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Council approves Spring House Preserve rezoning after debate over density and aesthetics
Summary
New Castle County Council adopted Ordinance 25-153 to rezone land for the Spring House Preserve affordable housing project after extended debate; councilmembers cited planning-board recommendations and relief from ARPA funding, while residents urged better tree screening and lower visible density.
The New Castle County Council voted to adopt Ordinance 25-153 on May 12, 2026, clearing the way for the Spring House Preserve housing project after a lengthy presentation and public comment.
Councilman Sheldon, the ordinance sponsor, told colleagues the developer reduced the project’s footprint from 138 units to 124 and said the project targets households at roughly 75% of area median income, which he characterized as incomes “between $62,000 and $116,000.” He said the project reserves 12 units for veterans and that roughly $5,000,000 in ARPA funding contributed to lowering costs for the development. “This is one of our workforce housing projects,” Sheldon said, arguing the mix would serve teachers, paramedics and other middle-income workers.
Several councilmembers said they supported the rezoning because the Land Use Department and the Planning Board recommended approval and because the project preserves and adaptively reuses a historic structure on the site. Councilman Hollins said the county must keep advancing affordable housing and praised the developer’s concessions; Councilman Street commended the sponsor’s persistence through community debate.
During public comment, resident Teresa Baldwin said neighbors were not opposed to affordable housing but repeatedly raised concerns about density and the appearance of the backs of townhomes facing Limestone Road. “Our concern was the density and the aesthetic aspect of the backs of the townhomes… they sit so close to the road,” Baldwin said, urging the developer to increase tree canopy and screening, especially along the northern portion adjacent to Carousel Park.
Following discussion, the council closed public comment and conducted a roll-call poll. The clerk reported the ordinance passed with a unanimous roll call tally reported as 13 yes. Council members who explained their votes generally cited the planning board and land-use department recommendations and the need for more affordable housing in the county.
The ordinance rezones multiple tax parcels in Mill Creek Hundred (Limestone Road/Concord Drive area) to allow the higher-density workforce housing project, while preserving an on-site historic building and reserving units for veterans. The developer named in the discussion was Steve Davies.
Next steps indicated at the meeting: the ordinance was adopted on final action; the transcript does not record implementation timelines, building permits, or the project schedule.
