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New Castle County Board of Adjustment grants five area variances, with conditions
Summary
At a public hearing April 23, 2026, the Board of Adjustment of New Castle County approved five area variances by 6-0 votes; each approval included a specific condition such as preserving porch openness or matching submitted renderings.
Acting Chair Cora Castle presided over the New Castle County Board of Adjustment’s public hearing on April 23, 2026, where the board voted 6-0 to grant five area variances, each with a condition tied to the applicant’s proposal.
The board first approved the meeting minutes from Jan. 22 and March 26, 2026, and amended the April 9, 2026 minutes to acknowledge the presence of board member Mohammed Cisse. Those procedural items were approved by voice vote prior to consideration of applications.
App. 2026-0232-A (James Druding): The board granted an area variance to allow a proposed addition 14 feet from the rear property line where a 25-foot rear-yard setback is required (UDC Table 40.04.110.B). Acting Chair Cora Castle moved to grant with a condition that “the porch shall remain open and not further enclosed;” Edward Thomas seconded. The motion passed 6-0.
App. 2026-0233-A (Eleanor J. Habib): The board granted an area variance to permit an addition 13 feet from the rear property line (25-foot required). Ms. Castle moved to grant with the condition that “the porch shall remain screened and not further enclosed;” Chase Barnes seconded. Vote: 6-0.
App. 2026-0178-A (Raman Investment, LLC): The board approved area variances to permit a 99-square-foot ground sign with a 14-square-foot Electronic Variable Message Sign (EVMS) as close as 2 feet from the Maryland Avenue right-of-way, where a 40-foot setback is required for ground signs over 50 square feet (UDC Table 40.06.060). Ms. Castle moved to grant with the condition that the proposed ground identification signage be in general accordance with the renderings submitted into evidence; Mohammed Cisse seconded. Vote: 6-0.
App. 2026-0156-A (Clarice Anne Daly): The board granted an area variance to allow an accessory storage shed 22 feet from the rear property line where a 40-foot rear-yard setback applies (NC10 Historic (H) Overlay). Ms. Castle moved to grant with a condition that the building elevations of the proposed log cabin–style shed conform to the renderings in evidence; Keith Rolph seconded. Vote: 6-0.
App. 2026-0245-A (BPG Kirkwood LLC): The board granted two area variances to permit eight 70-foot parking-lot cutoff light poles (20-foot maximum permitted) and to allow 10 footcandles illumination for cutoff fixtures (0.4 maximum permitted). Chase Barnes moved to grant with the condition that fixtures be controlled to illuminate parking areas only when necessary during evening events; Cora Castle seconded. Vote: 6-0.
Department of Land Use staff were listed in the record and noted one item of other business with a May 28, 2026 reference; no additional formal board action on that item was recorded in the minutes. The board did not record any roll-call breakdown of individual yes/no votes beyond the 6-0 tallies. The hearing record lists Daniel Murray of the Office of Law and Department of Land Use staff Melissa Hughes and Klesa Achaibar as present.
The board’s actions impose site- or design-specific conditions intended to preserve the character or limit impacts described in the applicants’ submissions; applicants must meet those conditions as stated in the minutes.
