LOCAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE
The Office of State Planning Coordination provides a wide range of planning assistance to county and local governments. Land use decisions in Delaware are made at the municipal and county level. State government provides over-all guidance and coordination and serves as a planning resource for local governments.
Circuit-Rider Planners
Planning professionals in the State Planning Office are assigned to provide primary assistance for local governments in each county. These planners have become informally known as "circuit-rider planners."
- New Castle County Circuit-Rider Planner
Herb M. Inden
(302) 577-4157
- Kent County Circuit-Rider Planner
David L. Edgell, AICP
(302) 739-3090
- Sussex County Circuit-Rider Planner
Bryan Hall
(302) 739-3090
Municipal Planning Checklists
State law (22 Delaware Code §702) requires Delaware municipal governments to develop and regularly update land use plans. Smaller cities and towns (those with a population under 2,000) are required to develop a municipal development strategy. Larger cities and towns are required to develop more detailed Comprehensive Land Use Plans.
The Office of State Planning Coordination's circuit-rider planners are available to help municipal governments through the planning process as are staff with the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration. There are also private-sector planning and consulting firms available to help develop Comprehensive Plans.
The Office has prepared checklists designed to help municipal governments meet the requirements of state laws regarding planning.
- Municipal Development Strategy Checklist (PDF) -- For cities and towns with a population of fewer than 2,000.
- Comprehensive Plan Checklist (PDF) -- For cities and towns with a population of greater than 2,000.
