NEWS AND UPDATES
Archived, September 2006
Governor Minner Joins Local Leaders to Sign a Land Use Planning Agreement for Southern New Castle County
Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner joined with local leaders in New Castle County on Wednesday, September 27, to sign a Memorandum of Agreement that will guide regional planning efforts in Southern New Castle County. With the agreement, Governor Minner noted that through "cooperation, communication and shared goals, we can grow in a thoughtful, responsible and orderly way." She added that the agreement is "a model for all of Delaware."
(9/27/06, updated 9/29/06)
Lewes-Area Developer Seeks Citizen Input
The designers and developers of a proposed addition to the City of Lewes have scheduled three days of open house at the Lewes Public Library to gather public input on their project. That project, known as Showfield, is proposed for the lands commonly known as The Smith Farm, adjacent to (and partly within) the City of Lewes on its eastern side, between the City and Gills Neck Road.
The process, known as a design charrette, will allow Element Design Group and their client, Showfield LLC, to work with residents of Lewes and surrounding areas to plan a development that will "meld into the existing fabric of Lewes" according to an invitation to the Charrette (PDF).
"This is the right way to plan for a major development such as this," said State Planning Coordinator Connie Holland. "The people planning Showfield understand that they are proposing to join the City of Lewes. It is important that the people of the City are included in what is, ultimately, a master-plan for a new portion of their city."
The Showfield Design Charrette will run from noon to 7:00 p.m. each day, Monday, October 2, through Wednesday, October 4, at the Lewes Public library (Map Location). On Wednesday evening, the results of the Charrette will be presented to the Mayor and Council of Lewes in a Public Workshop at 7:00 p.m. at the Library.
The input gathered from the Charrette and discussions with the Mayor and Council will guide the designers as they continue the process of planning their development, seeking annexation into the City, and applying for approval of the development.
"This will be a long process," added Ms. Holland. "There will be several official and technical reviews over time. But this input, from the people of the area, is some of the most important input that the developers will get."
(9/26/06)
A Request for Proposals for New Statewide Spatial Data
The Delaware Spatial Data Implementation Team (I-Team) has released a Request for Proposals for statewide updates of aerial imagery and land use/land cover data and for new high-resolution elevation data for Kent and New Castle Counties. New elevation data for Sussex County is expected soon from a joint project by the state and federal governments.
The Request for Proposals allows for proposals that would combine all three data types into a single project. It also allows for proposals for individual projects. Once bids have been received, the I-Team will attempt to put together a funding package for the projects, based on contributions from state and local government agencies, and negotiate a contract with a vendor.
The most recent aerial imagery and land use/land cover data for Delaware were collected in 2002. The most recent elevation data for Delaware has been found in the National Elevation Dataset, which has traditionally provided lower resolution elevation data than is needed in a state as flat as Delaware.
(9/18/06)
"Sustainable Delaware" Conference Scheduled for October
The the Delaware Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the University of Delaware Sea Grant Program will join to present a one-day Sustainable Delaware conference on Wednesday, October 25, at the Virden Center on the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies campus, in Lewes. The conference -- Designing Communities and Buildings for America's Future (PDF) -- is designed to bring together designers, planners, business executives, public officials, developers, real estate and finance professionals, property owners, educators, students, environmentalists and community leaders to share ideas on how to improve the efficiency of the built environment. At the conference, the Delaware Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will present its Sustainability Award to Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner.
(9/11/06)
Agendas Posted for September PLUS Review Meetings
Agendas for the September 27 and October 3 meetings of the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) are now available. Both agendas are in the PDF format. PLUS meetings provide an opportunity for review and comment by state agency planners of land use change proposals. State comments are sent to developers and local government officials before proposals are brought before local officials, who have final approval authority. A map of the latest PLUS projects is also available. The meetings both will start at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Haslet Armory, on William Penn Street, in Dover.
(9/8/06)
American Farmland Trust National Conference Comes to Newark
The American Farmland Trust will hold its national conference, Farming on the Edge: The Next Generation, at the University of Delaware's Clayton Hall, this November. The American Farmland Trust has long highlighted the links between land-use policy and the preservation and support of agriculture.
The conference, scheduled to run November 13 to November 15, will focus on the next generation of national farm policies, farmland protection programs, community plans, production practices and markets, and farmers themselves. Highlights will include remarks by Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse, bus tours of regional agricultural areas, a "Let's Get Fresh" dinner showcasing the area's farm fresh products, and numerous workshops and presentations.
Pre-registration is required. Early-bird registration, offering a savings of $75, is available through September 15.
(9/7/06)
