Council sponsor previews proactive rezoning for Claymont mass transit area; public raises environmental justice concerns

Council members discussed Ordinance 25‑001 June 17, a sponsor‑led proactive rezoning that would change zoning on an assemblage of parcels around the Claymont Mass Transit Center from Heavy Industry (HI) to Commercial Regional (CR) to encourage transit‑oriented mixed‑use redevelopment.

Sponsor remarks: Councilman Cartier described the assemblage as more than 300 acres and said the rezoning would remove heavy industrial entitlements to enable mixed‑use, transit‑oriented development near the new mass transit center. Cartier said the rezoning is supported by the property owner, the Planning Board and the Department of Land Use and characterized the proposal as “the gateway” to future redevelopment in Claymont.

Public comments and environmental concerns: Two members of the public spoke. Rob Bullock asked what types of development the rezoning would enable and asked whether the transportation center would be redeveloped. Councilman Cartier said the Claymont Mass Transit Center is a roughly $90,000,000 state investment integrating bus, commuter rail and bike‑ped facilities and that the proposed CR zoning is intended to support intensive mixed‑use development that complements the center.

Robbie Anstead spoke in support of revitalization but urged the council to align rezoning with the county’s 2050 comprehensive plan and to require updated environmental assessment before rezoning. Anstead specifically cited the proximity of parcels to a former Honeywell site where uranium recovery occurred and argued the county’s 2024 plan omits a radiological assessment; he requested conditioning rezoning on updated environmental review and overlay protections.

Responses from council and staff: Council members and staff said technical environmental reviews (for example from DNREC and state agencies) are part of the rezoning and development review process. One councilmember noted that the county receives technical information from state agencies before a rezoning vote. Councilman Cartier and others said voluntary site assessments and federal/state remediation programs would be involved in redevelopment and that redevelopment typically requires detailed review before ground‑disturbing activity occurs.

No formal committee vote on Ordinance 25‑001 is recorded in the transcript for the June 17 meeting; the item was introduced and discussed, and members expressed support while acknowledging public concerns about environmental review and remediation.