[{"_1":2,"_84":-5,"_85":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6492095,"mediaKeyId","5497021-3355a770db9ef941d1451176384effd9","parentId",5497021,"title","Council discusses zoning/process changes and landlord inspection list as university move‑in approaches","audioSeconds",550,"startMs",133000,"endMs",683000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5497021-3355a770db9ef941d1451176384effd9&start=133&end=683","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6492095/Newark/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Council-discusses-zoningprocess-changes-and-landlord-inspection-list-as-university-movein-approaches","mediaUrl","author","City Council of Newark DE","date","2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","article","Council members on July 28 discussed ways to speed up development review, broaden developer participation and help students find safe off‑campus housing as the University of Delaware prepares for fall move‑in.

Councilman Lawhorn argued the city should consider making the development process more predictable and streamlined so more, including smaller, developers will build. He said research he reviewed shows most places that reduced rents did so by making the permitting and zoning process less cumbersome. Lawhorn urged council to consider “controlling the process more upfront, making it predictable and streamlined,” so projects can proceed without unpredictable, costly delays.

Other council members agreed that council involvement earlier in the review process would help both developers and residents. Councilwoman Ford said she opposed reducing the council’s ability to review land‑use projects: \"I will absolutely oppose any diminution of the power of this council to review land use projects because we review them on behalf of our residents,\" she said.

Caitlin, a University of Delaware representative, told council the main undergraduate move‑in days are \"the 20 third through the 20 fifth for undergrads in the dorms\" and noted orientation and other events will also affect Main Street traffic and housing demand. She said the university provides guidance for first‑year students and tries to assist transfer students who look for off‑campus housing later in the cycle.

Council members discussed publishing a voluntary list of rental properties whose owners allow interior inspections or have up‑to‑date certificates of occupancy as a resource for students. Staff said the city's new permitting system (EPL) now captures whether inspections were interior or exterior, but officials are still cycling legacy rental permit records into the new system. A staff member said the city went live on the new permitting system Oct. 1 and that monthly renewal cycles are being entered; staff expect to collect a full year of data before producing a comprehensive list.

Why it matters: Student move‑in periods concentrate housing demand and complaints about substandard rental units in college towns. A voluntary inspection list could help students identify properties that have allowed interior inspections or have current certificates of occupancy; changes to development review could affect how quickly new housing supply enters the market.

What happens next: Council members said they will follow up with staff and university student life offices to coordinate outreach and timing. Lawhorn indicated he will circulate references he has collected on streamlined zoning processes to inform future deliberations.

","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members debated streamlining land‑use review to increase housing supply and discussed publishing a voluntary list of rental properties that allow interior inspections ahead of heavy student move‑in periods. University and staff representatives outlined move‑in dates and permitting system updates.","taxTitle","Newark, New Castle County, Delaware","taxId",56514,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6492100,"Newark council approves university tax ordinance, speed-camera rules and contract change; denies Chabad House reimbursement",473,1913000,2386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5497021-3355a770db9ef941d1451176384effd9&start=1913&end=2386","/articles/6492100/Newark/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Newark-council-approves-university-tax-ordinance-speed-camera-rules-and-contract-change-denies-Chabad-House-reimbursement","Newark City Council on July 28 approved a set of ordinances and contractual actions and rejected a reimbursement request from the Chabad House.

The council voted 5-0 to approve a $53,091.05 change order to a contract with BSS Contractors LLC for the Field Operations Complex warehouse expansion, to adopt an ordinance establishing an electronic speed monitoring program for residential streets and to pass an ordinance establishing authority to levy a per‑student tax on colleges and universities (Bill 25‑19), as amended to allow the initial per‑student rate to be set by council resolution this fall and future rates during the city budget process. The council also approved the consent agenda by a 5-0 vote and rejected a motion to reimburse the Chabad House $6,950 for removal of three American holly trees.

The city manager told council the speed‑camera ordinance (Bill 25‑18) is the final legislative step required to implement the residential program, with a tentative go‑live date of Oct. 13 for residential streets. \"We have a tentative go live date for the residential street program of October 13, assuming all goes as planned from here forward,\" the city manager said during the meeting. The ordinance does not authorize a Main Street camera; the manager said a separate agenda item will address Main Street if council wants to pursue it.

Jeff Martindale, who presented the change order, described the item as \"a very straightforward change order\" and said there was no budget amendment associated with the request. Council members voted to approve the change order 5-0.

On the college and university tax, the ordinance implements authority granted by recent changes to the city charter through House Bill 34. The city solicitor proposed — and the council adopted by unanimous vote — an amendment specifying that the council will set the initial per‑student rate by resolution in fall 2025 and set subsequent rates as part of the annual budget process. The final vote on Bill 25‑19 as amended passed 5-0.

Tom Price, a graduate student who identified himself as a Newark resident, addressed the council during public comment and opposed the university tax's per‑student metric. \"This bill is really a red herring. It's a tax on students and not the university,\" Price said. He urged further negotiation with university officials about the levy.

The council also considered a request from the Chabad House for reimbursement for removal of three American holly trees at 262 South College Avenue. Staff described the matter as a request the Chabad House had submitted after the council earlier granted a landscape screening waiver. Council members pressed staff on why the city would reimburse what some described as a neighbor‑to‑neighbor dispute. Councilwoman Ford moved to reimburse $6,950; the motion failed 5-0.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (receipt of committee minutes, conservation commission recommendation, staff procedure for federal funding losses, first reading of Bill 25‑21 on police minimum standards): Motion to approve consent agenda — PASSED 5-0 (Councilwoman Ford: Aye; Councilman Bancroft: Aye; Councilman Brown: Aye; Councilman Lawhorn: Aye; Mayor Travis McDermott: Aye).
- Change order to Invitation to Bid 24‑03 with BSS Contractors LLC, amount $53,091.05: Motion to approve change order — PASSED 5-0 (Councilman Longarm: Aye; Councilwoman Ford: Aye; Councilman Bancroft: Aye; Councilman Brown: Aye; Mayor Travis McDermott: Aye).
- Bill 25‑18, ordinance establishing an electronic speed monitoring system for residential streets: Motion to approve Bill 25‑18 (second reading and public hearing held) — PASSED 5-0 (Councilwoman Ford: Aye; Councilman Lawhorn: Aye; Councilman Bancroft: Aye; Councilman Brown: Aye; Mayor Travis McDermott: Aye).
- Motion to reimburse the Chabad House $6,950 for removal of three American holly trees at 262 South College Avenue: Motion to reimburse — FAILED 0-5 (Councilwoman Ford: No; Councilman Lawhorn: No; Councilman Bancroft: No; Councilman Brown: No; Mayor Travis McDermott: No).
- Bill 25‑19, ordinance authorizing a tax levy on colleges and universities (as required by HB 34), amended so council sets initial per‑student rate by resolution in fall 2025 and subsequent rates in the budget process: Motion to add solicitor's amendment — PASSED 5-0; Motion to approve Bill 25‑19 as amended — PASSED 5-0 (Councilman Lawhorn: Aye; Councilwoman Ford: Aye; Councilman Bancroft: Aye; Councilman Brown: Aye; Mayor Travis McDermott: Aye).

Why it matters: The university tax ordinance creates a new mechanism for the city to collect revenue from colleges and universities within Newark, subject to rates the council will set. The speed‑camera ordinance establishes automated enforcement on residential streets and, if implemented, could change enforcement and revenue patterns. The change order moves forward construction work at the city's operations complex. The Chabad House reimbursement vote resolves a specific property dispute without city payment.

What happens next: The city manager said staff will continue backend work to prepare for the residential speed‑camera launch; the Main Street camera and any contractual details for that business corridor will be scheduled for future council consideration. The university tax rate will be set by council resolution in the fall and then by the annual budget process thereafter.

","At its July 28 meeting the Newark City Council approved a change order for a public works contract, a residential speed-camera ordinance and an ordinance authorizing a college/university tax (as amended). The council denied a $6,950 reimbursement request to the Chabad House for tree removal and approved the consent agenda.","actionData","errors"]

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Council discusses zoning/process changes and landlord inspection list as university move‑in approaches

Newark council approves university tax ordinance, speed-camera rules and contract change; denies Chabad House reimbursement