The Barley Mill Project Doesn't Depict A Class War Or Does It? - All County Residents Deserve A Smooth Traffic Flow Paid For By Developer Keith Stoltz

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(WNJ) Adam Taylor reports ~ 'A great debate' on Barley Mill expected

The controversial plan to build a mall at the Barley Mill Plaza office complex in Greenville gets its long-awaited airing before the New Castle County Planning Board on Tuesday night. Supporters and critics of Pennsylvania developer Keith Stoltz's plan for the 92-acre former DuPont Co. property at Del. 141 and Lancaster Pike are expected to testify, County Council members Janet Kilpatrick and Bob Weiner said. "I've gotten about an equal number of emails from people on each side," Kilpatrick said. "I think we're going to have a great debate."The conflicting opinions show a growing sentiment that the scaled-down compromise plan negotiated by the Citizens for Responsible Growth doesn't equate to a community-wide seal of approval for the project, residents Tom Dewson and Mark Blake said."CRG is a community group, not the only community group," Dewson said.Stoltz needs a switch from office to commercial zoning to make the mall happen. The Planning Board will make a recommendation to County Council, which will vote on the rezoning request in October, county Land Use General Manager David Culver said.

...Some groups aren't happy that the deal between Stoltz and CRG "agreed to disagree" on traffic improvements. The dissident faction includes a new group called Save Our County, which in April called the CRG-brokered deal with Stoltz "unacceptable."Because the Barley Mill project is classified as a redevelopment, Stoltz does not have to perform a traffic impact study. That was part of the driving force behind a bill introduced by state Rep. Deborah Hudson to require traffic studies for development projects. Hudson's bill hasn't been passed and would not affect the Barley Mill project....[Mark] Blake, president of the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association, said his group can't support the project."Our group voted unanimously against the rezoning because all the traffic studies won't be done first," Blake said. "The taxpayers out here are tired of paying millions in traffic improvements for developers who make profits from their projects."Culver said the final plan for traffic improvements might not be completed by October, when County Council votes on the rezoning proposal.

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http://www.delawareonline.com/comments/article/20110606/NEWS02/106060316/-great-debate-Barley-Mill-expected

by NancyWilling
This isn't the first time Kilpatrick has claimed to have gotten equal numbers of emails supporting 'sides' of an issue. Maybe she'll also attend the Planning Board meeting to hear the community she represents in person to see how many people are upset with the absence of traffic impact studies sweetheart deal for Keith Stoltz. The day this supposed 'compromise plan was filed in Paul Clark's Land Use office was the day his wife supposedly stepped off the case. The old plan, however, is still active and retains THE SAME IDENTICAL PLANNING NUMBER as the newone......hummmmm. Two active plans, one being ginned-up , one might say astroturfed- grassroots-approved with a deed restriction that only has a 10 - 15 year 'shelf life'. Doesn't Greenville get it that Stoltz may well screw them in the end either way? I say to council and the Planning Board -deny this rezoning until all traffic studies are submitted and we know exactly how much of the road improvements this developer will be paying for. That is how county law should work. Don't give this rezoning without it.

I would caution the tendency to render this as Greenvill's problem. All the people who have to cross the intersection at Rte 141 and Lancaster Pike will be negatively impacted. If Stoltz isn't forced to have to pay for any traffic mitigation improvements to the road infrastructure, who will pay to alleviate the grid lock? It will be the entire state of Delaware, that's who. This isn't a class war that the average Joe can "win" if they sit back and laught at Chateau County snobs 'getting their due'. This is whether or not Keith Stoltz will be held to paying for the costs of the necessary facilities to support his new growth as the law allows for all other new development. Stoltz stands to gain millions of public dollar investment via the Transportation Trust Fund under his project's exception -- the huge carveouts created by Pam Scott-Paul Clarky and Chris Coons for plans like Stoltz that mysteriously appeared to qualify as ReDeveloment on the 2007 Comprehensive Plan Update maps.

(WNJ. Jim Graham images)

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