[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6515577,"mediaKeyId","3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948","parentId",3859303,"title","Land Use committee reviews amendments to Concord Square deed restrictions, including drive‑thru and sign provisions","audioSeconds",296,"startMs",68000,"endMs",364000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948&start=68&end=364","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948/thumbnail_68000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6515577/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Land-Use-committee-reviews-amendments-to-Concord-Square-deed-restrictions-including-drivethru-and-sign-provisions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515577-c5dab03eff3752bfcda1e0d2e8930278/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448759&Signature=G6sMV9Hno2ycsyOP3NZDJuoFLmmzUA-MiMmW4ekQnHzddumAxiIU3p8aR6P-NsOeNajyVjuIxma4fMc5reWE2BhzFEboXU1RkhaxPsm-pk0Oi3zAauNHnscnzN7ix9goQtZGS3lPtSTuyC1vEHUC8SCYAcXH3C~Oi5lLEhIcxoiHbiLVznGNwwL-nFZ2NVpC~InxprsApW3CYniX1HawTh2FJoe4Bli7NFjydbETqO29gcRV5crXsI83fyo02ehCi2ecNhitD3jBOHbScn1a4KueipW9A0xGdcvN3MgvfTFMLuorvQw57o3LjAmsc~TCdDN1ujj30bZmOVvP72Rbmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Castle County","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","New Castle County Land Use Committee members heard a presentation June 17 on proposed amendments to deed restrictions for Concord Square Shopping Center, tax parcel O60400005, that would remove a reference to an eastern landscaping buffer, repeal a clause barring applicants from seeking sign variances, and eliminate a 1991 prohibition on drive‑thru facilities.

The applicant's attorney, John Tracy of Young Conway Stargate & Taylor, told the committee the changes are largely “clean up” from prior amendments related to adjacent redevelopment and common ownership. He said the eastern buffer reference can be deleted because a landscape plan implemented with recent redevelopment and common ownership makes the eastern buffer unnecessary while the northern buffer remains in place.

Why it matters: the amendments would change long‑standing deed restrictions that were adopted when the property was rezoned for a shopping center in 1991. Removing the drive‑thru prohibition and the restriction on seeking sign variances would allow future applicants to pursue those uses through the normal county processes, including public hearings before the Board of Adjustment where applicable.

Tracy said the amendment that removes the sign‑variance prohibition “doesn’t create a right to get a variance,” noting any variance would still be considered by the Board of Adjustment and other county review bodies. He also described the removal of the drive‑thru prohibition as reflecting changes in retail operations since 1991, and said the applicant had catalogued 11 drive‑thru locations on Route 202 between Sharpley Road and Damon's Road as context for the request. “That’s it in a nutshell,” Tracy said, closing his presentation.

Councilwoman Durham said she had discussed the proposal with the County Council Office of Community and Business (CCOBH) and with the Planning Board and had “not heard any other negative comments from the community.” Councilman Carter said he prefers redevelopment over greenfield development and welcomed the chance to have encumbrances heard on their merits. Councilman Hollins asked whether the project still includes a transfer to Brandywine School District; Tracy replied the transfer remains in place.

No public commenters spoke in the chamber or online during the matter as recorded in the meeting segment. The transcript does not record a formal committee vote on the amendments at this meeting.

Next steps: the applicant answered committee questions and left the committee with no formal vote recorded on June 17. If the committee moves the item forward, any future applications for sign variance or drive‑thru would require separate approvals and public hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Castle County - Land Use Committee - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","New Castle County Land Use Committee members heard a presentation June 17 on proposed amendments to deed restrictions for Concord Square Shopping Center, tax parcel O60400005, that would remove an eastern landscaping buffer reference, repeal a clause barring sign variances, and eliminate a 1991 drive‑thru prohibition.","taxTitle","New Castle County, Delaware","taxId",12637,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515563,"Committee considers updates to impact fees: CPI indexing, exemptions for affordable housing and redevelopment, and planning board conditions",536,2231000,2767000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948&start=2231&end=2767","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948/thumbnail_2231000.jpg","/articles/6515563/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Committee-considers-updates-to-impact-fees-CPI-indexing-exemptions-for-affordable-housing-and-redevelopment-and-planning-board-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515563-0bff7ade5bdbd729e2768c8d4f23cb3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448759&Signature=dw1yFOxts0PsIiHqorMXT3nR2V1YjAYqHyWnjLCgzkGW8G1S0iyTXvxsbJ6NKSPqJkjeq3YPbm2~2dqNRU7e1JeJ8BPhhpdCFF1cHm7YDhKumvcV751lzJ44aZVn0Ryy1Cs8nMW~EaGa~CmWYsX4V7eH9dkaPpz69kXqtdvpl7ADMy7lsm-ieOZbIrW0axXEPgsUQontKbbst6s8VdZQpmWwB5zrp7iKiAu~Q-w96DqPVuX7c2dxqvAt8WLOnV9BjjnUUvAbDCTU2TQLC4ddy6isiVrS6ZE22Jm9PKlq16IIv-oK~reAQgBfpVdplMwmNwmSb46c1LSf4j~ZhjakGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Castle County Land Use Committee members discussed Ordinance 25045 on June 17, a proposed update to county impact fees that would index fees to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), require an annual review and a full study every five years, and preserve exemptions for certain affordable housing and for existing gross floor area on redevelopment/brownfield sites.

County staff presentation: Matthew Rogers and Anthony Sikowski of the Department of Land Use presented the ordinance and accompanying slides. Rogers described the proposal as updating fees to reflect inflation since the 1999 baseline and moving the fee index from the Engineering News‑Record construction index to CPI on the grounds that many fee‑funded items (vehicles, equipment, technology) are not captured by construction indices. The ordinance would also require an updated impact fee study every five years.

Exemptions and redevelopment: The proposal exempts workforce dwelling units (the county’s pre‑2014 affordable housing program), Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (the current program), low‑income housing under 100% AMI, and redevelopment/brownfield development with a credit for existing gross floor area (GFA); new gross floor area would be subject to fees. Rogers said, “the exemption for redevelopment is to cover the gross floor that’s existing on the site. So the part that would actually be redeveloped,” and staff clarified that additional new GFA would pay impact fees.

Council questions and concerns: Council members supported updating the fees but several raised concerns. Councilman Cartier asked whether brownfield redevelopment should still be exempt in full for all fee types, noting that redevelopment can create new demands on local services such as fire and rescue. Cartier said Claymont examples had prompted him to ask whether the local fire company’s capital needs are being considered. Staff and other council members said the redevelopment credit gives a credit for existing GFA but new GFA pays fees, and that more targeted approaches (tax increment financing, project‑specific agreements) could accompany redevelopment incentives.

Planning Board recommendation and text change: Staff noted the Planning Board gave conditional approval; the department recommended striking language that would treat State Strategies Level 3 and 4 areas as having higher development costs — staff and the sponsor recommended removing that clause. Staff said the ordinance’s code changes do not rewrite the redevelopment credit language found in Article 8 but that clarifying language could be added and staff were open to continuing discussions with council sponsors in the days before final council action.

Public comment and next steps: A member of the public, Bruce Weingard, spoke in support of impact fees as a pay‑as‑you‑go mechanism. Council sponsors said they would work with Land Use staff to resolve outstanding drafting questions quickly and hoped to finalize action before the new fiscal year; staff noted the ordinance also requires a study to be completed within roughly 18 months, which will provide further opportunity to refine policy and geographic questions.","The New Castle County Land Use Committee on June 17 reviewed Ordinance 25045, which would update county impact fees by indexing them to the Consumer Price Index, require periodic studies, and clarify exemptions for affordable housing and redevelopment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515568,"Council sponsor previews proactive rezoning for Claymont mass transit area; public raises environmental justice concerns",397,1355000,1752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948&start=1355&end=1752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948/thumbnail_1355000.jpg","/articles/6515568/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Council-sponsor-previews-proactive-rezoning-for-Claymont-mass-transit-area-public-raises-environmental-justice-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515568-fb3834dc3faea3e373b8840498b0bcfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448759&Signature=EAF95gSh8-SHOpBE-cnPz0NflKSqgtyU5HRMhFLptTitVn1PNxmqRCmGJXXVsjHvyQIasxcjwPqxRoIkwmyaIWxRbumOq3B9uspfJhQKrRSNFrQCLwFJjJcvrzFyXAPIA6vm72cwXrPsEk8EtmWrjihLJXrFCW6mgao7lCpLziJXn6I~biAYEYf~KcGqMv8gvK9eQ0blXmLJo5V~2skVfMfKoSlQb-mHDH~lC4WXcudrSeIX3xCwMqSRaGR9hX-k4K1sUXO2RJBVNNgLtUQ8rnVEYCgFAqJPfVjpzqxvWoNnTfsjrJbnC-Urhdpv6pZ3Kr6K185taLM2~-94sIrmkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed Ordinance 25‑001 June 17, a sponsor‑led proactive rezoning that would change zoning on an assemblage of parcels around the Claymont Mass Transit Center from Heavy Industry (HI) to Commercial Regional (CR) to encourage transit‑oriented mixed‑use redevelopment.

Sponsor remarks: Councilman Cartier described the assemblage as more than 300 acres and said the rezoning would remove heavy industrial entitlements to enable mixed‑use, transit‑oriented development near the new mass transit center. Cartier said the rezoning is supported by the property owner, the Planning Board and the Department of Land Use and characterized the proposal as “the gateway” to future redevelopment in Claymont.

Public comments and environmental concerns: Two members of the public spoke. Rob Bullock asked what types of development the rezoning would enable and asked whether the transportation center would be redeveloped. Councilman Cartier said the Claymont Mass Transit Center is a roughly $90,000,000 state investment integrating bus, commuter rail and bike‑ped facilities and that the proposed CR zoning is intended to support intensive mixed‑use development that complements the center.

Robbie Anstead spoke in support of revitalization but urged the council to align rezoning with the county’s 2050 comprehensive plan and to require updated environmental assessment before rezoning. Anstead specifically cited the proximity of parcels to a former Honeywell site where uranium recovery occurred and argued the county’s 2024 plan omits a radiological assessment; he requested conditioning rezoning on updated environmental review and overlay protections.

Responses from council and staff: Council members and staff said technical environmental reviews (for example from DNREC and state agencies) are part of the rezoning and development review process. One councilmember noted that the county receives technical information from state agencies before a rezoning vote. Councilman Cartier and others said voluntary site assessments and federal/state remediation programs would be involved in redevelopment and that redevelopment typically requires detailed review before ground‑disturbing activity occurs.

No formal committee vote on Ordinance 25‑001 is recorded in the transcript for the June 17 meeting; the item was introduced and discussed, and members expressed support while acknowledging public concerns about environmental review and remediation.","Council members discussed Ordinance 25‑001 on June 17, a sponsor‑filed proactive rezoning to change more than 300 acres around the Claymont Mass Transit Center from heavy industry to commercial regional to support transit‑oriented mixed‑use redevelopment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6515572,"Committee reviews major mixed‑use plan in Saint George’s Hundred: 288 apartments, retail, and site changes along Route 13",290,455000,745000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948&start=455&end=745","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3859303-5e6ad0fa52a9440aab3d35a35775d948/thumbnail_455000.jpg","/articles/6515572/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Committee-reviews-major-mixeduse-plan-in-Saint-Georges-Hundred-288-apartments-retail-and-site-changes-along-Route-13","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6515572-43085205b94fedcae634c3f17ab2216c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448759&Signature=NxcZ97AoA-4sn4KzCQIi5pqLA9n8NC0OR48zc46ayKKHVYFCf0BElJqknaxFYdaojIHYbA-U-l1ZmUXiCwOvOJI7UJjtWkryqY0~UTWWfMlNRB8wioGzmeDDm7vvicimBPWMrMS9E4L4EmCl-PzImabBx7~ABOQ0hmJ77m9ibzj2xn~KHDsC7Z849PXswDCn5d-h-a5tJd3lfQgfU5vc-16u~1Ss013T9VKVMn2-7JVBd1HgAbn~-02OMZDk63sp8YsTFO1v2aQ3NUDWKDhbsNOWA40N8QaL1czlCFIuJ3so44rR-eIC1hBtY~pwd6SsfQKUIo7rTu9sb~u4KnGr-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Castle County Land Use Committee reviewed a major land development plan June 17 for a site in Saint George’s Hundred at the northwestern corner of DuPont Parkway and Greylag Road proposing 288 apartment units and multiple retail and amenity components as part of a 372,506‑square‑foot mixed‑use project.

Councilman Carter, who presented the item, described the proposal as meeting code requirements and said the project includes a parking study and traffic analysis. He told the committee the plan will be “the first apartment complex approved south of the C and D Canal in unincorporated New Castle County” and said he expects it to help retain local workers and graduates who currently leave the area for housing.

Why it matters: the project adds a substantial supply of rental housing in southern New Castle County and includes on‑site retail and amenities; council members discussed access and multimodal connections alongside community impacts such as school capacity and public safety services.

Council members asked the developer’s representative for additional traffic and unit‑type detail. The developer representative said the project contains 288 apartments mixed among one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom units and is primarily two‑bedroom units spread across three‑story buildings. He said the development reduces peak‑hour traffic relative to an earlier commercial plan for the site — a reduction he summarized as “50% or more during the peak hour,” with total trips reduced “by over 60% during the week and nearly 80% on the weekend” compared with previously approved commercial square footage.

Councilman Koneko asked about traffic calming and flow; the representative described a single right‑in/right‑out entrance on Route 13 and a full‑access entrance on Boyd’s Corner Road and noted a central plaza and internal circulation serving the mixed‑use community. Council members and staff noted a DelDOT multimodal path adjacent to Route 13; staff indicated the path is 10 feet wide.

Council members discussed inclusionary zoning and affordability: one councilmember reminded the committee that, under county code, rezonings typically include affordability requirements, including set‑asides and contributions to the housing trust fund. Carter and others said the developer cooperated on a parking study and that the plan had been previously presented at an earlier committee meeting with no substantive changes to square footage and entrances.

The transcript records committee discussion and requests for follow‑up (detailed trip and unit‑mix breakdowns) but does not record a final vote on the plan at this meeting.","New Castle County Land Use Committee heard details on a major land development plan for Saint George’s Hundred proposing 288 apartments and mixed‑use retail and office space; sponsor and developer representatives highlighted traffic reductions relative to an earlier commercial plan, a DelDOT multimodal path, and site access design.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Land Use committee reviews amendments to Concord Square deed restrictions, including drive‑thru and sign provisions

Committee considers updates to impact fees: CPI indexing, exemptions for affordable housing and redevelopment, and planning board conditions

Council sponsor previews proactive rezoning for Claymont mass transit area; public raises environmental justice concerns

Committee reviews major mixed‑use plan in Saint George’s Hundred: 288 apartments, retail, and site changes along Route 13