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Council told to comply with court order as St. George's logistics center plan proceeds under appeal
Summary
Council members were told a resolution to advance a logistics‑center plan at the Route 301 / Jameson Corner Road site is on the agenda to comply with a judicial order now under appeal; members expressed concern about incomplete traffic studies, resident safety and the prospect of large trucks in residential corridors.
A resolution related to a proposed logistics center at the southwest corner of Route 301 and Jameson Corner Road was placed before the New Castle County Land Use Committee on Jan. 6 as part of compliance with a judicial order that is currently under appeal.
Councilman Carter, sponsor of the resolution, told the committee that "it's written that this resolution is before council today to comply with the judicial order that is currently under appeal," and emphasized the item should not be taken as an endorsement of the project but as a procedural step to follow the court order.
Several council members raised concerns about traffic and public safety. One councilmember who said they had read the court decision and the related record criticized how the plan moved forward and said DelDOT had acknowledged in writing that long‑term infrastructure improvement studies were underway but incomplete. That member said residents along Jameson Corner Road and nearby neighborhoods deserved "a data driven approach to ensure that their communities are protected." The same councilmember warned the plan would introduce large truck traffic, saying, "This plan proposes putting 18 wheelers in that."
Councilman Street asked for a legal opinion from the county attorney and council‑to‑council counsel and expressed confusion about the appeals process; county counsel and outside counsel said the matter is on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court and suggested the committee could hold an executive session to address legal questions next week.
Kimberly Hoffman, partner at Morris James, identified herself as counsel for DPML Acquisition Company LLC (an affiliate of a national developer) and said Robert Borney and Brian Conlon (Langan Engineering) are available to answer questions; Hoffman asked that the prior presentation be entered into the record for this resolution. A member of the public, Dale Swain, urged the county to adopt proactive regulations for logistics and large distribution centers so they are not sited adjacent to neighborhoods.
Councilmembers did not take a final policy vote on the logistics plan at the committee; the sponsor said the resolution is being shepherded and that the item will be considered again next Tuesday. Counsel and committee members discussed the option of an executive session to address the legal posture while the appeal proceeds.
