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Developer presents Tower Square annexation concept, including proposed ice rink and large retail program
Summary
Pennoni Associates presented a conceptual annexation petition by CW Property Investments for 55.1 acres on DuPont Boulevard called Tower Square, proposing a mixed‑use development with a 78,300 sq ft ice rink, 107,580 sq ft of retail, and about 95,000 sq ft of flex/warehouse space, and estimated building‑only costs of $53–$76 million for fiscal‑impact review.
At the July 15 meeting, Pennoni Associates presented a conceptual annexation petition for Tower Square, a proposed mixed‑use commercial development on DuPont Boulevard that would bring two Sussex County parcels (approximately 55.1 acres) into Georgetown.
For the record, Mark Davidson, principal land planner with Pennoni Associates, said the conceptual program includes a roughly 78,300‑square‑foot indoor ice rink, about 107,580 square feet of retail space and approximately 94,960 square feet of flex‑storage/warehouse space. He told the commission those building‑only costs are preliminarily estimated at about $53 million to $76 million and that the estimate excludes site work, utilities, permitting and soft costs; Davidson emphasized the range is provided solely for the town’s fiscal‑impact review.
Davidson said the applicant seeks initial highway‑commercial zoning upon annexation to align the parcels with the Route 113 commercial corridor and the town’s comprehensive plan. He outlined utility intentions — including a proposed pump station and a force main to connect to town water and wastewater systems — and offered an EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) example: using the town’s 1 EDU per 3,000 sq ft rule, the 107,580 sq ft retail block would generate about 36 EDUs, with additional EDUs to be determined for the rink and concessions once seating is defined.
A preliminary traffic‑impact study was prepared and submitted to DelDOT; Davidson said the study evaluated 16 intersections and included future buildout conditions to 2035 and that DelDOT comments issued July 8 have been addressed in a resubmittal. Davidson repeatedly emphasized that annexation would not substitute for site‑plan, building‑permit or DelDOT approvals, and that annexation would place the property under the town’s municipal review framework.
Commissioners asked about buffering and whether the parcel is the northernmost annexation candidate; Davidson said buffering is part of the concept and that the parcel currently represents the town’s northernmost planned annexation area. No formal action was taken on the annexation petition at this meeting.
