Milton planning panel recommends approval of Deerfield mixed‑use plan, backs parking variance

The Milton Planning Commission on Jan. 14 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a use permit (U-25-03) and a concurrent parking variance (VC25-01) for a 24.92-acre mixed‑use redevelopment in the Deerfield area at 13010 Morris Road.

Zoning manager Robin McDonald told commissioners the proposal by Deerfield CC Delaware LLC would convert underutilized office acreage into a mixed‑use center with 140 multifamily apartments, 20 townhomes, 10 loft apartments above retail and 24,840 square feet of new retail. McDonald said staff’s analysis shows the project meets Deerfield form‑based code standards and the 2040 comprehensive plan and recommended approval with conditions, including requirements that nonresidential functions be identified and built concurrent with multifamily uses.

McDonald also outlined the concurrent variance request to reduce the site parking requirement. Using the Urban Land Institute shared‑parking model, staff said the ULI methodology produces a required 1,194 spaces (compared with 1,309 under traditional minimums) and the site as proposed would provide 955 spaces. McDonald noted 23 on‑street spaces offered by the developer along Morris Road cannot technically be counted against the site total, meaning an approved reduction should…