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Council approves land exchange with 111 North Walnut LLC to redesign downtown parking lot
Summary
The council approved a land-exchange agreement that swaps rear parcels behind 105'115 North Walnut Street to enable a redesigned public parking lot and allow private redevelopment of street-front parcels, while retaining easements for utilities.
Milford City Council on Feb. 25 approved a land-exchange agreement with 111 North Walnut LLC intended to create a redesigned downtown parking lot and open the street-front parcels on North Walnut Street to private redevelopment.
Mark, the city manager, presented the plan, saying the current Northeast Street parking lot is "in very deteriorated condition" and not laid out efficiently. Under the approved agreement, the city will retain parcels labeled A and D for construction of the new parking area; parcel B will transfer to 111 North Walnut LLC for redevelopment. Two small C parcels containing utilities and traffic-control equipment are excluded from the conveyance and will remain subject to permanent easements in favor of the city. Staff also proposed a license agreement to give 111 North Walnut temporary access through the new lot for maintenance and construction needs.
An appraisal of the properties concluded there was no appreciable change in value between the street-front parcels and the rear parcels; staff said the highest and best use for the subject parcels is high-density residential development. Councilmembers commented that the swap should improve traffic flow and parking in the downtown core. The motion to approve the land-exchange and the license agreement was moved, seconded and adopted by unanimous voice vote.
Why it matters: the swap is designed to resolve longstanding circulation and access issues in a downtown lot that staff described as difficult to navigate. The council and staff said the change should make parking more user friendly and allow investment along North Walnut'Front Street, while preserving utility access.
What the agreement includes (as described by staff): - City retains parcels A and D for construction of a new public parking lot. - Parcel B transfers to 111 North Walnut LLC to support planned redevelopment at street frontage. - The city will retain permanent easements over two small C parcels that contain utilities and traffic-signal control equipment; those C parcels were excluded from the land swap. - A license agreement grants temporary access to the rear of the properties for the developer until permanent arrangements are recorded.
Next steps identified by staff include recording the land-exchange instruments and easements, completing detailed construction drawings for the new lot, and returning bid documents or construction contracts to council for approval. Staff also said the project will require DelDOT and Planning & Zoning approvals for entrance and parking-lot work.
No public comments were heard on the item at the meeting; the city manager and staff noted that the next actions will be administrative (recording instruments, easements and putting the project out for bid).
