Land use committee reviews Landing at Whitehall Hamlet 3 plan; committee to vote later tonight

The New Castle County Land Use Committee on a meeting called to order at 2:30 reviewed the proposed Landing at Whitehall, also described as Hamlet 3, a 249-unit residential addition to the Whitehall master plan. Councilman Carter sponsored the review; developers and consultants presented the plan and committee members said they intend to suspend rules and hold a formal vote on the plan later tonight.

The applicant's consultant, Pete Yanks of Terabicus Grosso, told the committee the Hamlet 3 proposal contains "249 residential units, 65 single family detached dwellings, 34 single family attached, and a 50 townhouses." He described the landing as an extension of Village 1 and said the project was designed under the county's smart code to create a walkable, mixed-use village rather than typical suburban sprawl.

Why it matters: proponents and several council members said the project advances the county's smart-code vision for compact, mixed housing and local commercial amenities and will connect to the existing Whitehall village center. Committee members noted the project's potential to add a range of housing options and to increase walkable access to services already under development in Village 1.

Details presented - Unit mix and tenure: Yanks and project materials list 249 total units: two single-family detached types (described in the presentation as 31 "large" single-family lots plus 34 "cottage" single-family detached homes, which together match the 65 detached units noted), 34 twin homes (described as rental), 50 townhomes (two- and three-bedroom rental options) and additional future apartments. The presentation identified the five lot types by color on the plan. - Pricing and rents: The presenters said townhomes will start at about $2,500 per month and that some future apartments are expected in the low $2,000s; the presentation contrasted Whitehall's product mix with neighboring single-price developments (which the consultant described as commonly in the $600,000'$800,000 range). - Site and connectivity: The landing sits north of Village 1, adjacent to the C & D Canal, and connects to Mapleton Avenue and other existing Whitehall neighborhoods; the presenter noted an area on the plan that could provide access to canal lands if a future trail along the canal's southern bank becomes permissible. - Local amenities and institutions: The presentation identified existing and planned Village 1 nonresidential uses, including a Whitehall Beer Garden, a dog park and playground, a commercial building (for medical offices), a Whitehall Wellness Center operated by Christiana Care, Pizzeria Metro, Peach Grove Market and the First State Ballet Studio. The presenters said Lorwood Grove Elementary School (in the Appoquinimink School District) sits within the community and serves about 800 students. - Market context and progress to date: The presentation said about 235 homes have been sold or rented in Whitehall to date and estimated roughly 3,500 residents within a half-mile and 4,500 within three-quarters of a mile of the village center.

Council response and next steps Committee members praised the project and thanked the Julian and DiSabatino families and the development team for adhering to the smart-code vision. Councilman Cartier said he was "really pleased to sponsor that legislation back in 02/2009," and multiple council members recognized the development team's role in delivering a walkable village. Councilman Carter said, "I do plan to, suspend rules since we never meet last week, and, vote on this tonight." The committee chair responded, "We will vote this tonight. Thank you." The meeting record showed no members of the public spoke on the plan during this session.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting - Committee approved the meeting minutes as posted (motion and second recorded; outcome recorded by voice as "aye"); the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. - The committee moved to adjourn (motion and second recorded; outcome recorded as unanimous voice "Aye").

What remains: No final approval or ordinance adopting the Landing at Whitehall was recorded in this meeting. The committee indicated it will suspend rules and bring the plan to a vote later the same evening; the transcript does not include the result of that subsequent vote.

Community and implementation notes Developers emphasized that the Landing at Whitehall was designed to implement the county smart code's village/hamlet form, including alleys to reduce on-street parking and higher-quality building materials. Council members asked that the developer preserve the potential canal access point shown in the plan "in case we ever do convince the court to allow us to have a trail along the southern bank of the C and D Canal," according to a council member.

No public comments were received in person or online during the committee discussion. The record indicates a vote will be taken later tonight but does not include a final outcome.