezoning Redo!

IT'S A WIN FOR SAVE OUR COUNTY AND THE GORDON ADMINISTRATION!

No doubt Stoltz will take this up a peg to the Delaware Supreme Court for an appeal but for now, lets savor the sweet victory!

From facebook ~ Tom Gordon

BREAKING: Stoltz Barley Mill Plaza - Vice Chancellor Glasscock has nullified County Council's vote, siding with Save Our County and the Executive Branch. This is a major victory for the people of New Castle County!

New Castle County Government Update

New Castle County Government Web Update: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Update: I just spoke with Tony Prado, NCC Communications Director who is looking into solving some of the problems outlined below.

This is good ~  New Castle County Government

If you see this sign posted, it means that there are NEW PLANS received & being reviewed in the County's Land Use Dept. Now, you can get an easy link to those plans each week right here!
NEW PLANS Received 5/23-5/29:http://tinyurl.com/cbk3nd5

But I think New Castle County ought to recreate the entire Saturday morning News Journal Department of Land Use notice on the county website: One Stop Shop.

So I took a spin around the various Boards' web pages and found a dismal lack of transparency from the Ethics Commission. No agenda posted, unknown next meeting time, place, date and the last minutes posted were from March. 

None of the status/map links are working on any of the DLU web pages so far examined this morning.

The last several Historic Review Board meetings have been cancelled for lack of agenda yet there are outstanding issues with the La Grange demolition permit from a year ago. I am waiting on a report from Jim Smith on this but I am pretty damned tired of holding my breath.

Of interest from the Board of Adjustment June 13th public hearing ~ 


South of Fieldsboro Road (The Enclave at Odessa), Townsend 19734TO BE CONTINUED TO THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH. THERE WILL BE NO PRESENTATION OR DISCUSSION OF THIS APPLICATION. Area variance to convert 22 unbuilt, twin dwelling unit lots to 22 village dwelling unit lots along Bilboa (14-012.42-026-029 & 032-035), Granada (14-012.42-012-015), Pamplona (14-012.42-008-011), and Carthage Courts (14-012.42-002-007) to facilitate the recordation of an associated land development plan: to provide 0 percent twin lots (10 percent minimum of any dwelling unit type). Enclavecap, LLC. S Zoning. CD 12. (App. 2013-0336-A)

0 River Road, Delaware City, 19706TO BE CONTINUED TO THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH. THERE WILL BE NO PRESENTATION OR DISCUSSION OF THIS APPLICATION. Area variances to maintain existing paving 0 feet from the property line at a number of locations along the site perimeter (10-foot other yard paving setback). DE City Refining Company LLC. HI Zoning. CD 11 (App. 2013-0372-A) TP 12-008.00-015

And here's what's on the docket for Tuesday night's Planning Board meeting. I have a separate post coming ASAP about the Walmart expansion. Stay Tuned ~

20130240D - East side Limestone Road (SR7), north side Sandy Drive and south of Kirkwood Highway (SR2)To amend a declaration of restrictions dated June 6, 1984 by Delaware Medical Group Properties when the property at 1941 Limestone Road was rezoned for office uses and a subsequent declaration of restrictions dated May 22, 1990 to expand the size of the medical building. The proposed amendment for Limestone Medical Center will permit the addition of parking spaces and paving along the front of the property adjacent to SR 7. A minor land development plan (2011-0690-S) is associated with this DR. ON (Office Neighborhood) zoning district. CD 1
20130128SZ - East side Centerville Road, southeast of exit ramp, north of Century BlvdExploratory Major Land Development Plan, Rezoning, and PLUS Review for Walmart Expansion – Price’s Corner proposes to rezone a 5.33 acre parcel from S to CR to build a 43,455 sf expansion and additional parking to the existing retail store. Ord. 13-036 will rezone 5.33 ac. From S (Suburban) to CR (Commercial Regional). CD 1
20120603SZ - East side Summit Bridge Road (SR 896), south of Porter Road and north of Howell School RoadExploratory Major Land Development Plan, Rezoning, and PLUS Review for Colony at Summit Bridge – East proposes to rezone a portion of the property to ST for a residential open space planned development option for 150 dwellings (39 single-family detached, 24 single-family twin units, and 87 single-family townhouse units). Ord. 13-037 will rezone 45.32 acres from S (Suburban) to ST (Suburban Transition) and will amend the Comprehensive Plan consistent therewith. CD 6
20120935S - South side Pulaski Hwy. (US 40), 0.3 mile west of Walther Rd./Glendale BlvdExploratory Major Land Development Plan for Rockwood Parcel 1A proposes to remove a 20 ft. wide sanitary sewer easement and build 45 apartment buildings with 438 units, 32 parking garages and associated improvements. NCap (Neighborhood Conservation - Apartments) zoning district. CD 12