NCC Council Meetings: Stoltz's Plans For 20 Montchanin Set For January 17th And 24th In Wilmington

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From the inbox ~

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Over the next two weeks, Stoltz's plans for 20 Montchanin will come before the Land Use Committee of County Council (on Tues Jan 17) and the full Council (on Tues Jan 24 for a final vote). Stoltz is proposing significant changes at the former Columbia Gas/MBNA office property at Routes 141 & 100. Please read the details of the changes below and plan to speak at one of the hearings and contact County Council by email or letter.

Current Deed Restrictions - Stoltz has very limited rights under the current, highly protective deed restrictions at 20 Montchanin. The existing restrictions, which date from 1968/1969, were purposely made much more restrictive than the Office Regional (OR) zoning at the site. They mandate - asingle office building, not multiple buildings
- traditional office use only
- a building footprint limited to 1.70 acres
- a building height of 2 stories maximum

As a result, any expansion at the site would have to be added to the existing building and would be limited to ~12,000 sq. ft.

Stoltz's Proposal - Stoltz is asking the Council to
- drop the existing, highly protective deed restrictions that have endured for 43
years- replace them with permissive new restrictions that
- expand the footprint allowed at the site - allow multiple buildings - allow the
commercialization of the site

The current Office Regional (OR) zoning at the site is quite expansive, allowing restaurants, retail stores, lodging facilities, drive-ins, banks and funeral homes--among other uses. In addition, the proposal contemplates a potential rezoning of part of the site to Commercial Neighborhood (CN), which would permit even more intrusive and inappropriate commercial uses.

The new restrictions were introduced without appropriate notice at a Nov 15 meeting of the Planning Board and without a required public hearing contrary to long standing practice and County law. Planning Board members were given all of 5 minutes to read them, and the public was specifically excluded from review and comment.

The Facts are ClearThe current deed restrictions are highly protective and must be preserved. Lifting the existing deed restrictions and rezoning the site opens the door to unwarranted commercialization at the very gateway to the Brandywine Valley. And once 20 Montchanin falls, it's easier for nearby properties like the Raskob estate and others to be commercialized.

The incredible beauty and heritage of this area is owned by all Delawareans. Has the world changed so much that we must lose it parcel by parcel, not for the greater good, but for simple economic gain for a few? When the community gave an inch 43 years ago at 20 Montchanin, the door was opened for those who would take a mile today. Enough is enough.

Please contact County Council to demand that the existing deed restrictions be preserved, and please attend the hearings scheduled for this month. The Land Use Committee meets at 3 PM on Tues Jan 17 and the Council hearing will be at 7 PM on Tues Jan 24 -- both in the City-County Building downtown.

Thank you for protecting our community.

Your Neighbors at Save Our County

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Email address for the full County Council is below

tkovach@nccde.org; jmreda@nccde.org; rsweiner@nccde.org; jkilpatrick@nccde.org; phollins@nccde.org; ediller@nccde.org; wepowersjr@nccde.org ; gsmiley@nccde.org; jjcartier@nccde.org ; tpsheldon@nccde.org ; jpstreet@nccde.org ; dltackett@nccde.org; jwbell@nccde.org

~*~