Updated: NCC Comp Plan Update Hybrid Public Meetings: 7PM April 21st And 27th (RSVP) With Scott Run Petition And MOT Alliance

 

Update: FYI Attending via ZOOM precludes participants from joining the Q&A portion of the meetings [Find links to materials HERE] 

New Castle County Deptartment of Land Use:

NCC2050 Meeting with Land Use

7 - 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 27th

NCC Gilliam Building

Multi Purpose Conference Room

67 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720

REGISTER HERE

The April 27 Information Session will feature the following topics:

• Historic Preservation
• Conservation
• Open Space and Recreation​
• Climate Change and Hazard Mitigation​
• Utilities, Water, and Sewer

For the best experience, please plan to attend this event in person where you will be able to interact with Land Use Staff who will answer questions and receive your feedback on the specific topics presented.

This event will also be broadcast live on Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be posted to the Dept. of Land Use website on the day of the event. Those watching online are asked to submit any feedback via email to: NCC2050@newcastlede.gov.  

Also, if you haven't heard about this issue, you will want to. I am posting more on it soon.

READ AND SIGN THIS PETITION: Scott Run Commerce Center Warehouses Petition Letter

CALL TO ACTION! The Scott Run Commerce Center plans for the 301/Jameson Corner Road area now include larger warehousing with more 18-wheeler bays than initially communicated to the public years ago. This will negatively impact pedestrian safety, traffic, and community character in MOT for years to come. BY THE END OF APRIL please submit your concerns to LandUse@newcastlede.gov and members of the NCC Council (https://nccde.org/226/County-Council). Not sure what concerns to write about? You can either watch this 27 minute overview from our neighbors Erin Kaplan Ari Kaplan and Kevin Caneco , or you can read more information about the plans on the NCC website for project #20200066 http://www3.nccde.org/project/details/default.aspx...

Note: this is a separate plan from the logistics center in the same Bayberry vicinity, which is project #20210470 which you can read about http://www3.nccde.org/project/details/default.aspx...

NCC2050 Meeting with Land Use

7 - 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21st

NCC Gilliam Building

Multi Purpose Conference Room

67 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720

REGISTER HERE

Join us to learn what's in the NCC2050 Comprehensive Plan!

Tonight's Information Session will feature the following topics:

• Mobility
• Housing​
• Community Planning and Design​
• Economic and Community Development​
• Environmental and Social Justice​
• Intergovernmental Coordination

For the best experience, please plan to attend this event in person where you will be able to interact with Land Use Staff who will answer questions and receive your feedback on the specific topics presented.

This event will also be broadcast live on Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be posted to the Dept. of Land Use website on the day of the event. Those watching online are asked to submit any feedback via email to: NCC2050@newcastlede.gov.

If you are not able to attend this meeting, no worries! The video recording will be posted on the NCC2050 website.

A second Information Session will be held on April 27 and will feature the following topics:

• Historic Preservation
• Conservation
• Open Space and Recreation
• Climate Change and Hazard Mitigation
• Utilities, Water, and Sewer

Please register for the April 27 event here. 

And from the MOT Alliance, the citizens' group representing the area under NCC's  "future growth zone"  

Dept of Land Use formal response to MOT Alliance requests for change to the NCC2050 comprehensive plan.

From Rich Hall, manager of Dept of Land Use: FYI – we posted a “save the date” notice today for two sessions on the NCC2050. The dates are April 21st and 27th. They will be in the Multipurpose Room at the Gilliam Building and will be in the evening.

Just 3 thoughts (this is Melissa writing her own thoughts, not necessarily representing all 1,100 of us), interested to hear what others think:

(1) They have added a "recommendation" to "consider" changes to S zoning.

Melissa's Response: I would like a plan and a commitment to execute upon it that is more definitive than a recommendation to “consider”. Given our area has been identified as the growth area for the last 20 years, and given that NCC2050 establishes a plan for the next 30 years, any zoning changes should be concurrent with or prior to enacting a 30-year plan that sets policy for such zoned areas.

(2) Our preference for development style (from our 777 person survey representing more than 1% of MOT) is categorized as "growing pains" and assumed that we are "supporting segregation of housing types" which will result in an "exacerbation of existing inequity".

Melissa's Response: MOT Alliance represents RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, with our #1 principle being COMMUNITY. I believe community is not only fellowship, but also a physical place where ALL residents can gather that is respectful of ALL residents. Therefore:

1 - Housing for residents that have restricted mobility (e.g. seniors, students, underserved populations) should enable the best ease of access to those places of gathering. I'd like to see that planned (i.e. S zoning changes).

2 - Affordable housing should be proximal to support services to enable underserved populations to have an equitable quality of life. I'd like to see that planned (i.e. S zoning changes).

3 - It is irresponsible to build residential homes – regardless of style – in places with insufficient infrastructure. The Dept of Land Use response on the insufficient infrastructure is that they will continue to “work with” other governing bodies (re: our school concerns), “monitor” (re: our EMS/Fire/Police concerns), and defer to addressing additional concerns legislatively (i.e. not do anything). I believe this approach is contrary to the mission of MOT Alliance, and I'd like to see better planning than "work with" "monitor" and defer.

4 - Lastly, I personally am disheartened that they misinterpreted our survey to mean we want segregation of housing types. I think the fact we prefer single family homes over multifamily could also mean we want more single family homes that are affordable, more mixed use developments with a larger percentage of single family than multifamily, or any other possible interpretation. I encourage the Land Use department to better understand our position before making inflammatory accusations.

(3) Our request to reduce residential growth until infrastructure increases is denied, and misinterpreted as a request to stop development.

Melissa's response: We represent Responsible Growth and Development; even the terms "growth" and "development" are in our mission statement. Some residents may want to stop growth altogether, but we -- the majority of our group, and the MOT Alliance committee -- believe in our unifying mission FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. I'd like Land Use to respond to our request to REDUCE residential growth. 

NCC Comprehensive Plan Housing And Economic Development VIRTUAL Public Workshop, 6PM Wednesday, February 24th (RSVP)

 Ncc@2050 Deep Dive Session #2

6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 24th

VIRTUAL Meeting

REGISTER HERE

Join us on February 24 for our next NCC@2050 Deep Dive Session! This time we will discuss and brainstorm ideas about Housing and Economic Development.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncc2050-deep-dive-session-2-housing-and-economic-development-tickets-138319293731?

Throughout 2020, we received important feedback from you about the future of New Castle County - which then helped us understand generally where and what our collective priorities may be. This time we are diving deeper! We will host a series of four digital workshops designed to further examine topics comprising the NCC@2050 Comprehensive Plan.

During these workshops, subject matter experts and attendees will be asked to brainstorm and provide detailed input on draft goals, objectives, alternative future development possibilities, and strategies.

We will also provide an update of the progress of NCC@2050 as well as a summary of the feedback we have heard from our community in 2020. 

Future Deep Dive Sessions:

• March 17: Infrastructure, Transportation, Water and Sewer Service
• April 7: Thriving Places: Community Design, Historic Preservation + Bringing It All Together 

*All Deep Dive Sessions will also touch on key principles such as social equity and resilience. 

Visit NCC2050.NewCastleDE.gov to learn more about the NCC@2050 Comprehensive plan.

Take one of the county's surveys on this process and view CPU 2022 planning meeting materials HERE

2018 Sussex County Comprehensive Plan Adopted

Sussex County adopts comprehensive plan

Sussex County has a blueprint to build its future.

County Council on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, adopted the County’s 2018 comprehensive plan update, the culmination of more than two years’ worth of work, with scores of public meetings, workshops, and outreach that attracted hundreds of comments, suggestions, and ideas from residents, business owners, government officials and others on how Sussex County should move forward as a growing community in the decades ahead.

The 280-page plan, which will guide County officials in various levels of decision-making, has yielded more than 100 strategies focused on everything from land use, conservation, and housing to transportation, utilities, and economic development, all of which will be considered for implementation during the lifespan of the plan. The strategies could take form as new ordinances or policies that County officials will weigh in the weeks and months to come.

“This is a momentous occasion for the County as we look forward to the future, one that will bring significant challenges but tremendous opportunity in the decade ahead,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “I am very proud of the work by the County Council, the Planning & Zoning Commission, our staff, the consultant, and frankly from the public during this two-year journey. It has been a community effort in the truest sense, and what we are left with is a vision I hope everyone is proud of.”

Some of the key strategies in the adopted plan include:

· Ways to preserve, promote and strengthen agriculture’s presence in the county, including through a possible agribusiness district that would add certain permitted ag-related support uses to low-density areas;

·   Several initiatives to review and potentially overhaul the County’s land use code, specifically measures that would focus on wetland protection, forestry preservation, and water quality;

·  Forming a County-level transportation committee, which would work with State officials to better monitor, coordinate and prioritize road projects;

·   The establishment of economic development zones to focus job creation and private investment in and around targeted communities;

·    Stimulating the construction of workforce/affordable housing through a review of existing impediments to such housing, and incentives, including the possibility of a community development fund.

Council’s vote to approve the document is the first major update of the County’s comprehensive plan since the last version was adopted in 2008. Delaware law mandates that all counties and municipalities have a comprehensive plan in place. Counties and municipalities must review and update those plans for State certification every 10 years, while providing yearly updates on the progress of implementation. The adopted plan now moves to the State for certification.

A comprehensive plan, among other things, serves as the standard for how development occurs and how land use is governed in a community over a long-term period. Such plans are used by local governments to not only establish land-use policies and identify growth areas, but also to give consideration to various other community concerns, such as affordable housing availability, agriculture preservation, open space protection, historic preservation, economic development and transportation mobility.

County Council President Michael H. Vincent said Sussex County will be a stronger community a generation from now because of the efforts of so many people today, especially an engaged citizenry that crowded meetings, pored over documents, and wrote letters and emails to express their ideas. “This was a marathon process, for sure, but it was an important process nevertheless. And I think we’re all better for it, and certainly Sussex County will be a better place today for all of us, and tomorrow for our children and their children,” Mr. Vincent said.

For more information on the Sussex County comprehensive plan, visit www.sussexplan.com.

Our Lady Of Grace - Ogletown Pond Development Proposal Up For A NCC Council Vote Next Tuesday

(Save The Orphanage Property image)

Our Lady of Grace record plan goes to a vote at next Tuesday's council meeting.

From NCC Councilwoman Lisa Diller:

Dear 5^th District Constituents:A last minute change to the 7/11/17 Council agenda shows Resolution 17-048, the plan for the Our Lady of Grace site, on both the Council Land Use Agenda and Council Meeting Agenda on July 11, 2017.  Please be aware that as the sponsor, I have the ability, under Council rules, to table and refer the plan back twice, if necessary, to the Land Use Department with technical questions regarding compliance with the code or other laws. 

See Council July 11, 2017 Meeting Agenda HERE.

View the plans for R17-148 HERE ~

Project ID:  20150886South side of Chestnut Hill Road, 3077 feet east of Marrows Road. Major Land Development plan to develop property as an open spaced planned subdivision with 269 dwelling units. Our Lady of Grace. S Zoning.  (App. 2015-0886-S

And here's the Resolution ~

R17-148: PLAN OF CHESTNUT HILL PRESERVE: PENCADER AND WHITE CLAY CREEK HUNDREDS; SOUTH SIDE OF CHESTNUT HILL ROAD; 3,077 FEET EAST OF MARROWS ROAD; MAJOR LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT PROPOSES AN OPEN SPACE PLANNED SUBDIVISION CONTAINING 30 SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, 56 TWINS, 114 TOWNHOUSES AND 60 APARTMENTS WITH REQUIRED AMENITIES; S ZONING. Introduced by: Ms. Diller 

From Save The Orphanage Property:

As many of you are aware, after a very busy and stressful time during the Budget discussions in Dover, Legislators finally somewhat agreed on budget issues. There is a lot at stake for us, waiting to see if monies were allocated for the parkland that we at Save The Orphanage Property have been advocating for the last two years. We have not been notified of anything formally yet, and many of you may hear rumors, positive or negative. We want to assure all of our followers that, as soon as we receive any credible and true news, we will report it here. Stay tuned....

Meanwhile, News Journal reporter Xerxes Wilson tweeted this late Friday night #DEJune30

- Interesting: Bond Bill authorizing LOI for state to provide $1.25m for negotiations for NCCo to purchase Felician Sisters land near Newark. 

- Epilogue language doesn't set aside $$ but if NCCo negotiates purchase, OMB will give funding options to JFC for $1.25m contribution. 

- For further reading: County Park Proposal Would Derail Housing Project

Read more about the effort to Save Ogletown Pond at the website: Ogletown Resistance 

Civic League For New Castle County Monthly Meeting 7PM Tonight!

Civic League for New Castle County

Tuesday,  January 17th, 2017 

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Christina Presbyterian Church  

15 North Old Baltimore Pike

Christiana, DE 19702

Discussion Topics:

- Pedestrian Safety – Amy Wilburn will discuss proposed changes to the Motor Vehicle Code section on Pedestrian Rights and Duties 

- Development Proposed at Rt. 4 and Gender Road, Ange Connolly of Save Ogletown Pond.

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