NEWS AND UPDATES
Agenda Posted for May PLUS Meeting
An agenda (PDF) has been posted for May 28 meeting of state agency planners to discuss land-use change proposals submitted for review under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). State agency comments developed through the PLUS process serve as a guide for developers and for the local government leaders who make land use change decisions. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(5/7/08)
Delaware Geographic Data Committee Announces 2008 Service Award Winner
The Delaware Geographic Data Committee, which is chaired by the Office of Management and Budget, is pleased to announce the 2008 Geographic Community Service Award winner (PDF). Nicole Minni of the University of Delaware was honored with award at the annual Delaware GIS Conference on April 23 in Dover. Minni works in the Water Resources Agency in the university’s Institute for Public Administration. She lives in Lewes.
(4/29/08)
April PLUS Meeting Agenda is Posted
The April PLUS meeting is set for April 30, starting at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover. An agenda (PDF) has been posted for the meeting, at which state agency planners will review and comment on land-use change proposals submitted for review under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). PLUS comments serve as a guide for developers and for the local government leaders who make land use change decisions.
(4/7/08)
Delaware's Annual GIS Conference to Be Held April 23 in Dover
Registration is now open for Delaware’s annual geographic information system conference, "Delaware GIS 2008: A Spatial Network," which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Dover. Registration and continental breakfast will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. More details on the DNREC News page.
(3/31/08)
Kent County Schedules Public Hearings on Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Kent County has announced (Legal Notice [PDF]) a pair of public hearings on the draft 2007 Kent County Land Use Plan. The Kent County Regional Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on the draft plan starting at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 2. The Commission will consider making a recommendation to Levy Court on the plan at their meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. Kent County Levy Court will hold a public hearing on the Plan on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:15 p.m. After receiving public testimony on the ordinance at this meeting, Levy Court will vote to approve or deny the ordinance adopting the draft plan. All of these meetings will take place in the Levy Court Chambers at the Kent County Administrative Complex at 555 Bay Road, in Dover. The draft plan was reviewed under the Preliminary Land Use Service as PLUS 2008-02-07 in February of this year.
(3/19/08)
Agenda Posted for March PLUS Meeting
An agenda (PDF) has been posted for the March 26 PLUS meeting. State agency planners will review and comment on land-use change proposals submitted for review under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The PLUS comments are meant as a guide for developers and for the local government leaders who make land use change decisions. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(3/5/08)
Sussex County Announces Land Use Plan Workshop and Hearings
Sussex County Council and the County Planning and Zoning Commission have announced (PDF) a joint workshop and a pair of public hearings on the draft update of the County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The joint workshop will start at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, at the Sussex County Administrative Offices West Complex, at DuPont Boulevard and Old Laurel Road, in Georgetown. It will allow council members and planners to discuss the draft plan and state comments from the PLUS review (PDF) and the Governor's Advisory Council on Planning Coordination. The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft update on April 3. The County Council's public hearing will be held on April 22. Both hearings will start at 6:00 p.m. at the CHEER Center, at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and U.S. 9, in Georgetown.
(2/27/08)
Livable Delaware Advisory Council to Discuss County Comprehensive Plans
The Governor's Advisory Council on Planning Coordination will meet on Friday, February 29, for a discussion of draft comprehensive plan updates by Kent and Sussex Counties. An agenda (PDF) has been posted for the meeting, which will start at 1:00 p.m. in Room 112 of the Tatnall Building, at 150 William Penn Street, in Dover. The Council, known popularly as the Livable Delaware Advisory Council, was established by the General Assembly as part of Governor Minner's Livable Delaware legislative agenda. It is chaired by Lt. Governor John Carney.
(2/22/08)
February PLUS Meeting Agendas Posted
Agendas have been posted for Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) meetings on February 27 (PDF) and March 5 (PDF). These are meetings of state agency planners reviewing land-use change proposals submitted for review in February. Planners will review and discuss the proposals and submit comments to the developers and to the local government leaders who make land use change decisions. Both meetings will start at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(2/8/08)
Registration Now Open for 2008 Delaware GIS Conference
On-line registration is open now for the annual gathering of Delaware's GIS community, set for Wednesday, April 23, at the Dover Sheraton Inn and Conference Center. Delaware GIS 2008: A Spatial Network will bring together the creators of GIS data and the many state, county and local government representatives who use that data in their service to the citizens of Delaware. It will include educators and private sector data users in a day-long exchange of information and energy designed to enhance the use and sharing of GIS data in Delaware. There will be presentations and special-interest group meetings. There will be awards and exhibits. And there will be posters and workshops.
Standard registration is $90 between now and April 4 and $115 after April 4. There are discounts for students and for those who are accepted as presenters at the conference. Presentation abstracts are accepted until March 7. Successful applicants will be notified shortly there-after.
The Delaware GIS Conference has become an annual tradition among those who take advantage of the power of combining maps and databases to enhance data and analysis.
(2/6/08)
Governor’s Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues Releases Report
The Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues released their Annual Report to the Governor and members of the General Assembly on Thursday, January 24, 2008. The report details the demographic, fiscal and development trends occurring in Delaware as well as policies and actions taken to date. The report also includes recommendations for future policy consideration by the Governor and the General Assembly to continue the work of planning for orderly growth and development. The full report is available for download as a PDF file.
(1/29/08)
Agendas Posted for January PLUS Review Meetings
Agendas are now available for the January 23 (PDF) and January 30 (PDF) meetings of state agency planners reviewing land-use change proposals submitted for review in January under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). Reviews under PLUS allow state planners to review the proposals and submit comments on those proposals to developers and to the local government leaders who make land use change decisions. Both meetings will be held in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover. The January 23 meeting will start at 1:00 p.m. The January 30 meeting will start at 8:30 a.m.
(1/8/08)
December PLUS Review Meeting Agenda Posted
An agenda is now posted for the January 2, 2008 PLUS meeting. This is the monthly PLUS review meeting for land-use change proposals submitted for review in December under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The PLUS process allows for review and comment on such proposals by state agency planners. These comments are meant as a for developers and the local government leaders who make land use change decisions. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(12/6/07)
Agendas Posted for November PLUS Review Meetings
Agendas have been posted for PLUS review meetings on November 28 and December 5. Monthly PLUS review meetings allow state planners to review and comment on land use change proposals submitted for review under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The PLUS process is designed for state agencies to provide guidance to developers and to the local government leaders who make land use change decisions. Both meetings will start at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(11/6/07)
Delaware Population Consortium Releases Updated Population Projections
The Delaware Population Consortium has released the 2007 Edition of its Annual Population Projections Series (PDF). The projections predict a growth in Delaware's population of just under 22 percent between 2007 and 2030, when the state's population is expected to top one million. Kent County's population is projected to increase by almost 26 percent over the same period, New Castle County's by just over 13 percent, and Sussex County's population is expected to grow by almost 38 percent.
The 2007 projections reflect very slight changes from the 2006 edition. Adjustments to state and county estimates from the US Census Bureau, which are used to benchmark the work of the Delaware Population Consortium, have led to a slight reduction of the total projected 2030 Delaware population. Most of that reduction comes from the projected 2030 population of New Castle County. The projections for Kent and Sussex Counties remained essentially unchanged.
The Delaware Population Consortium is a cooperative organization that includes representatives from the state government, the counties, and local governments. Each year the group comes together to provide population and employment projections for the State, the counties, and for selected municipalities.
The projections are based on the best available information from member agencies and from other local, county, state and federal partners. Data inputs include actual births and deaths since 2000, the latest Census Bureau estimates, and the latest migration data from the IRS.
(10/24/07)
October PLUS Agendas Posted
Agendas have been posted for two meetings in which state planners will review and comment on land use change proposals submitted for review in October under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The PLUS process allows state agencies to provide guidance to developers and to local government leaders, who make land use change decisions. The meetings are set for October 24 (PDF) and October 31 (PDF) starting at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(10/5/07)
Sussex County to Present Draft Comprehensive Plan Update
Sussex County has announced plans (PDF) for a pair of public meetings to present a draft update of the County's 2002 Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The meetings, set for September 25, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, and September 26, at the Laurel Fire Company, follow a series of public hearings on the update in January and February.
(9/13/07)
Census Bureau Releases Latest American Community Survey Estimates
The US Census Bureau has released a series of estimated population, housing and social characteristics for states, counties, and selected sub-county areas. The estimates are from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS), which uses a continual survey of a portion of American households each year to estimate key social and demographic characteristics. The ACS provides valuable information information to local, county and state decision-makers and helps federal officials determine where to distribute more than $300 billion annually to state and local governments.
The 2006 ACS data for Delaware show the state's estimated population growing by nearly nine percent since 2000, reaching more than 853,400 residents in 2006. The median age of Delawareans is rising as well and is now estimated at 37 and a half years. About 219,600 of us are enrolled in schools (from nursery school through graduate school) and more than 114,400 are aged 65 or older. This is only a very small part of the information contained in this release from the Census Bureau.
Data for 2006 from the ACS are available for the state, the three counties and places with estimated populations of more than 65,000. This includes Wilmington and several Delaware school districts. As more years' worth of data are added to the ACS data set, estimates will be released for smaller and smaller geographic areas. By 2010, the ACS is expected to become the "long-form" supplement to the full decennial Census.
(9/12/07)
Agenda Posted for Livable Delaware Advisory Committee Meeting
An agenda (PDF) has been posted for the September 13 meeting of the Governor's Advisory Council on Planning Coordination (known as the Livable Delaware Advisory Council). The Council will meet starting at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 13, in Room 219 of the Haslet Armory, in Dover.
(9/7/07)
Agendas Posted for September PLUS Meetings
Agendas have been posted for the September 26 (PDF) and October 3 (PDF) meetings of state planners reviewing land use change proposals under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The PLUS process allows for guidance from state planners for developers and for local government leaders, who make land use change decisions. Both meetings will start at 8:30 a.m., in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(9/7/07)
Census Bureau Offers Training to Delaware Municipal Leaders
The US Census Bureau is offering free technical training to Delaware's local governments to help them prepare for the 2010 Census. The day-long training sessions (PDF) will focus on preparing local leaders to take part in the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program which allows local governments to help ensure that the Census Bureau has a complete and accurate list of addresses to which to send Census questionnaires.
Two training sessions are scheduled (PDF) in each of the three counties in Delaware.
- October 3, in Wilmington
- October 4, in Seaford
- October 5, in Dover
- October 31, in Wilmington
- November 1, in Rehoboth Beach
- November 2, in Dover
In addition, training sessions in neighboring counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey will be open to Delaware leaders
The LUCA training sessions are intended for state, county and local government leaders and their staff. Pre-registration is required either by contacting the Census Bureau, at 1-866-511-LUCA, or by returning the registration portion of the workshop announcement (PDF).
(8/28/07)
Agenda Posted for August PLUS Meeting
An agenda (PDF) has been posted for the August 22 PLUS meeting. The PLUS meeting gives state agency planners an opportunity to meet with land-owners and developers to review land-use change proposals submitted for review under the
(8/6/07)
Sussex County and University of Delaware Seek Public Input on Sustainable Growth
A series of three public workshops are scheduled for August 6 through 8 to gather public input on ideas for sustainable growth in Sussex County (PDF). The workshops, to be held in the Cannon Lab on the the University of Delaware's Hugh R. Sharp Campus on Pilottown Road in Lewes, are designed to help create a series of "sustainable growth" development designs that Sussex County can consider as it works on the update of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The County and the University of Delaware are working together, with assistance from the US EPA and NOAA, to develop development models that protect water quality and habitat and foster a sense of community in new development.
The Workshop series will start with a kick-off meet on Monday, August 6, at 6:30 p.m. There will be a working session on Tuesday, August 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by a chance for "public interaction with working designs" at 5:30 p.m. And on Wednesday, August 8, starting at 6:30 p.m., there will be a presentation of the preliminary design concepts developed with public input during the series of meetings.
(8/1/07)
Agenda Posted for July PLUS Meeting
An agenda has been posted for the July 25 meeting (PDF) of state agency planners to review land-use change proposals under the
(7/6/07)
Census Bureau Releases 2006 City and Town Population Estimates
Middletown has shown the most growth among Delaware cities and towns between 2000 and 2006. According to new sub-county population estimates for Delaware (PDF) from the US Census Bureau, Middletown was the Delaware municipality that grew most in absolute numbers and as a percentage of its starting population in 2000. It gained over 4,000 residents for a percentage change of nearly 64 percent, reaching an estimated 2006 population of 10,272 persons.
Other Delaware places that showed high numerical growth between 2000 and 2006 were Dover, Smyrna, Newark and Milford. Almost all of the growth-leaders have grown through annexation and development of new residential areas.
The Census Bureau estimates also suggest that the distribution of population between municipalities and county lands remains essentially the same statewide, though there is a continuing slow shift into county lands in Kent and Sussex Counties. In 2000, 28 percent of Delawareans lived in a city or a town and 72 percent lived out of town. In 2006 that ratio had shifted to 27 percent in town and 73 out of town.
In New Castle County, the in-town share of the population has stayed steady at 25 percent since 2000. In Kent County in 2006, an estimated 40 percent of the people lived in cities or towns, down from 41 percent in 2000. In Sussex County, the municipal share of the population has dropped from 25 percent to 23 percent since 2000.
The Census Bureau's population estimates are based on data from the 2000 Census, updated using information on building permits and other estimates of change.
(7/28/07)
Agenda Set for Quarterly Delaware GIS Meeting
A draft agenda (PDF) has been posted for the next quarterly meeting of the Delaware Geographic Data Committee. The agenda includes updates on several statewide data projects, details on GIS-enhanced research on the Delaware Bay, a review of the use of GIS and geospatial data to manage the recent NASCAR Race Week in Dover, and a number of smaller items.
The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, June 28, in Room 220 of the Kent County Administration Building, at 555 Bay Rd., in Dover. (39° 9' 17.96", -75° 30' 23.94") The Delaware Geographic Data Committee is a cooperative effort among state agencies, the University of Delaware, county and municipal governments, and others to build a Delaware GIS Community and improve the coordination of the use and sharing of GIS and spatial data in Delaware.
(6/21/07)
University of Delaware Workshop to Examine Growth Issues in Sussex County
The University of Delaware's Coastal Communities Enhancement Initiative (CCEI) plans a public workshop on Thursday, June 28, to present an overview of growth issues in Sussex communities and to discuss different tools for and approaches to coping with growth. The free workshop -- Sussex Communities: Growing Better (PDF) -- will start at 8:00 at the Ann V. and Elbert N. Carvel Research and Education Center, on Route 9 west of Georgetown. It will include a lunch.
Speakers will include award-winning journalist Thomas Hylton, author of Save Our Lands, Save Our Towns. A group of University of Delaware officials will discuss the Coastal Communities Enhancement Initiative. Technical and planning experts will present a GIS-enhanced overview of "Growth Scenarios for Sussex Communities." (6/15/07)
Kent County Comprehensive Plan Update Workshops Planned
The Kent County Department of Planning will host three workshops to discuss the effort to update the Kent County Comprehensive Plan. The workshops will include a presentation on the Plan as well as a questionnaire and table-top exercise designed to identify citizen concerns and ideas about future growth.
The workshops are scheduled for:
- June 20 at Lake Forest High School,
- June 21 at Cheswold Fire Hall, and
- June 28 at Caesar Rodney High School
All three workshops will run from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For ore information, please visit the Kent County Planning web site or contact the County at (302) 744-2471.
Kent County's comprehensive plan was last updated in 2002. State law requires county comprehensive land use plans to be updated every five years.(6/13/07)
A Chance to Discuss the Draft New Castle County Comprehensive Plan
New Castle County Council has issued an invitation to the public to join in a Community Meeting (PDF) to discuss the draft 2007 update of the New Castle County Comprehensive Development Plan. Members of New Castle County Council and representatives of the Department of Land Use will be on hand at the county's Gilliam Building starting at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, to take questions and comments on the draft update. The Gilliam Building is at 77 Reads Way, in New Castle.
(6/12/07)
June PLUS Meeting Agenda Posted
An agenda (PDF) has been posted for the June 27 Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) meeting. State agency planners will meet with those land-owners and developers who have submitted land use change proposals for June review. Their discussions will provide guidance for local governments officials, who make the final land-use decisions. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. on in the first floor conference room in the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(6/7/07)
May PLUS Meeting Agenda Posted
An agenda has been posted for the May 23 meeting of the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). This meeting will allow state agency planners to review land use change proposals and to give input to local governments, who make the final land-use decisions. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. on in the first floor conference room of the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(5/4/07)
Inclusionary Housing Forum & Web-Conference Set for May 23
The Delaware Chapter of the American Planning Association will host a special Inclusionary Housing Forum & Web-Conference on Wednesday, May 23, at the Dover Sheraton Hotel. The Forum, which will run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will include a national web-conference, hosted by the American Planning Association, and presentations by a panel of local housing experts. Sandy Johnson, the Director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, will speak on affordable housing challenges in Delaware.
Inclusionary housing programs are often used to help meet affordable housing needs of communities. Forum participants will learn about the successes and possible pitfalls of this approach, and learn from case studies about how to best set up a program. Experts will discuss the legal mandates and program standards necessary to ensure a successful program.
Pre-registration is required; seating is limited. The cost of the event, which is worth three Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits for professional planners, is $20 per person.
(4/20/07)
Agenda Posted for April PLUS Meeting
An agenda has been posted for the April 25 meeting of state agency planners to review land use change proposals and comprehensive planning documents as part of the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The meeting will allow for state input to local governments, who make the final land-use decisions. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. on in the first floor conference room of the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(4/5/07)
2006 County-Level Population Estimates Released
Kent County led the state in population growth rate between 2000 and 2006, gaining almost 21,000 new residents for a growth of over 16 percent, according to new population estimates from the US Census Bureau. Sussex County grew by an estimated 15 percent, gaining almost 24,000 persons. New Castle County had the largest estimated numerical population growth, gaining just over 25,000 persons for a growth rate of five percent between 2000 and 2006. The state as a whole gained almost 70,000 persons during the same period, for a growth rate of just under nine percent. (See Annual Estimates of the Population for Counties of Delaware: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 [EXCEL])
In Kent and Sussex Counties, migration into Delaware accounted for most of the population growth. The contribution of migration was most striking in Sussex County, where newcomers were more than 90 percent of the estimated growth. In New Castle County, natural population growth - births minus deaths - accounted for most of the growth. (See Cumulative Estimates of the Components of Population Change for Counties of Delaware: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 [EXCEL])
While New Castle County had the smallest total growth from migration, it saw the largest percent of that growth come from international migration, according to the Census Bureau estimates. In fact, the estimates suggest that New Castle County saw a net loss of population due to internal migration. All of the county's growth by migration was from international migration. In Kent and Sussex Counties, most of the growth from migration was due to migration from within Delaware or from other states.
(3/22/07)
Agenda Posted for March PLUS Meeting
An agenda has been posted for the March 28 meeting of the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. on in the first floor conference room of the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover. The meeting will allow state agency planners to review land use change proposals and comprehensive planning documents from local governments and submit comments on those proposals to local government leaders, who make the final land-use decisions.
(3/9/07)
Agendas Posted for February PLUS Meetings
Agendas have been posted for the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) meetings for land use change proposals submitted for February review. The meetings, set for February 28 (PDF) and March 7 (PDF), allow state agency planners to review land use change proposals and comprehensive planning documents from local governments and submit comments on those proposals to local government leaders, who make the final land-use decisions. Both meetings will start at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover. A map of the latest PLUS projects is also available.
(2/9/07)
Meetings Planned to Help Local Governments Prepare for 2010 Census
The Office of State Planning Coordination and the US Census Bureau will co-host a series of workshops for local government leaders in March. The workshops are designed to help the elected leaders of Delaware's cities and towns ensure that their communities are fully counted in the 2010 Census.
The workshops will provide information on the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program, in which officials use their local knowledge to improve the list of addresses the Census Bureau uses to take the 2010 Census. Having accurate and up-to-date address lists will help the Census Bureau more accurately count the population of Delaware municipalities.
A recent news release from the Census Bureau quotes National League of Cities President Bart Peterson on the importance of an accurate Census.
"Decennial census data directly affect how more than $200 billion in federal grant funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments each year," said Peterson, the mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana. "Clearly, the stakes are high, and participation in the LUCA program will ensure cities and towns nationwide receive their fair share of funding for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and much more."
Workshops are planned for two hours and are scheduled for:
- 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 8, at the Bear Library, 101 Governor's Place, in Bear;
- 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 13, in County Council Chambers at the Sussex County Administration Building on the Circle, in Georgetown; and
- 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, in Room 133 of the Haslet Armory, at Legislative Ave. and William Penn Street, in Dover.
Informational booklets on the LUCA program (PDF) have been sent to local governments leaders. Invitations will be sent by the Census Bureau to elected officials, inviting them to the March workshops. An additional workshop on the LUCA program is planned as part of the 2007 Delaware GIS Conference, set for the start of May, in Dover.
(2/7/07)
Schedule of DGDC Meetings in 2007 Announced
The Delaware Geographic Data Committee will hold four quarterly meetings in 2007. The meetings will take place on March 21, June 20, September 19 and December 12. All four DGDC meetings will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon and will be held in the State Training Room at the Paradee Center, on Transportation Circle (next to DelDOT Headquarters), in Dover. DGDC meetings are open gatherings of Delaware GIS Community and allow GIS professionals and spatial-data users from all levels of government, the private sector, and academia to get together and share information and ideas and to inspire one another. Anyone with ideas for subjects to be covered at a DGDC meeting is encouraged to contact Mike Mahaffie, at (302) 739-3090.
(1/24/07)
Public Input Sought for WILMAPCO Regional Transportation Plan
The Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) has invited interested citizens and organizations to review and provide written comments on a draft update of the WILMAPCO Regional Transportation Plan. The draft plan is intended to serve as a guide for transportation planning in New Castle County, Delaware and Cecil County Maryland through 2030. It includes specific goals, objectives and strategies to help maintain the quality of life in the region.
The draft plan is available for public inspection at the WILMAPCO office at 850 Library Ave., in Newark, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 on weekdays (excluding holidays). It is also available via the WILMAPCO website and can be mailed by request.
The public comment period is open through March 9, 2007. WILMAPCO will hold a public meeting on February 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., to accept comments. WILMAPCO staff are available, on request, to make presentations on the plan to civic organizations and other groups. For more information, contact WILMAPCO at (302) 737-6205.
(1/16/07)
January PLUS Meeting Agendas Posted
Agendas have been posted for January meetings of state planners to review land use change proposals and comprehensive planning documents from local governments under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). The meetings are set for Wednesday, January 24, 2007 (PDF) and Wednesday, January 31, 2007 (PDF). Both will start at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover. PLUS review meetings allow state agency planners to review and comment on land use change proposals prior to submission to local governments, which have final approval authority. A map of the latest PLUS projects is also available.
(1/12/07)
Hearings Set on Sussex County Comprehensive Plan Update
Sussex County has scheduled a series of public hearings to gather input for an update of the Sussex County Comprehensive Plan. According to a County, hearings will be held in each County Council district "to give the public an opportunity to offer comments and suggestions for what should be included in this year's update of the comprehensive plan."
The current Sussex County Comprehensive Plan was developed in 2002 and certified in 2003. An update is due by the end of 2007.
(1/5/07)
