Georgetown planning panel approves site plan, grants multiple waivers for service building at 22065 DuPont Boulevard

The Georgetown Planning Commission on Dec. 3 approved a preliminary site plan and a package of waivers allowing ADBMD Georgetown LLC (represented by Chris Schaffner of DHW Holdings) to build an approximately 9,976-square-foot service building behind an existing automobile dealership at 22065 DuPont Boulevard.

The commission granted a conditioned waiver of the 25-foot buffer adjacent to residential property on the applicant’s proposal that the buffer be shown by easement on a recorded survey, accepted a waiver to allow the existing dumpster screening to remain, and approved design-related waivers including roofline (dormer) changes, massing, a partial waiver for prominent entrance treatment, partial ground-level detail waivers and partial relief from blank-wall screening requirements. Motions were seconded and passed by roll call; the recorded tally across votes was unanimous affirmative.

Why it matters: the applicant said the building will allow service and storage work to remain in Georgetown rather than be shuttled to Millsboro, keeping employees and some service functions local. Chris Schaffner, who identified himself as representing DHW Holdings and the Preston Automotive Group, told the commission the aim was to "keep this business staffed here" and reduce trips off-site.

Design and site arguments: Casey Rowell, the project engineer with Rowell Incorporated, described site constraints — a long, wooded parcel behind existing buildings — and explained technical steps including a submerged gravel-wetland stormwater approach to address soil-conservation concerns. Rowell also noted the project received from DelDOT a "letter of no contention," which staff said indicated no required entrance improvements.

On appearance and security, the applicant and staff discussed trade-offs between meeting design standards and the practical limits of a back-of-site service building. Schaffner urged removing or raising low, ground-level windows for security reasons and recounted an on-site safety concern: he said he found "two people sleeping in the shed" on the parcel when it was inspected.

Conditions and next steps: staff told the commission that the approvals were preliminary and conditioned on resubmitting revised plans that incorporate the agreed changes and addressing remaining comments on the review letter. Final site-plan details will be handled administratively if they stay within the scope of the waivers and conditions the commission approved.

Quotes: "My name is Chris Schaffner, and I represent DHW Holdings," Schaffner said in introducing the project. On traffic, Rowell said the DelDOT letter essentially cleared the project for access, noting the department viewed the site as reducing off-site trips. On security, Schaffner said the discovery of people using a dilapidated shed on the site shaped the team’s request to eliminate low windows.

What was decided: the commission approved the preliminary site plan "as presented with the conditions we've discussed," with staff to verify that the applicant’s resubmittal addresses outstanding engineering and plan comments; staff said further review of final plan details will be administrative and not require another planning commission vote unless changes exceed the conditions set by the commission.

Community notes and wrap-up: there were no public commenters present on Zoom. In other business, staff noted the Dec. 8 town council meeting will include a vote on a cottage-community ordinance and release of a draft downtown development district update for public comment. The commission adjourned after brief holiday remarks.

(Reporting based on Georgetown Planning Commission meeting transcript, Dec. 3.)