Seaford Mayor and Council unanimously approved a preliminary site plan for a proposed 12,000‑square‑foot childcare center on Rollins Drive during Tuesday’s meeting.

The project, submitted by Coastal Property Ventures LLC on behalf of Title Health Nanticoke Inc., would place a new childcare facility across from the Mears campus on currently vacant land. The council voted to grant preliminary site‑plan approval after Planning and Zoning recommended approval at its August 7 meeting.

Why it matters: The development is presented as employee childcare for the nearby medical campus, intended to serve hospital employees and help with workforce retention. The site plan approval advances the project to the permitting stage but requires state fire‑marshal and Sussex Conservation approvals before construction.

Key project details and approvals
- Applicant: Coastal Property Ventures LLC, on behalf of Title Health Nanticoke Incorporated (property owner listed at 100 Rollins Drive, tax map parcel 331‑5‑13.01).
- Building: Proposed new childcare/kindercare building of 12,000 square feet. The plan shows a stormwater pond, parking and a placeholder medical building nearby.
- Parking: The kinder care portion requires 20 spaces by code; the applicant proposes 40 spaces for the childcare portion. The entire parcel is shown with 82 total parking spaces and an ADA figure cited in the packet.
- Zoning and variance: The property is zoned R‑4 (institutional residential). Childcare is not a permitted use by right in that zone; the applicant received a variance from the Board of Adjustment in May to allow the childcare use.
- Additional approvals required: State Fire Marshal, Sussex Conservation District and standard permitting from Planning & Zoning.

Council action
Councilwoman Stephanie Grasset moved to approve the preliminary site plan; Councilman Orlando Holland seconded. The council voted yes based on the findings of fact. Votes recorded in the transcript show unanimous approval from present council members.

Next steps
The applicant must complete required agency reviews and obtain state and conservation approvals prior to final site plan sign‑off and building permits. The applicant was not present at the meeting; the city inspector answered council questions.