Seaford approves sale of five Hooper’s Landing lots to D.R. Horton with product standard

Seaford Mayor and Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the sale of five lots in the Hooper’s Landing subdivision to national builder D.R. Horton, and added language requiring Horton to provide its Horton Level 1–3 product on those parcels.

The motion, made by Councilman Cohen and seconded by Councilman Bradley, approved Insight Land Company LLC’s transfer of lots 1–5 (tax map 53113.00-1.021, .031, .041, .051, .061) to D.R. Horton. The vote passed unanimously.

Council members and the developer spent more than 40 minutes on the item, focusing on what kinds of houses will be built and how the homes will perform energy-wise. The council’s final motion requires Horton to adhere to the stipulations in the previously negotiated agreement of sale and to provide Horton Level 1–3 homes on the five lots.

Why it matters: Hooper’s Landing sits adjacent to existing single-family neighborhoods and near Fred Douglas School and Williams Pond. Council members said they wanted to preserve the character and energy performance of nearby homes while ensuring the buyer delivers higher-end, non-cookie-cutter housing rather than lower-priced “express” models.

D.R. Horton representatives described the planned product. Jay Halman, land development manager for D.R. Horton in Delaware, said the units in Hooper’s Landing will be fully specified “traditional” single-family models — the company’s Horton series — generally in the roughly 2,000-square-foot range with three to five bedrooms and multiple elevation options. “We take very seriously what we’re putting into our homes,” Halman said.

Councilman Dan Henderson pressed for an explicit guarantee that the company would deliver a higher-end product rather than lower-priced express models. “We need an equivalent home and we need … it needs to be memorialized that you're gonna have a tradition style home or greater on those lots,” Henderson said. D.R. Horton agreed to a motion that named Horton Level 1–3 product as the required standard.

The council and D.R. Horton also reviewed minimum standards that the RFP required: one single-family home per lot, a minimum house size of 1,800 square feet, at least a one-car attached garage, and a requirement that the developer start construction on the first two homes within nine months of closing. Halman said homes will be presold rather than speculative, and reported preliminary market interest: several qualified leads and at least one under contract.

The sale completes the transfer process that began with the city’s RFP and the economic development committee’s recommendation. Insight Land and D.R. Horton presented drawings and elevations during the meeting; Andrew Campanelli, general counsel for Insight Land, attended for legal and contract questions.

What’s next: Council approved the sale and the contract language as presented. Building permits and final plan reviews will proceed through the city’s permitting process; the building official will review submitted plans for compliance with the required Horton Level 1–3 product before permits are issued.

Notes: The discussion included detailed back-and-forth about energy-performance labeling (Energy Star vs. performance-based measures). D.R. Horton said its plans exceed Energy Star ratings in construction and systems but may not carry the Energy Star label, and agreed to the council’s request to require the Horton Level product in the motion.