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Candidates discuss business friendliness, zoning and downtown preservation
Summary
At the forum, candidates proposed simplifying planning and zoning, working with the Chamber, and balancing downtown character with new development along Route 113; several said cleanup and housing solutions are prerequisites to attracting new business.
Georgetown candidates at a Chamber forum spent substantial time on economic development, exploring ways to make the town more business friendly while preserving downtown character.
Multiple candidates identified permitting and zoning processes as barriers to commercial growth. Angela Townsend said she would study other towns’ systems and examine Georgetown’s permit and design standards, arguing that the relationship between the Chamber and town needs repair. Peniel Barrett and other candidates said they would sit down with planning and zoning and the town manager to find ways to simplify codes and speed approvals.
Candidates also discussed market constraints. Several said attracting businesses depends on increasing rooftops (housing), while others suggested targeted measures such as lowering impact fees or adopting clear design standards to speed projects that meet requirements. An incumbent noted state agencies—DelDOT and soil-conservation reviews—can delay site plans even after the town’s review is complete.
Views differed on where new development should go. Some candidates said downtown is effectively built out and better suited to small, pedestrian-oriented uses; others favored encouraging new commercial development along Route 113 where parking and visibility are greater. Candidates repeatedly tied business attraction to improving downtown cleanliness and addressing quality-of-life issues, including homelessness.
No formal policy proposals or votes were taken at the forum. Candidates urged voters to consider trade-offs between preserving the town’s historical circle and accommodating growth on highway corridors when evaluating development plans and council priorities.
