The Milford Board of Adjustment on Monday granted three variances for a property at 60602 Southeast Front Street that owners say will convert a long-vacant neighborhood market into a second single-family home and formalize parking behind the lot.

The variances — (1) a use variance to allow two single-family detached dwellings on one R-2 parcel, (2) an increase in maximum lot coverage from 40% to 61%, and (3) permission to expand an existing stone driveway by 400 square feet rather than installing a dustless surface — were approved by a 4-0 vote with one commissioner absent.

The parcel currently contains an existing single-family dwelling and an older building that formerly operated as a neighborhood market. Planning staff told the board the commercial building has been abandoned for decades and that renovations to the structure prompted a code-enforcement citation after inspectors observed signs of occupancy. Planning staff said the applicant sought a use variance and two area variances as outlined in the staff report and supporting packet materials.

Planning staff member Mr. Pierce described the requests and the code sections involved, citing Milford City Code Chapter 230-9(b)(1) (single-family detached residential use listed singularly in R-2), Chapter 230-10(d)(1)(b) (maximum lot coverage 40%), and Chapter 230-20(b) (driveways required to have an approved dustless surface). "The applicant is seeking permission to increase the maximum lot coverage from 40% to 61%, resulting in a 21% increase from the maximum permitted lot coverage," Pierce said, and noted that the lot-coverage increase is to accommodate parking for the additional dwelling.

Owner Stacy Young, who identified her address as 13698 Spicer Road, Ellendale, Delaware, told the board she bought the property in 2021 and had not realized a variance was required to occupy the second structure. "When I bought the property back in 2021, you guys should have a listing, it did say that there was 2 dwellings. I was not aware of a variance until after I bought it," Young said. She said one of the structures is currently occupied by members of her husband’s family and that she has obtained permits for exterior renovations.

Board members asked about parking and the proposed surface. Young said the backyard already is used for parking by tenants and some neighbors; she said the application would formalize a defined parking area shown on the submitted survey and that she would install rails or similar measures to organize spaces. Planning staff said the parking plan would create a structured location for vehicles and reduce random parking and potential future violations.

An online commenter, Julie Morris of 21142 Cedar Beach Road, spoke in favor of the variance after being sworn. Morris noted differences between accessory dwelling-unit rules and the current request (the latter involves two principal structures rather than an ADU) but said she saw the conversion as helpful amid a housing shortage.

After discussion, Board member Ron Rizzo moved to grant each variance; motions were seconded (variance 1 seconded by Mr. Mascola; variance 2 seconded by Andrea White; variance 3 seconded by Mr. Mascola) and each passed 4-0. Commissioners who voted in favor cited the preexisting, nonconforming arrangement of two buildings on the lot and the benefit of adding residential housing. The board noted other similar grandfathered situations exist in the block.

The board directed the applicant to follow up with planning staff on implementation details and any remaining permits. Planning staff reminded the board that a use-variance approval requires different criteria than area variances and that staff had included an analysis of each criterion in the packet. The public notice for the hearing was advertised in the Veil State News on 05/18/2025 and mailed to properties within 200 feet of the subject parcel.

Votes at a glance: variance requests for Sussex County tax parcel 33017183 (60602 Southeast Front Street) — Use variance to allow two single-family detached dwellings (Milford City Code Chapter 230-9(b)(1)): motion by Ron Rizzo, seconded by Mr. Mascola; vote 4-0 to approve. Lot-coverage variance to permit 61% coverage (Chapter 230-10(d)(1)(b)): motion by Ron Rizzo, seconded by Andrea White; vote 4-0 to approve. Driveway surface variance to add 400 square feet of stone rather than a dustless surface (Chapter 230-20(b)): motion by Ron Rizzo, seconded by Mr. Mascola; vote 4-0 to approve.

The meeting closed after the board approved several findings-of-fact motions on unrelated applications and adjourned. The board had four of five members present; Commissioner Wiley was absent.