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Millsboro council authorizes RFPs for select town properties after heated debate over Koopa Park
Summary
Council approved soliciting proposals for several town‑owned properties but, after public outcry and debate, explicitly excluded Koopa Park from the initial RFP; the decision passed on a 4–3 roll‑call vote. Council members said the RFP is exploratory and would not bind the town to any sale or redevelopment.
The Millsboro Town Council voted June 1 to solicit proposals for several town‑owned properties — including the old police station, the current Chamber of Commerce office and the former art league building and railroad depot — after staff recommended a request‑for‑proposals (RFP) process to attract creative redevelopment ideas.
The motion to issue RFPs for the specified properties passed on a roll‑call vote, four in favor and three opposed. Mayor Bob McKe and several council members said the RFP is an exploratory tool, not a commitment to sell or change property use, and that any developer proposals would return to the council and public for review.
The discussion was dominated by concerns over Koopa Park, a downtown waterfront green space many residents described as a treasured public amenity. Dozens of callers and in‑person commenters urged the council to preserve the park and to pursue repairs — particularly bulkhead rehabilitation and flood mitigation — rather than commercial development. Council members who opposed including Koopa Park in the initial RFP said the park’s character and public use warranted protection; those supporting an RFP option argued an RFP could surface ideas that preserved park access while addressing expensive infrastructure problems.
Council members who voted to confine the RFP to the three properties noted the town can revisit Koopa Park separately. Several members suggested targeted public‑engagement steps and emphasized that an RFP does not obligate the town to accept any proposal.
What’s next: staff will draft and advertise an RFP for the approved properties and return to council with proposed RFP language, timelines and any recommended restrictions to protect public access or parkland. Councilmembers said Koopa Park remains a standalone issue that can be brought back to a future meeting for separate consideration.
