Several residents used the public comment period at the Milford Board of Adjustment meeting on July 18 to criticize the board’s recent decisions and to raise specific project objections. Speakers said variances and approvals are weakening zoning protections and questioned the board’s impartiality.

Julie Morris opened the public comment period with broad criticisms, saying the board had become “a pipeline for developer demands” and citing a March approval of “32 variances” on a Truro Avenue project. Morris said the permits she described had “gutted our zoning code, trampled floodplain protections, ignored state wetlands” and she demanded resignations, stating that Chair Bridal Warfel “is a city contractor who gave expensive VIP tickets to the mayor” and that a formal complaint was filed with the Delaware Public Integrity Commission. Morris said the board had “lost the trust of the very people it’s supposed to serve” and urged resignations to restore legitimacy.

Other speakers focused on project‑level impacts. Trish Marvel and Annette Billings objected to a proposed Dollar General at the Windward Boulevard/South Rehoboth Boulevard site, saying a box store would not fit the character of the nearby well‑maintained development and that additional Dollar General locations risked harming local businesses and access to healthy food. Several commenters said they had not received direct notice about the Dollar General proposal for adjoining properties.

Board members and staff noted the public comments were part of the hearing record and considered during deliberations on specific agenda items. The board later denied the parking variance for the Dollar General application and proceeded to vote on other agenda items.