CLNCC ZOOM Meeting: Inconsistent UDC Implementation Discussion Set For 7PM Tuesday, January 16th

Civic League for New Castle County Meeting 

Time:  Tuesday 7:00 PM January 16th  2024

Topic:  Inconsistent Unsystematic UDC Implementation .What Is the Path Forward ?

Location: Zoom ::  https://bit.ly/3KIt3Uf

NCC Council Meeting Information

NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING   January 16, 2024 3:00 PM VIRTUAL ZOOM WEBINAR MEETING** & LOUIS L. REDDING CITY/COUNTY BUILDING 1ST FLOOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS 800 N. FRENCH STREET, WILMINGTON, DE 19801 https://zoom.us/j/377322142

CLNCC Contact Info 

President Charles C Stirk Jr  
civicleagueforncc@gmail.com (302) 463-2239

Vice President Bill Dunn 
bill_done@msn.com (302) 994-9334    

Vice President Nancy Willing  
nancyvwilling@yahoo.com (302) 294-1939

Treasurer Scot Sauer 
treasurer@civicleagueforncc.org (302) 996-9075

Secretary Barry Shotwell 
cnb.shotwell@yahoo.com

Civic League for New Castle County   Membership Dues Only $25 * Pay Via Pay Pal :: civicleagueforncc@gmail.com  * Make checks payable to CLNCC & send to  CLNCC PO Box 5562 Marshallton DE 19808

MOT Alliance Public Zoom Meeting With NCC Officials: 6PM January 12th; NCC Comp Plan Draft Comments Due January 30th

 

MOT Alliance ~

IMPORTANT - VIRTUAL Public Forum - Southern New Castle County

6 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 12th

ZOOM Meeting

REGISTER HERE

You are welcome to pre-register at:

https://tinyurl.com/SNCCJan12

TOP PRIORITY TO ATTEND!

Reason for meeting: New Castle County government has been directing a master planning process for Southern New Castle County (SNCC) over the last several years. To date, that process has yielded the draft SNCC Master Plan. This virtual public forum has been organized with the County Land Use Department, the MOT Alliance, and local public officials in an effort to continue building on the work of the southern NCC master planning effort and to further engage the community on important planning issues to support modifications as the draft countywide comprehensive plan gets updated.

On January 12th, after brief introductions from elected panelists and guests, we will spend time on each of the following 5 topics, including time for audience participation and questions.
Topic #1: Economy / Jobs
Topic #2: Environment
Topic #3: Quality of Life and Community Services (this includes schools, public safety, and other)
Topic #4: Community Design / Character
Topic #5: Transportation

There will be some time at the end of the meeting for general public comments and questions. Please keep statements to less than 1 minute. The chat feature of the meeting will be open so you may also submit comments and questions there.

With more from the MOT Alliance ~

The Middletown Odessa Townsend (MOT) Alliance is a grassroots, community run organization whose mission is to promote responsible growth and development in the MOT region.  The community members have been working with our office, the New Castle County (NCC) Department of Land Use, as well as state representatives to provide feedback on the Southern New Castle County Master Plan, as well as the overall NCC Comprehensive Plan. In addition to comments on the land use plans, the MOT Alliance is gathering information to share with the Department of Land Use on how residents of the MOT region would like to see growth and development in the community.  The Alliance has developed a thoughtful survey to better understand what residents throughout Southern NCC desire for our future.  The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.  If you have a few minutes, please give your feedback by completing the survey at http://www.motalliance.com/survey Additionally, the MOT Alliance has been working with the Department of Land Use to schedule a MOT focused workshop on future planning for the region.  This workshop will take place on January 12 at 6:00PM at the Volunteer Hose of Middletown (28 W Green St) we hope that you can attend to give your feedback on what you hope to see in the future for our community.

NCC@2050 Draft Plan 

The NCC@2050 Comprehensive Plan draft is now available for review and public comment.  Public comment on the draft plan will be accepted until January 30, 2022*.  You can view and download the draft plan here.  In each section of the plan there is a link to leave a comment, you can also provide feedback by emailing NCC2050@newcastlede.gov

*Note: The county had set January 12th as the end of the Comp Plan Draft comment period to great objection from residents, especially from this group, as this meeting had already been scheduled for the same day and that would have prevented meaningful dialogue and direct information from the county from being included in the draft commentary. 4

As I understand it, for those reasons, Dave Carter was able to persuade Rich Hall to agree to extend the comment period to January 30th. Thanks Dave! 

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

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

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 

Southern New Castle County Master Plan Virtual Public Workshop: 6PM Wednesday, August 26th (RSVP)

From Wilmington Area Planning Council and Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT):

Southern New Castle County Master Plan Virtual Public Workshop

6 - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 24th

REGISTER HERE

Help Plan for the Future of Transportation in Southern New Castle County!

The Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO), in partnership with the New Castle County Dept. of Land Use and the Delaware Dept. of Transportation (DelDOT), will present a draft of the Transportation Element of the Southern New Castle County Master Plan.

Attend this Virtual Workshop to review and provide input on draft recommendations for transportation improvements, before they're implemented.

Your feedback is vitally important in developing a plan that meets the needs of all. Please help us by sharing the event information with your friends and neighbors, on Facebook and Nextdoor, and with any civic or other organizations you think would be interested.

To view and comment on the draft plan and transportation recommendations, please visit www.wilmapco.org/snccmp.

To view and print a workshop flyer, please visit: www.wilmapco.org/Aug%202020%20workshop%20flyer.pdf.

WILMAPCO is also available for virtual presentations to community groups and civic organizations. To schedule a presentation at your group's next meeting, or if you have any other questions, please email Randi Novakoff at rnovakoff@wilmapco.org.

If you require special assistance, please let us know and we will endeavor to meet your needs. Thank you for your willingness and interest in participating in this planning process

Master Plan For Southern New Castle County (SNCC) Public Information Session 4-7PM Wednesday, October 17th

Wilmington Area Planning Council

Southern NCC Master Plan Public Information Session

4 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 17th

Odessa Fire Hall

New Castle County Department of Land Use, DelDOT, and WILMAPCO have begun a Master Plan for Southern New Castle County (SNCC). The SNCC Master Plan will inform development and preservation decisions, and make recommendations for transportation and land use improvements and policies. 

The plan will make recommendations that help achieve desired development goals, improve quality of life, and help SNCC become more economically and environmentally sustainable.  

You are invited to attend a Public Information Session on Wednesday, October 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Odessa Fire Hall. During the information session, you'll have the opportunity to share your thoughts on what Southern New Castle County should look like in the future. To learn more, please visit www.wilmapco.org/SNCC.