Updated: Coastal Zone Permit Act RAC Open Houses - 5-8PM February 25, 26, And 27 In NCC

Update:

Open House in DE City tonight and tomorrow night in Wilmington for the Coastal Zone Act Permit committee work results. 

You don't have to attend an open house to view and respond to the recommendations of this committee. 

The power point materials and the fact sheet are now posted online and a form is available for public comment - 

DNREC has now posted all of [this] week's Open House materials (including the video presentation, informational posters, and paper handouts) on a dedicated web page on the DNREC website: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/…/conversion-…/open-houses/

This web page is also accessible via the Conversion Permits web page (de.gov/conversionpermits) and the CZCPA RAC web page (de.gov/czcparac). 

An online version of the Feedback Form that will be handed out at the Open Houses can also be accessed, filled out, and submitted via the Open Houses web page. The Feedback Form will be accessible through Friday, March 1, 2019. After this date, further feedback can be directed to CZA_Conversion_Permits@delaware.gov. 

Thank you for your continued interest in the state's coastal zone. We look forward to seeing many of you at one of next week's Open Houses. 

Thank you,Ian YueCoastal Planner
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
100 W. Water Street, Suite 5A | Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 735-3480 | Fax: (302) 739-1840

Open House Online Materials HERE

Preliminary Recommendations Packet HERE

Open House Online Feedback Form HERE

DNREC to hold open houses Feb. 25, 26, and 27 seeking public input on preliminary recommendations from the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee

Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will hold three public open houses  in New Castle County this month – on Feb. 25, 26 and 27 – seeking input on preliminary recommendations made by the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee.

The Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act requires DNREC to develop and promulgate regulations for the redevelopment of 14 heavy industry use sites in Delaware’s Coastal Zone by Oct. 1, 2019. The Regulatory Advisory Committee was convened by DNREC in June 2018 to provide recommendations regarding the regulations.

The open houses will present the Committee’s preliminary recommendations for the public to review and provide comment. The open houses will be held from 5-8 p.m. on these three dates:

• Monday, Feb. 25, Claymont Community Center, 3301 Green Street, Claymont, DE 19703
• Tuesday, Feb. 26, Delaware City Fire Hall, 815 5th Street, Delaware City, DE 19706
• Wednesday, Feb. 27, Elbert Palmer Elementary School, 1210 Lobdell Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Members of the public may attend at any point and for any length of time during the open houses.

Each open house will follow the same format. Attendees will be able to view a video presentation about the legislative changes and the process leading to the Regulatory Advisory Committee’s preliminary recommendations. Attendees will also be able to walk around and visit various informational booths that explain the different aspects of the Committee’s preliminary recommendations. Attendees will be able to provide input on feedback forms. The forms will be available at the workshop as well as on DNREC’s website prior to the events.

Public input gathered at the workshops will be compiled by the Consensus Building Institute (CBI), a non-profit organization that has facilitated the Regulatory Advisory Committee’s meetings. CBI will compile all public input into a report and provide the report to the Committee for its consideration before finalizing its recommendations to DNREC. DNREC will also make the report available for the public to view on its website.

For more information on the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee, please visit www.de.gov/czcparac. [Open house materials and feedback forms will be available at de.gov/czcparac prior to the Open Houses.]

To receive updates on the regulatory process for developing conversion permits, you can also subscribe to the Coastal Zone Act email listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.u.s

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

With this from Bill Dunn ~

Above is a list of three Coastal Zone Workshops including dates and locations.  In light of the Croda incident days after Thanksgiving and the PBF Energy oil refinery fire a couple of days ago, WE all need to demand responsible redevelopment of the 14 Industrial Sites along the Delaware River.  Community involvement has been limited and the vast majority of members of all the groups have little to no technical background (not the best people to define technical regulations). 

Below are the two links for the RAC (Regulatory Advisory Committee) and the sub-groups that put forth recommendations to the RAC.  

The RAC page is here:  https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-zone-act/conversion-permits/regulatory-advisory-committee/ 

And the RAC Working Group site:  https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/coastal-zone-act/conversion-permits/regulatory-advisory-committee/work-groups/ 

Both sites contain the Minutes of meetings.  I have attended many of the meetings and if you would like to discuss what went on, please feel free to contact me. 

Bill Dunn, email: bill_done@msn.com 

Civic League for NCC - VP

Note: CLNCC is in the process of transferring this blog to our new website! It is a work in progress but look for new articles at  https://civicleagueforncc.org/

Next Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act RAC Meeting is 9AM Tuesday, January 22nd In Wilmington

Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory

Advisory Committee to meet Jan. 22 in Wilmington

The eighth meeting of the Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC) will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Delaware Technical Community College Orlando J. George Jr. Campus, Southeast Building, Conference Room A and B (1st Floor), 300 North Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. More information about the Jan. 22 RAC meeting, including the agenda, can be found on the state public meeting calendar athttps://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/61696.
Upcoming monthly CZCPA RAC meetings, each starting at 9 a.m., are scheduled for the following dates, locations, and times:

·         Tuesday, Feb. 19, DNREC Lukens Drive Office, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle DE 19720 

·         Tuesday, Mar. 12, Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 South DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720 

·         Tuesday, Apr. 9, Buena Vista Conference Center, 661 South DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720

All RAC meetings are open to the public. Information about future meetings also can be found on theCoastal Zone Conversion Permits webpage. For more information, the public can sign up for the Coastal Zone Conservation Permit Act listserv by sending a blank email to join-dnrec_coastal_zone@lists.state.de.us.

Updated: New Castle County Council Should Focus On Audit Report Findings And Stop The Rush On Proposals

A cross-post from Nancy Willing's Delaware Way FYI -

Heady days over at New Castle County Council. 

The ever-feisty Finance Committee Co-Chair George Smiley continues issuing proposals for which the public is being denied due process, IMO. 

Matters of serious weight are being introduced and voted on in a single day. Public hearings in the afternoon committees and a vote hours later appears to be the new normal. 

Check out Smiley's "Emergency Ordinance" for addiction program support for Tuesday's agenda. Isn't that an abuse of the code? Why is it necessary to shove this initiative through as if it were an emergency and circumvent the regular two week process for consideration of Ordinances? I understand the need for the ordinance, as federal funding has expired for this very worthy program that provides for a staff coordinator's salary and Narcan kits but I do not understand the hurry.

I hope the public starts to object strongly to this new standard where citizens and news media are getting one week's notice for searching out, contemplating and responding to actions of NCC Council. 

Back in November, Mr. Smiley pushed his paranoia about Karen Hartley-Nagle through County Council and to the General Assembly in a single afternoon. 

Next week, the 1:30 p.m. January 8th Finance Committee meeting agenda shows two council employee-related policy issues on track for passage in a single day (and that appear to have been motivated solely to strip Council President authority from council policies)....

R19-017: TO AMEND THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK SECTION 3.8 (“DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY”). Introduced by: Mr. Smiley 

R19-012: TO AMEND SECTION 2.5 OF THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK REGARDING OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT. Introduced by: Mr. Smiley

Unfortunately, it looks like George Smiley will continue to busy himself with ferreting out and striking any mention of the Council President from within the governance structure. 

Smiley's focus on amending employee hiring and drug testing policy this week strikes me as extremely odd considering the ONE MAJOR FINDING of a recent independent audit (read it below) concerns the laxity of oversight over council employees' time and attendance:

In our opinion, adequate internal controls exist in all material respects except for weaknesses in the employee management area. Our audit revealed numerous instances where time and attendance was not properly recorded. We have worked with management to identify areas where control enhancements can be made.

Wouldn't we, the public, rather our electeds address and fix problems already on the table?

Final Draft Council Finance... by on Scribd

Also see:

HERO HELP ADDICTIONASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Updated: NCC Council Should Ask Smiley To Table His Bid To Remove Powers Of NCC Council President Until The Rest Of Us Can Weigh In


------------------------------------

An update from Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick is posted below. 

I could find no evidence on the county website that a notice of the emergency ordinances was 'advertised' on December 14th and have asked where I can find it:

Just a few responses to your article about Councilman Smiley, as I feel that facts are important.  I've included Councilman Bell on this email as he has also requested to be a co-sponsor. as well as our attorney as he has opined on the justification for the need to run this as an Emergency Ordinance.

Emergency Ordinance  - I am the prime sponsor.  After we learned that the funding would run out on Dec 31, and we heard that the Administration was looking for ways to keep the program alive, I asked if there was a way that Council could assist in keeping the program alive through the end of this Fiscal year - the most important aspects being the coordinator (not a desk job, but a victim contact position) and the nurses under contract (the medical portion of victim contact).  As Mr. Smiley is the Finance Co-chair I consulted with him about the best way to approach this, with the purpose being to match what the Administration funds, up to $50,000.  We advertised this beginning on Dec 14th to give the public as much notice as possible, knowing that we didn't want to wait until the end of the month to make the finances available. 

        I.            EMERGENCY ORDINANCES: EO19-001 - AMEND THE GRANTS BUDGET: APPROPRIATE FUNDING FROM THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY FY2019 COUNCIL CONTINGENCY BUDGET TO THE HERO HELP ADDICTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. Introduced by: Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Smiley Fiscal Note: EO19-002 - AMEND THE FY2019 APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET: REDUCE THE FY2019 NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL CONTINGENCY BUDGET TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE HERO HELP ADDICTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. Introduced by: Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Smiley Fiscal Note: Because of the emergency nature of these Ordinances, County Council intends to introduce and consider for approval both Ordinances during the Council Meeting scheduled for January 8, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. in New Castle County Council Chambers.

I had heard that the State was considering giving some grant towards this program (not confirmed) but that their funds could not be used for anything that would allow contact with the victims.  That obviously is not a help to this program and if it is true it could not be voted on until they came back in January.  So either the program continues with no break in service or it stops.  Therefore the decision was pretty easy for me --- if there's a break in service we lose the consistency with the victim.  It's pretty hard to have constant discussions about the opiod crisis and then hinder the programs in place.  Therefore the decision was made, by me, to run an emergency ordinance to assure that the funding is available, and in opposition to your comment that we hope no one notices - I personally hope everyone notices!  The public should know that we are doing everything we can to help keep innovative programs going.  I would hate for the public to think that we sit in meetings and listen to the Public Safety Director, but don't think it's important enough to give from our budget to keep it going through the hard times.   Another Ordinance will be run within the normal timeframe, which will rescind the emergency ordinance and insert a regular Ordinance in its place.

Drug Policy -- During the conversation about the drug policy for subcontractors that Mr. Sheldon introduced and had passed prior to the Holidays, there was discussion about pulling out one group for random testing, and not including everyone.  Mr. Smiley indicated at that time that he felt Mr. Sheldon's ordinance was worthy and that he would continue working on an Ordinance that was more inclusive to Council.  This is that Ordinance.  Any other Ordinance would have to come to us through Purchasing.  The process for the vote on this issue is no different than any other inhouse changes that we have made. Several individuals, including Mr. Smiley, Mr. Sheldon and me, have introduced and passed policy changes.

Personnel Policy - many areas of concern placed before us with that audit, which is now probably 5 years old, have been addressed and are continuing to be addressed.  As each aide works for an individual councilperson who may require them to attend morning meetings, there are times that sign in comes after the regular starting time or there are times when meetings are attended during the day, especially at the end of the day where sign outs might appear earlier than the normal closing time.  We now require more verification for those instances. 

Janet Kilpatrick
3rd District New Castle County Council Member
800 N. French St. - 8th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801

PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL AND WEB SITE ADDRESSES
Janet.Kilpatrick@newcastlede.gov302-395-8343 - work
302-234-1994 - home
www.newcastlede.gov/council

CLNCC Monthly Meeting - With Legislators Bryan Townsend And Paul Baumbach - Set For 7PM Tuesday, January 15th In Christiana

Civic League for New Castle County

Monthly Meeting

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 15th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

Please join the Civic League for New Castle County for a robust discussion on 2019 governance initiatives with State Rep. Paul Baumbach and the newly-minted State Senate Majority Whip, Bryan Townsend!

And check out our new website HERE!

Agenda

1) Discussion with guest speakers Townsend and Baumbach

• Voluntary School Assessment MOU: DDOE, BPG and Brandywine School District
• NCC DLU vs DelDOT for determining Traffic Capacity Scope

2) Bill for possible Resolution: HB 25 Neighborhood Garbage Collector Agreements

3) Nick Wasileski: LLC Regulations update

4) Sarah Bucic: Lead Paint Regulations update

5) Bill Dunn: CZA RAC update

6) Nancy Willing: Intern for Website Content Support / Newsletter / Directory

7) Environmental initiative to limit use of plastic straws (Dee Durham)

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.

Pike Creek Golf Course Plan And Deed Restriction Public Hearing, 7PM Tuesday - NCC Planning Board

From the Citizens for the Preservation of Pike Creek Valley:

Developer The Onix Group has proposed a plan to build 224 housing units on the former Three Little Bakers golf course property. Currently, the Pike Creek deed restrictions would only allow approximately 60 housing units to be built on that property. In order for The Onix Group to have their plan approved, New Castle County Council would have to vote to amend the Pike Creek deed restrictions. If the deed restrictions are not amended, The Onix Group would be limited to building approximately 60 housing units on the former Three Little Bakers property.

The New Castle County Planning Board is holding a Public Hearing on December 4th to consider the development proposal for the former Three Little Bakers golf course property. The developer is submitting a plan to build 224 units on the property, and the Planning Board must vote to lift the current deed restrictions - limiting to 60 units - in order for the plan to be approved. The Planning Board accepts public comment from residents, and a show of solidarity from attending residents will send a message that we do not want these deed restrictions to be lifted.  

The Public Hearing will be held on:
Tuesday, December 4th at 7pm
Multi-Purpose Room, Gilliam Building
77 Reads Way
New Castle, DE 19720

From the Pike Creek Valley Civic League:

Terraces at Pike Creek revised Plans

12 Photos · Updated 10 months ago

Pike Creek Recreational LLC / Onix submitted a revision to their 2010 Plan. Since it was not a "new" Plan there was no public notice.

With comments ~

- As way of background: The County took the developer to court to determine if the existing deed restrictions are enforceable, and the Court decided that they are. The County has been in Chancery Court, Superior Court and the State Supreme Court. The lower court opined, and the Supreme Court affirmed, that the deed restrictions call for 130 acres of the golf course land to remain as mandatory OPEN SPACE. It must remain open in quantity, quality, configuration, and contiguity. The balance of the golf course land is in a “court stay” until the developer completes the process of working with the community and taking any proposed plan through the County land use process. 

- Last year the Onix group did their public presentation at Dickinson HS - the "sales pitch" if you will on what they propose to do to the former TLB property Whatever they proposed has to to be approved by the New Castle County Council first. The meeting was a joke - not a public forum or discussion, just a sales pitch. The result of that was the meeting the citizens held in February to ask questions, express concerns, etc. Onix was not happy with that meeting, nor were they present, and asked that the project get put on hold until after the November election cycle since they didn't want what happened to the golf course to be a political issue (never mind the fate of the course lies in County Council's vote - a political body!). 
Fast forward to now. This is the SAME presentation, SAME proposal Onix gave the public last year. It is what they want to do to the property - BUT in order for them to move forward, they have to get the County to lift the existing deed restrictions on the property. The proposal first goes to the Planning Board for a recommendation (December meeting) and then to County Council for a vote.
We are simply trying to gather the VOICE of the community to let Planning Board and County Council know that the neighbors are not in favor of lifting the deed restrictions to allow 224 housing units to be built.

Civic League For New Castle County Monthly Meeting - 7PM Tuesday, November 20th In Christiana

Civic League for New Castle County

Monthly Meeting

7 - 9 p.m. Tuesday, November 20th

Christiana Presbyterian Church

15 N. Old Baltimore Pike, Christiana, DE 19702

Dan Blevins, Principal Planner, will be presenting the WILMAPCO 2050 RTP Update  

Click HERE to learn more about the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.

Concord Pike Visioning Workshop - 6PM Wednesday, November 14th At Concord High School

From the Wilmington Area Planning Council‎ ~

Concord Pike Visioning Workshop

6 - 8:30 p.m. tonight

Concord High School 

2501 Ebright Rd., Wilmington, DE 19810

You are invited to a Community Visioning Workshop! 

New Castle County Department of Land Use, DelDOT, and WILMAPCO have been working on a Master Plan for the Concord Pike Corridor, encompassing an area between the City of Wilmington and the Pennsylvania state line. 

The Master Plan will provide a 20-year vision that identifies cohesive land use and transportation strategies to ensure that Concord Pike will continue to be a safe, accessible, and economically thriving place for all.  

Your input will help guide the future of the corridor. 
Please join us for a Public Visioning Workshop on Wednesday, November 14 from 6 to 8:30pm, at Concord High School, cafeteria2501 Ebright Road, Wilmington. 

Workshop Agenda:Sign-in: 6pmPresentation: 6:15pmRoundtable Discussion: 7pmReport out and Next Steps: 7:45pm 

To learn more or sign up for project updates, please visit www.wilmapco.org/202

Civic League for NCC is participating in focus groups for input into the plan.

Please Vote On Tuesday! Plus, Civic League Survey Questions For County Council Candidates

CLNCC submitted these eight questions for the NCC Council District 2 Candidate Forum hosted by CCOBH and EB 100 civic umbrella groups: 

• Traffic impact from land development is controlled by UDC requirements for concurrency and adequate facility. Do you agree that level of service and traffic impact studies are fair measures in limiting development and why?

• Comprehensive planning is currently done in silos across the state separating unincorporated county lands from municipalities. Is this a sensible practice?

• School capacity is currently prohibited from consideration during the county land use application process. Do you support an effort to reverse this situation?

• Do you agree that growth of residential development is mostly responsible for increasing costs of county services and raising of property taxes?

• What can the county do to raise revenue other than increasing taxes?

• Affordable housing is a challenge in our county. Do you believe we are meeting our targets? Is NCC working directly with municipalities to meet goals?

• In a recent NCC survey, residents along the Route 9 corridor were asked if they would like to relocate given the opportunity. Do you support NCC taxpayers funding buyouts and relocation of entire communities?

• Do you believe residential communities should be paying to maintain their own storm water facilities or should the county continue its amnesty program? 

The forum moderators got in a few of the questions asked, but not all (Click HERE to view the forum). 

I also sent the Survey to council candidates Dave Carter and Dawn Lentz who are vying for the NCC Council 6th District seat. Ms. Lentz answered. Read her responses below.

Civic League for New Castle County Survey:

• Traffic impact from land development is controlled by UDC requirements for concurrency and adequate facility. Do you agree that level of service and traffic impact studies are fair measures in limiting development and why? - I'm very concerned about the development and lack of forethought into the traffic congestion that seems to be happening in lower NCC. It appears as if infrastructure is an after thought. How can our district (district 6) be able to handle the massive amounts of new residents when we build houses faster than roads?

• Comprehensive planning is currently done in silos across the state separating unincorporated county lands from municipalities. Is this a sensible practice?-I am having difficulty understanding this ambiguous nomenclature. Please clarify?

• School capacity is currently prohibited from consideration during the county land use application process. Do you support an effort to reverse this situation?-I support any efforts to make life better for our citizens and our environment. Our children are very important to me,  as well as our wildlife; it's integral to our future to know that we leave a better Delaware for future generations.

• Do you agree that growth of residential development is mostly responsible for increasing costs of county services and raising of property taxes?  - I'm not knowledgeable enough to clearly assign the blame of our property taxes being increased on new homes being built. That being said, the county needs property tax to fund our schools, police, and infrastructure, etc. In theory, new homes should ease taxpayers burden right? Why then, is it increasing? If elected, this would be high priority on my list of things I'd like to help correct.

• What can the county do to raise revenue other than increasing taxes?-This is a question I've spent quite a bit of time considering. How do we continue to fund the services we need while easing individual financial burdens? I'm a member of the Green party. We don't take corporate donations. We're the little guy. We have to get creative when it comes to raising funds. Every year, there are dozens of fairs and festivals. Why not invest more into these fun activities? The revenue from charging a nominal parking fee, vendor fees, plot rentals from businesses, etc. could ease the strain on individuals. How much revenue does firefly pull in yearly? Why not create our own music festival, complete with camping at one of New Castle's parks? 4 fairs/festivals a year could definitely help.

• Affordable housing is a challenge in our county. Do you believe we are meeting our targets? Is NCC working directly with municipalities to meet goals? - I feel that affordable housing in New Castle County can be obtained by the diligent. What I would like to see is more options opening up for homeless shelters that would educate residents to become financially independent. I am not aware whether or not New Castle county is working with municipalities to meet goals.

• In a recent NCC survey, residents along the Route 9 corridor were asked if they would like to relocate given the opportunity. Do you support NCC taxpayers funding buyouts and relocation of entire communities?- I am unaware of this survey, but it does raise questions in my mind. Without knowing why the survey was sent, I don't know that I would support relocating entire communities.

• Do you believe residential communities should be paying to maintain their own storm water facilities or should the county continue to amnesty program? - Part of the green party platform is decentralization, as it pertains to our government. Applying a similar principle to this question, I think it may be a better option for communities to oversee their own storm water facilities. In a more hands-on perspective, and also as it may ease individual tax burdens.