Workforce Housing Issue Focus of Town Hall Meeting in Bear

     This is an interesting article on a workforce housing Town Hall meeting held in Bear, Delaware. 

     The problems with the workforce housing code and its implementation have been a big issue for the Civic League since its passage. 

     I thank the candidates challenging the incumbents for putting on this meeting and at least laying out their ideas and solutions to the public. I also challenge the incumbents to do the same.

      As an independent, I will attend any candidate's forum and support the candidate with the best solution to the problem. I don't care if you are a Democrat, a Republican, or from the Bull Moose Party. Convince me you can solve the problems and you get my support!!!

     Many of us from the civic community put hundreds of hours into the NCC Comprehensive Plan process, only to be ignored.  Since that time,

Candidates Forum - Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM

The Civic League for New Castle County will be hosting a candidate forum on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, beginning at 6:30 PM, to be held in the Paris community room, Delaware State Police Troop #2, 100 LaGrange Ave, Bear.

Candidate(s) for the following offices have confirmed attendance thus far:

•    State Senate – 8th and 9th Districts
•    State Representative – 9th, 22nd, 23rd, and 27th Districts
•    New Castle County Council – 3rd  District
•    New Castle County Sherriff

It is our intention to hold each office forum to NO more than a half hour each in which the candidates will be asked a series of questions from both members of the League and the audience. 

If you'd like to attend, it’s FREE.  However; we request your help in further planning this event by completing the RSVP/survey at the link below:

RSVP to Civic League Candidates Forum

You may get updates on the October 20th, 2010 candidate forums by checking back to this Blog.

We look forward to your attendance and support of what we hope is a lively interaction with the candidates.

Chuck Mulholland
President,
Civic League for New Castle County

JCC Candidate Forum Set For 5:45PM On Thursday In Talleyville

JCC Candidate Forum
When: Thursday, September 16, 2010 5:45 PM - 7:45 PM
Where: Bernard and Ruth Siegel Jewish Community Center, 101 Garden of Eden Road, Talleyville

Candidates Forum - September 15th, 2010 at 6:30 PM

Public Notice of an Important Community Event

Candidates Forum
 
Wednesday, September 15th at 6:30 PM


The Civic League for New Castle County will be hosting a candidate forum on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010, beginning at 6:30 PM, to be held in the Paris community room, Delaware State Police Troop #2, 100 LaGrange Ave, Bear.

Candidate(s) for the following offices have confirmed attendance thus far:

• Representative for U.S. Congress
• State Treasurer
• State Senate – 7th and 8th Districts
• State Representative – 18th District
• New Castle County Council - 6th district

This is the first of two events featuring candidate for various offices.  It is our intention to hold each office forum to NO more than a half hour each in which the candidates will be asked a series of questions from both members of the League and the audience. 

If you'd like to attend, it’s FREE.  However; we request your help in further planning this event by completing the RSVP/survey at the link below:

RSVP to Civic League Candidates Forum

You may get updates on both the September 15th, 2010 and the October 20th, 2010 candidate forums by checking back to this Civic League for New Castle County Blog or by entering your e-mail in the RSVP survey.

 We look forward to your attendance and support of what we hope is a lively interaction with the candidates.

Chuck Mulholland
President,
Civic League for New Castle County

Come Out To The CRG Meeting - 5:30PM At A.I. DuPont High School On Sept. 23rd - And Bring A Sign!

DON'T FORGET!
CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH GATHERING!

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 AT 5:30 P.M.
at
A. I. DU PONT HIGH SCHOOL
HILLSIDE ROAD / ROUTE 52
GREENVILLE, DE

Please come and do a big favor for CRG! Bring your own sign!!! Please pick a slogan (or two) and make a sign with large print that you can hold up at the gathering. You can attach it to a wooden stake if you'd like.

We are trying very hard to decrease the size of these massive developments that Stoltz wants to erect and we need all of the help we can get! We hope to have media coverage at this gathering!

Thanking you in advance,

Patty Hobbs

Transportation Funding Public Workshop - August 30, 2010

This is your chance to voice your concerns about transportation issues in our area.  

It is critically important that you voice any concerns you have about current and emerging transportation problems,  as it is highly likely that transportation funding options will be very restricted in the next decade due to the high risk that Delaware is taking with GARVEE bonds to fund the Route 301 bypass.   This is a prime example of our government officials questionably committing to spend tax payer funds we do not have by borrowing against our future.

If you cannot attend this workshop, you can provide comments at their new "Online Feedback Forum" (Click Here).

Transportation Public Workshop

The public is invited to attend a workshop on August 30, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) and Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) staff will welcome comment on the draft the amended FY 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and invite input for the development of the statewide FY 2012-2017 Delaware Capital Transportation Plan (CTP) and FY 2012-2015 TIP.  The workshop will be held at WILMAPCO offices:

Open House Public Workshop

August 30, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

850 Library Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19703

www.wilmapco.org

The draft FY 2011-2014 TIP for New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland is a four-year listing of transportation priorities and projects based upon available funding. Projects are drawn from recommendations in

A Refreshing Community Perspective on the Problems with the NCC Redevelopment Code

This is an very refreshing and insightful perspective on the serious failures of the New Castle County Redevelopment code, particularly with regard to its impact on communities by Fritz Griesinger, a former member of the planning board and long time community advocate.  The Civic league must take on this issue, and get this code corrected before even more damage is done that will negatively affect our communities for decades to come.
 

As a long term Community Advocate, I felt reporter Chad Livengood (News Journal, August 16, 2010) wrote a refreshingly candid article on problems with Redevelopment.  Properties faced with acts of God and similar situations were addressed by  Redevelopment as part of the Unified Development Code (UDC) when it was adopted in 1997.  Over the years, the Redevelopment ordinance has been mercilessly perverted by the county to now include, by right, just about every zoning category including residential.  With a compliant county government as well as favorable waivers and interpretations by the Land Use Department, there is little protection for residents' quality of life covered in the 2007 Comprehensive Development Plan.

Primary Candidates Forum - 6 PM, Monday, August 23, 2010

The Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA), Civic League for New Castle County (CLNCC), and the Community News will be hosting a Candidate Forum at 6 PM on Monday, August 23, 2010 at the Hockessin Fire Hall.

The forum will allow time for voters to meet, ask questions, and learn about candidate positions on important issues prior to the Primary Election on September 14. 

The Forum will be moderated by the Community Newspaper's General Manager & Editor, Jessie Chadderdon.

This is a Primary Election forum.  Only those candidates facing a Primary Election challenger(s) will be actively involved in this event.

However, additional forums are currently being planned by GHADA and CLNCC that will give all candidates an opportunity to participate in forums prior to the General Election in November.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mark Blake, GHADA President & Land Use Chairman by e-mail at:

markwblake@aol.com

We hope to see you at the event.

WDEL to host political debates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chris Carl, 478-2700

1150AM WDEL & WDEL.com
to Host Political Debates

(Wilmington, DE) – 1150AM WDEL, Delaware’s most listened to news/talk radio station, has announced its lineup of political debates for the upcoming primary election:

August 16, 6pm – Democratic candidates for Delaware Treasurer
Location: WDEL Studios in Brandywine Hundred (2727 Shipley Road)
Moderator: Allan Loudell

August 23, 6pm – Democratic candidates for New Castle County Sheriff
Location: WDEL Studios in Brandywine Hundred (2727 Shipley Road)
Moderator: Allan Loudell
Note: This debate is staged in cooperation with the League of Women Voters of New Castle County

August 30, 6pm – Democratic candidates for Delaware Auditor
Location: WDEL Studios in Brandywine Hundred (2727 Shipley Road)
Moderator: Allan Loudell

August 31, 8am – Republican candidates for U.S. House
Location: Widener Law School, Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Del.
Note: Audience welcome
Moderator: Peter MacArthur

The debates will be broadcast live on 1150AM WDEL and streamed on WDEL.com.
News coverage is welcome. Please contact Chris Carl to make arrangements.

First-Last Chance For Public Input On The Hercules-Toll Bros Subdivision - Hearing Set For 7PM Sept. 7th At 77 Reads Way In New Castle

Tim Sheldon's office sent out this announcement on Monday about the Exploratory Plan Hearing for the Toll Brothers' Hercules property. I asked for and received further clarification that the Sept. 7th meeting is going to be the only chance for public comment before this record plan goes to council for a vote:

There has been a Planning Board Meeting scheduled for the DE National plan (2010-0176-S). It is scheduled for September 7, 2010 at 7 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room at 77 Reads Way(Gilliam Building), New Castle, DE.

This would be the time to come out and speak to the developer and the Department of Land Use directly expressing your concerns. Please remember that

Is DelDOT planning to fix transportation problems that affect you? Click Here to check to see and then let them know what you think!!!

PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND COMMENT PERIOD FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) AMENDMENTS

The public is invited to comment on proposed amendments to WILMAPCO's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years 2011-2014; the proposal will be available for public review beginning August 2 through September 1. The TIP provides federal funding for transportation projects in our region and these amendments will make the TIP consistent with available state funding based on the Delaware Bond Bill. In step with federal regulations, the FY 2011 - 2014 TIP also features an air quality conformity analysis. This analysis demonstrates that the planned projects meet the our region's air quality requirements.

Information will be available for public review and comment at a public "open house" workshop on August 30, at

Didn't Councilman Powers Have a Bill Proposed to Rescind Workforce Housing?

If Bill Power's honestly believes that workforce housing should be rescinded, as was in a ordinance he proposed recently, shouldn't he have the courage to stand on his convictions, lead by example, and not be willing to introduce development plans using this code?

Or was his proposed bill just as the News Journal reported - nothing but a political campaign ploy?

The Resolution Councilman Powers will sponsor is listed is on the Council agenda for Tuesday night, July 26:


Introduced by: Mr. Powers
7/27/10
RESOLUTION NO. 10-133


PLAN OF THE RESERVE AT BECKS POND: PENCADER HUNDRED; EAST SIDE OF SALEM CHURCH ROAD, ONE HALF MILE NORTH OF ROUTE 40; CONSTRUCT A 240 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX UTILIZING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OPTION; ST ZONING.


BE IT RESOLVED:

Paul Baumbach's Progressive Update: Primary Candidates' Forum In Newark, 1 - 5 PM August 22nd At The UUFN

Forum For All Congressional, Statewide And Newark Area Primary Candidates Set For 1PM August 22nd At The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Of Newark

Candidate Forums—Sunday August 22nd from 1-5pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark at 420 Willa Road in Newark (www.uufn.org). Free and open to the public. See and share the flyer(pdf). We have invited the candidates with a primary on September 14th, of both parties. Can you name the four people running for county sheriff? You will be able to say yes on the 22nd if you join us!

Public Meeting On Hercules Golf Course Development Proposal Set For Wednesday, 6:45PM In The Marbrook Elementary School Cafeteria

What: Public Meeting to discuss new development proposed for Hercules Golf Course
Where: Marbrook Elementary School, [2101 Centerville Road Wilmington, DE 19808] in the cafeteria
When: Wednesday July 21st - 6:45 till 8:30.
Who: All are welcome.

Bill Franey and I are arranging a meeting of all interested parties at Marbrook Elementary for next Wednesday (July 21) at 6:45. Little Falls Village is a townhouse community off Centerville Rd. that is very interested in what we have done in the past with Gr.Ov. I and any insight we might provide for this project.

If you combine this Tolls Brothers development plan with the redevelopment of Barley Mill Plaza, Greenville Town Center and the old Columbia Gas/MBNA property, you have millions of square feet of structural expansion in a 2-1/2 mile radius with little to no regard to the impact of existing communities.As we have always said, we are not opposed to development/redevelopment, as long as it shows adequate consideration to existing communities.

Bill Dunn - VP
MLCA

(Community News ) Grace Lo Porto reports ~ Residents sound off on proposed golf course development

Victor Singer's Submission RE: Delaware River Dredging Project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

RE: July 13 & 14, 2010 Public Hearing on the Delaware River Dredging Project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Dear Folks at DNREC:

SUMMARY: From the start of DNREC's handling of the Corps of Engineers' Dredging Proposal, I have been troubled by the general absence of news media mention of the relevance of Delaware's Coastal Zone Act. But the notion that it was only a journalistic omission provided an easy excuse for not looking further to ascertain that it's nothing more.

Secretary O'Mara's 6/15/2010 letter to the Corps of Engineers brings me briskly to recognition that there's MORE to it than just journalistic omission. It appears to me that DNREC has disregarded a key element of the Coastal Zone Act and the Coastal Zone Regulation (therein authorized), or at least is giving that element less weight than is appropropriate. The purposes of this statement are therefore:

• To point out what I regard as error by DNREC in its handling of the dredging project;
• To suggest immediate correction; and
• To ask for an explanation from DNREC as to why the error occurred in the first place if indeed it is error, or why DNREC thinks it isn't error. (In this sense, "error" may be singular or plural.)

DETAILS: My remarks for this Hearing reflect my own thoughts. I have neither asked for nor received comments or endorsements from any of the boards, commissions or other organizations that I am or have been a member of. I have given careful attention to ongoing news coverage of the Corps of Engineers Dredging Project for about a decade. I use the word "careful" because I am perahaps more interested than most news readers and listeners. I have been a member of Delaware's Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board since early 1998 when I was appointed Chairman of the New Castle County Planning Board.

Before me is a copy of DNREC Secretary O'Mara's June 15, 2010 letter to Lt. Col. Tickner (US Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District). This letter announces the July 13 & 14 public hearing dates and lists "Issues which should be provided and/or addressed in further detail" for the hearing. In particular, I am drawn to "Attachment 1: Comments Re: Kelly Island" in the letter, where the following language appears, quarreling with the balance between environmentally damaging and environmentally beneficial aspects of what the Corps proposes: ". . . we have not been provided with any quantitative data that indicates that the benefits will outweigh the environmental cost." The notion that there ought to be more environmental good than harm is more than just nice.

As I understand the Delaware Coastal ZoneAct ("CZA") and the Regulations Governing Delaware's Coastal Zone ("the Reg"), adopted in 1999 under CZA authorization, the environmental benefits MUST outweigh the negative impacts. But my understanding is that that requirement applies to the project as a whole - - or at most to the portion of the entire project that is within Delaware's boundaries - - rather than separately to its several parts. Of course, my interpretations of the law could be wrong - - after all, I'm not a lawyer; I'm only a retired rocket scientist. In that light, however, I have been troubled that I have seen nothing in the ongoing news coverage of the dredging project suggesting that DNREC's treatment of the Corps' application since its submission about a decade ago reflects the CZA requirements, which apply of course cumulatively with other relevant law at both the Federal and State levels.

Obviously, all of the dredging project that is within the State of Delaware is within Delaware's Coastal Zone. But applying the CZA and the Reg to the dredging proposal could well be distasteful to those who are completely opposed to the entire project because among the purposes stated at the very outset of the CZA is the following: ". . . to strike the correct balance between [two policies], encourag(ing) the introduction of new industry into Delaware, [and] the protection of the environment, natural beauty and recreation potential of the State . . .". (Ref. 7 Del. C. 7001) That language prevents absolute disapproval of the dredging application except on a finding that the application would enable new heavy industry or bulk product transfer operations not entitled by grandfathered rights. (The CZA enables expansions or extensions of forbidden activities if they began before enactment of the CZA. The Delaware River was used for shipment of commercial cargo long before the CZA.)

The Reg doesn't set a standard for damage control. But it contains features that could be useful as regulatory devices:

• Under Section 8.0 (also known as Section H) Permitting Procedures, Section 8.1.4 (AKA Section H.1.d) requires an Environmental Impact Statement complying with Section 8.2 (AKA Section H.2); and Section 8.1.10 (AKA Section H.1.j) requires an offset proposal if required under Section 9.1.1 (AKA Section I.1.1)
• Under Section 9.1.1 (AKA Section I.1.1) says: "Any application for a Coastal Zone permit for an activity or facility that will result in any negative environmental impact shall contain an offset proposal. Offset proposals shall more than offset the negative environmental impacts associated with the proposed project or activity requiring a permit. It is the responsibility of the applicant to choose an offset project that is clearly and demonstrably more beneficial to the environment in the Coastal Zone than the harm done by the negative environmental impacts associated with the permitting (sic) activities themselves."

Counting on the CZA as the basis for dealing with the dredging proposal would, in my untrained view, be advantageous because it brings with it several prior Court decisions. In particular, the Norfolk Southern (et al) case involving a proposal to lighter coal at Big Stone Anchorage comes to mind. It was the culmination of actions in several lower tribunals. The final decision was by the US Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit (a three judge panel, that I think is called "en banque")(filed 6/30/87, on Case No. 86-5322)(822 F.2d 388; U.S. App. Lexis 8295; 26 ERC (BNA) 1193; 1987 AMC 2896; 17 ELR 20941). The panel's decision was on Norfolk Southern's appeal from a prior decision by the US District Court for the District of Delaware, D.C. Civil No. 84-0330) in which the judge denied summary judgment to Southern on dormant Commerce Clause grounds, and found that Congress, thru the CZMA (Coastal Zone Management Act, at the federal level) had consented to the Delaware Coastal Zone Act and thus the CZA was immune from Commerce Clause scrutiny. This finding was the basis for granting summary judgment to the defendants.

The appeal followed. The two sentence Conclusion and the paragraph just before it, are particularly worth repeating here: "In essence, Norfolk Southern's arguments reduce to an assertion that increasing coal exports is in the national interest and that Delaware, in seeking to protect its own environment, has struck an unwise balance between these competing interests. In our view, the dormant Commerce Clause does not authorize a federal court to engage in the kind of broad-based 'national interest balancing' requested by Norfolk Southern. Balancing the societal value of decreasing unemployment in the Eastern coal mines and shrinking the size of the trade deficit against the societal value of protecting the coastal zone is within the province of the Congress. In contrast, the Commerce Clause, as applied by the judiciary, acts as a limitation on the authority of the states designed to preclude the establishment of protectionist state barriers that would threaten the operation of the federal union. We conclude that Section 7003 of the CZA was not immunized from Commerce Clause review by the CZMA. We further hold that Section 7003 of the CZA does not violate the dormant Commerce Clause. Thus, we will affirm the order of the district court granting summary judgment for appellees."

The words of that decision seem to be exactly applicable to the current Corps of Engineers dredging application. But relying on that Norfolk Southern decision, by a three judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, requires some sort of explanation as to why it hasn't been relied upon earlier - - unless it HAS BEEN - - as well as why other features of the CZA were not given weight earlier - - unless they HAVE BEEN. In particular, what comes to mind is the last sentence of 7 Del. C. 7005, which requires a DECISION on an application 90 DAYS after submission. The dredging application has been festering for more than 90 MONTHS.

Yours very truly, Victor Singer

Brookland Terrace Civic Club 70th Anniversary Celebration Is Set For 2PM July 31st At Woodland Run Park

(click here for the BTCC web site)

Civic League needs to evaluate and take a position on proposed expansion of Nuclear Reactors in our Region.

Today's News Journal Article "Delaware energy: Nuclear growth puts region at risk", is an excellent report done by Jeff Montogemery that shows how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is downplaying the risks of nuclear power as part of a political play to get more nuclear plants built, including a fourth reactor at Salem.  Nancy Willing also has some more detailed analysis of the information on the Delaware Way Blog.

This political approach is very similar to the one taken by the Mineral Management Service that regulates offshore drilling.  As we watch the news daily from the gulf, we are reminded of just how dangerous this type of covering up of the actual facts and downplaying the dangers can be.

The proposed new nuclear reactor is

Darley Green Redevelopment Project: A poster child for failed policy in NCC?

In a July 3, 2010 News Journal articled titled "Delaware communities: Darley Green developer offers move-in help", the article describes a $300,000 dollar program to provide a subsidy to public employees to move into this struggle redevelopment project claiming is is being done "with no money coming from taxpayers".

"It's something that allows us to give back to those people," said Don Robitzer, chief operating officer and project head for The Commonwealth Group. "It creates an avenue for us to help them out."

While this paints a Rosie picture of the project, the reality of the public subsidy and tax payer cost required to make this project possible may be viewed very differently. 

Board Member Charlie Weymouth is SPOT ON about Del DOT priorities being amuck!!!

 Todays' News Journal Editorial by Charlie Weymouth points out a major reason why so many in Delaware are increasingly stuck in traffic, and will soon be bailing out the State's Transportation Trust Fund.

    For years, WILMAPCO and other have tried to use a technically sound prioritization system to rank transportation investment based on there technical merits and needs; but special interests and "political accommodation" continue to be the rule!!!

***************************************

Don't lose perspective in NKS road deal with DelDOT

Lest we lose our perspective by focusing upon the specific NKS-Tigani-U.S. 1 accommodation in a “sweetheart” deal, one should be reminded of that long held Delaware travesty,

Update on candidates for New Castle County

Here is a nice update of the candidates filed for New Castle County Government Offices from the Delaware Liberal Blog.

We are still unsure if Mike Protack has or is going to file.

We will be inviting all of these candidates for our Civic League for New Castle County Candidates Forum to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010.