Planning commission recommends rezoning for 258-acre PUD near Sawmill Parkway despite resident concerns about possible motorsports use

The City of Delaware Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended that City Council approve a rezoning that would convert about 257.97 acres on the southwest corner of Sawmill Parkway and U.S. 42 from agricultural and light-industrial base districts to a commercial planned unit development (PUD).

The rezoning (PUD-25-1), requested by Daniels Hinkley Housing LLC, was approved by the commission with five votes in favor and one opposed. The commission's recommendation now moves the application to City Council for public hearings and final action; the first council reading was set for Feb. 10 and the public hearing for Feb. 24, according to staff.

Staff told the commission the PUD stage sets permitted uses, site buffers, primary access points and other zoning controls; later development plans would be required for specific buildings, roadway work, stormwater and landscaping. The conceptual plan presented to the commission divides the site into nine subareas with a primary internal access road and proposed connections to Sawmill Parkway and U.S. 42. Staff said a traffic-impact study (TIS) would be required for the entire 257.97-acre site and that any needed roadway improvements identified by the city engineer would be the applicant's responsibility.

Commissioner Anna (staff) summarized several staff-recommended conditions included in the draft resolution: master-planned stormwater for the full PUD footprint rather than separate ponds for individual users; a…