Alan King, the applicant for LC25Dash29CZDash26DashO1, told the Kent County Regional Planning Commission on Jan. 8 that he bought the business in 2022 for his father and converted it from a hobby into a public operation that has grown faster than expected. “Westarted selling some tools out of it ... were basically ... running out of room. We need some more room,” King said after being sworn and giving his address as 463 Maidstone Branch Road, Dover.

King asked the commission to rezone a portion of his property so he can add parking and provide additional turning room for large trucks; he said his primary need is space for parking and truck maneuvering rather than enlarging the building footprint. The application materials list the petition area as about 1.3 acres within a roughly 23.85‑acre parcel; existing IG zoning on the parcel currently covers about 0.7 acres.

Staff members reviewing the file (noting staff member Sarah on the record) recommended a modified approval that would keep BG (general business/highway commercial) acreage equal to the existing IG acreage (approximately 0.7 acres) rather than expanding to the applicants requested 1.3 acres. Staff explained the recommendation as a conservative measure given the rural character of the area and the relatively intensive nature of BG zoning.

Commissioners and staff discussed the map on the screen: purple indicated existing IG (0.7 acres), red showed the staff recommendation, and orange marked the applicants proposal for 1.3 acres. Several commissioners, including the chairman and Commissioner Davis, said that after viewing the site they believed the applicant likely needs more room for parking and turning and indicated willingness to accommodate the business where feasible.

Staff told King the record would remain open for two business days and asked him to contact planner Chris Connolly the next day to refine the map so a workable layout could be placed in the record. The chairman reiterated that the commission cannot approve a boundary larger than what was advertised in the public notice, so any change in acreage beyond the advertised plan would need to be handled before the record closed.

No members of the public spoke in favor of or in opposition to the application either in person or online during the hearing. No decision was rendered at the Jan. 8 hearing; the commission will consider the application at its business meeting on Jan. 15 at 6 p.m., and the Kent County Levy Court is scheduled to hear the application on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. if it is not withdrawn or tabled.