Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council clears major Country Club Estate plan, advances rezonings to protect open space and historical resources
Summary
Council approved a major land-development plan (Country Club Estate) that could yield up to 540 dwelling units using transfer-of-development-rights provisions, and adopted related rezonings and map updates intended to protect historic structures and create an open‑space zoning district.
New Castle County Council on Dec. 9 approved the Country Club Estate major land‑development plan and several associated zoning changes intended to protect historic resources and create a public parks/open‑space zoning category.
Resolution R25‑204 described a proposed subdivision west of Back Creek Drive that combines multiple tax parcels to allow an open‑space plan subdivision including single‑family detached lots, village lots, age‑restricted units, townhomes and multifamily units. The plan referenced use of transfer of development rights and showed a base yield of 352 dwelling units plus an additional 188 units for a total of up to 540 dwelling units. Councilman Carter (speaker 7), who led the presentation, said the plan is code‑compliant and that the developer and planning staff are continuing work on a plan amendment to address an Irwin Street interconnection safety concern with DelDOT.
"It is code compliant," Carter said, noting that the matter had been difficult to work through for years. He described continued coordination among planning staff, the developer and community members to refine the plan.
Council also moved forward on a set of companion rezonings, including Ordinance 25‑152 to revise the county zoning map in the Saint George’s Hundred area to protect historic farm structures and preserve about five acres as a resource. Council members cited positive recommendations from the Department of Land Use and the Planning Board and adopted the ordinances.
Separately, Council adopted Ordinance 25‑100, implementing a newly created zoning district for public parks and preserves and rezoning multiple publicly owned parcels into that category; council members said the change makes the use of these properties clearer to the public.
Votes and next steps: R25‑204 and the companion rezoning ordinances passed on roll call after committee review. Council and staff said they will continue plan‑level refinements to address safety connections with DelDOT and the plan amendment requested by staff and the developer.
Details from the record: R25‑204 text noted proposed clubhouses, recreational areas, and the use of transfer of development rights; application number 2020‑1287 and Council District 6 were recorded in the presentation.
