Middletown public meetings in 2020

Board Meetings

The Board will discuss by-law comments and conduct a SWOT analysis. Members will also discuss community outreach programming and set meeting dates for January and February.

• PAB Leadership Nominations and Vote
• By-Laws Comments and Discussions
• SWOT Analysis
• Community Outreach Programming

The Middletown Police Advisory Board elected Salahudin Bin-Yusif as Chair, Debbie Harrington as Vice-Chair, and Joyce Kidd as Parliamentarian, all unanimously. The board tabled approval of its bylaws until January, with a 13-1 vote to have the town solicitor attend the next meeting to help discuss items on police complaint document access. The board also approved the November minutes with an amendment noting a request for a police officer demographic list.

• Elected Salahudin Bin-Yusif as Chair (unanimous)
• Elected Debbie Harrington as Vice-Chair (unanimous)
• Elected Joyce Kidd as Parliamentarian (unanimous)
• Tabled approval of bylaws until January (unanimous)
• Approved motion to have town solicitor attend next meeting to discuss bylaws items #3 and #4 (13-1)
• Approved November minutes with amendment (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission will hold public hearings on two preliminary major land development plans: a retail building and a 119-lot townhome subdivision. The meeting is conducted via Zoom under the governor's emergency proclamation.

• Stoltzfus: 11,220-sq-ft retail building on Lot 2, Tommy's Express Subdivision, Lake Seymour Drive, Westown Town Center
• The Crossings at Silver Lake: 119-lot townhome subdivision on 10.01 acres at Main Street and Library Drive
• Proposed dedication of land to Town for E. Green Street and E. Cochran Street expansion

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to table The Crossings at Silver Lake, a proposed 119-lot townhome subdivision, to allow Mayor and Council to reconsider density and traffic impacts. The motion also requires the plan to comply with the fire department's truck turning radius requirements. The board separately recommended approval of a preliminary plan for an 11,220-square-foot retail building on Lot 2 of the Tommy's Express Subdivision.

• Tabled The Crossings at Silver Lake preliminary plan (119 townhomes) unanimously to allow Mayor and Council to reconsider density and traffic
• Required the Crossings plan to comply with fire department truck turning radius requirements
• Recommended approval of Stoltzfus Lot 2 preliminary plan (11,220 sq ft retail building) unanimously
• Adjourned meeting unanimously

Board Meetings

The Middletown Mayor and Council will hold a regular meeting with multiple public hearings on conditional use permits, subdivision plans, and concept plans. The agenda includes several land-use requests, contract approvals, and an executive session for personnel matters.

• Conditional use permits for Silver Run Electric at 1070 and 1035 Industrial Drive
• Conditional use permit for Middletown Church of the Nazarene at 215 N. Cass Street
• Conditional use permits for online shipping businesses at 2 Hogan Circle and 208 Porky Oliver Drive
• Concept plan for 181,500-square-foot distribution center at 929 Middletown-Warwick Road
• Concept plan for 119 townhomes at 1001 Promenade Place

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a regular meeting with public hearings on six conditional use permit requests and a minor subdivision plan. The requests include two from Silver Run Electric for office/warehouse and storage yard uses in an M-I zone, a church's rooming house in an R-2 zone, two online shipping businesses in R-2 zones, and a subdivision to expand the Ash Boulevard pump station. The meeting will be held via Zoom with limited in-person seating and mask requirements.

• Conditional use for Silver Run Electric at 1070 Industrial Drive (CU-18-20)
• Conditional use for Silver Run Electric at 1035 Industrial Drive (CU-19-20)
• Conditional use for Middletown Church of the Nazarene rooming house at 215 N. Cass Street (CU-20-20)
• Conditional use for Express Mind online shipping at 2 Hogan Circle (CU-21-20)
• Ash Boulevard Minor Subdivision Plan for pump station expansion

Board Meetings

The Middletown Police Advisory Board is holding its second meeting to continue its work. The agenda includes approving minutes, discussing by-laws development, and holding leadership nominations and a vote. The board will also conduct a SWOT analysis and discuss D2C High School programming, followed by public comments.

• Leadership nominations and vote for Police Advisory Board
• By-laws development discussion
• SWOT analysis
• D2C High School programming discussion
• Public comments and questions

The Middletown Police Advisory Board continued drafting its bylaws, deciding that current members will be grandfathered regardless of residency, but future replacements must live in town. The board also adopted an attendance policy removing members who miss 3 consecutive meetings or 4 in a year. It clarified that the Mayor and Council will replace their own appointees, while the board fills the other 8 seats.

• Grandfathered all current board members regardless of residency; future seats filled by town residents
• Adopted attendance policy: removal after 3 consecutive or 4 total missed meetings per year
• Clarified that Mayor and Council replace their appointees; board appoints other 8 members
• Agreed to email monthly police reports to board members for discussion
• Set up pre-meeting conference call to establish agenda

Board Meetings

The Middletown Mayor and Council approved a $1,714,037 construction contract for the Middletown Substation Project, awarded to Utility Lines Service Company. Council also unanimously approved conditional use permits for an athletic training facility at 120 Sleepy Hollow Drive, a Shore United Bank commercial loan office at 102 Sleepy Hollow Drive Suite 204, and Innovative Chemical Strategies at 1100 Industrial Drive. Several land development plans were approved, including a car wash addition at 299 E. Main Street and a warehouse/flex space at 119 Patriot Drive. A request to remove a fence condition on the Armstrong Corner Residential preliminary plan was denied.

• Approved $1,714,037 substation construction contract to Utility Lines Service Company (unanimous)
• Approved conditional use permit CU-15-20 for athletic training facility at 120 Sleepy Hollow Drive (unanimous)
• Approved conditional use permit CU-16-20 for Shore United Bank loan office at 102 Sleepy Hollow Drive Suite 204 (unanimous)
• Approved conditional use permit CU-17-20 for Innovative Chemical Strategies at 1100 Industrial Drive (unanimous)
• Approved record minor land development plan for car wash addition at 299 E. Main Street (unanimous)
• Approved preliminary major land development plan for warehouse/flex space at 119 Patriot Drive (unanimous)
• Denied request to remove fence condition on Armstrong Corner Residential preliminary plan (unanimous)
• Approved appointment of Chuck McCausland to the Election Board (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Police Advisory Board met on Oct. 19, 2020, and discussed proposed mission statements, guiding principles, and draft bylaws. The board tabled a vote on leadership positions until the next meeting. No formal decisions were made; the board will continue reviewing the guidelines and bylaws over the next month.

• Tabled vote on board leadership until next meeting
• Reviewed proposed mission statements and guiding principles
• Discussed draft bylaws including member requirements and meeting structure

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved all six agenda items, including conditional use permits for a warehouse, an HVAC warehouse, a home-based life coaching business, and a distribution center, as well as a preliminary land development plan for the distribution center and a historical zone review for a downtown renovation. All votes were unanimous.

• Approved conditional use permit for 8,750 sq ft warehouse at 1068 Industrial Drive (unanimous)
• Approved conditional use permit for HVAC warehouse at 108 Patriot Drive, Suite D (unanimous)
• Approved conditional use permit for life coaching business at 113 Mallard Way (unanimous)
• Approved conditional use permit for distribution center at 922 Levels Road (unanimous)
• Approved preliminary major land development plan for 282,520 sq ft distribution center at 922 Levels Road (unanimous)
• Approved historical zone review for renovation at 14 S. Broad Street (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval of a conditional use permit for a warehouse/repair facility at 116 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Unit C, and a record subdivision for Parcel E-2 in Levels Business Park, plus a preliminary minor land development plan for a warehouse/office building at Church Branch, Lot 3. The board tabled a conditional use request for mobile food units at The Legends at the applicant's request. All votes were unanimous.

• Approved (recommended) CU-08-20: warehouse/repair facility at 116 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Unit C (unanimous)
• Tabled CU-09-20: mobile food units at The Legends (applicant requested)
• Approved (recommended) Record Subdivision of Parcel E-2, Levels Business Park (unanimous)
• Approved (recommended) Preliminary Record Minor Land Development Plan for Church Branch, Lot 3 (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for Paul Davis Restoration at 118-120 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite 1, and also unanimously recommended approval of a minor land development plan for a 3,500 sq ft retail building at Middletown Market Place. Both recommendations go to Mayor and Council for final decision.

• Recommended approval of conditional use permit CU-07-20 for Paul Davis Restoration at 118-120 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite 1 (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of minor land development plan for 3,500 sq ft retail building at Parcel 4, Middletown Market Place (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval of two conditional use permits. The first allows The Whistle Stop retail business to relocate to 114 Sleepy Hollow Drive, and the second allows Keinzu Tech, LLC to use a unit at 128 Patriot Drive as a warehouse for consumer electronics. Both recommendations go to Mayor and Council for final decision.

• Recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit CU-05-20 for The Whistle Stop retail at 114 Sleepy Hollow Drive (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit CU-06-20 for Keinzu Tech, LLC warehouse at 128 Patriot Drive, Suite 5 (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission held a virtual meeting on April 19, 2020, and voted unanimously to recommend Mayor and Council approve all eight items on the agenda. These included conditional use permits for a professional office at 221 N. Broad Street and a transportation service at 654 Nesting Lane, as well as preliminary major land development plans for an early childhood center, a Moose Lodge, a Firestone store, an automotive shop, and two re-subdivision plans. All motions carried unanimously.

• Recommended approval of conditional use permit for professional office at 221 N. Broad Street (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of conditional use permit for transportation service at 654 Nesting Lane (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of preliminary plan for 40,000 sq ft early childhood center at 360 Brick Mill Road (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of preliminary plan for Moose Lodge at 605 Tower Lane (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of re-subdivision to convert private open space to public at Parkway at South Ridge (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of preliminary plan for Firestone store at 109 Sandhill Drive (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of re-subdivision for hotel at Parcel 1, Westown Town Center (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of preliminary plan for automotive shop at 610 Tower Lane (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Council denied a conditional use permit for a home-based firearms business at 29 Haggis Road by a 4-3 vote, with the mayor casting the tie-breaking vote. The Council approved several development plans, including a preliminary plan for 87 townhouses on Armstrong Corner Road, a major land development plan for the New Castle County Southern Library, and a rezoning at 120 E. Lake Street. At a special meeting on March 31, the Council awarded contracts for the Shallcross Drainage project and the 2020 Road Restoration project.

• Denied Conditional Use CU-01-20 for a home firearms business at 29 Haggis Road (4-3, mayor casting tie-breaking vote)
• Approved Preliminary Major Land Development Plan for 87 townhouses on Armstrong Corner Road (unanimous)
• Approved Record Major Land Development Plan for New Castle County Southern Library at 204 E. Main Street (unanimous)
• Approved Ordinance 20-02-01 rezoning 120 E. Lake Street from R-2 to R-3 (unanimous)
• Approved 2020 Peach Festival parade route using New Street, Main Street, and Broad Street (unanimous)
• Approved Shallcross Drainage Contract to Austin and Bednash Construction Co. for up to $493,927.00 (unanimous)
• Approved 2020 Road Restoration Contract to Tricon Construction Management, Inc. for $476,843.75 (unanimous)
• Approved Conditional Use CU-02-20 for Wraps by JC at 1070 Industrial Drive, Suite 4 (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Council denied a conditional use permit for a home-based firearms business at 29 Haggis Road (4-3), with the mayor casting the tie-breaking vote. The Council approved several development plans, including a preliminary plan for 87 townhouses on Armstrong Corner Road, a major land development plan for the New Castle County Southern Library, and a rezoning at 120 E. Lake Street. The Council also approved contracts for the Shallcross Drainage project and the 2020 Road Restoration, and supported the Energize Delaware 'Light Up Middletown' initiative.

• Denied conditional use permit for home firearms business at 29 Haggis Road (4-3)
• Approved preliminary plan for 87 townhouses on Armstrong Corner Road
• Approved major land development plan for New Castle County Southern Library at 204 E. Main Street
• Approved rezoning of 120 E. Lake Street from R-2 to R-3
• Approved Shallcross Drainage Contract to Austin and Bednash Construction Co. ($493,927)
• Approved 2020 Road Restoration Contract to Tricon Construction Management ($476,843.75)
• Approved LED sign request for Bruster's Ice Cream at 465 W. Main Street
• Approved support for Energize Delaware 'Light Up Middletown' initiative

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-4 to recommend Mayor and Council approve a conditional use permit for a home office selling firearms at 29 Haggis Road, overruling deed restrictions cited by opponents. The board also unanimously recommended approval of a vehicle wrap business, a rezoning, a subdivision for a car wash, a townhouse development, and a re-subdivision.

• Recommended approval of firearms home office at 29 Haggis Road (5-4)
• Recommended approval of vehicle wrap business at 1070 Industrial Drive (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of rezoning 120 E. Lake Street from R-2 to R-3 (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of subdivision for Tommy's Express Car Wash at 200 S. Ridge Avenue (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of 87-townhouse development at Armstrong Corner Road (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of re-subdivision at 610/611 Tower Lane (unanimous)

Board Meetings

The Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission tabled a conditional use permit for a home office selling firearms at 29 Haggis Road until the Town Solicitor provides an official opinion on whether the use is permitted under the zoning code. The commission also unanimously recommended approval of the preliminary major land development plan for the new Middletown YMCA at 202 E. Cochran Street, including a suggestion for Council to consider a local traffic study.

• Tabled conditional use permit for home firearms business at 29 Haggis Road (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of YMCA preliminary land development plan at 202 E. Cochran Street (unanimous)
• Suggested Council consider local traffic study for area intersections

Board Meetings

The Middletown Mayor and Council approved several routine items, including the police report, and unanimously renewed a ten-year maintenance contract with Southern Corrosion for the Lake Street stand pipe at $6,815 per year. They also adopted Resolution 19-12-01 to adjust the PPCA Base Rate in the electric tariff. An ordinance to annex land owned by Richard Money was continued to the February meeting at the owner's request. A concept plan for 87 townhomes on Armstrong Corner Road was presented but no vote was taken, as it was informational only.

• Approved minutes, treasurer's report, and bills payable (unanimous)
• Approved police report for December 2019 (unanimous)
• Renewed Southern Corrosion stand pipe maintenance contract for 10 years at $6,815/year (unanimous)
• Adopted Resolution 19-12-01 amending electric tariff PPCA Base Rate (unanimous)
• Introduced Ordinance 19-12-01 to amend Comprehensive Plan (future action)
• Continued annexation ordinance 19-11-02 to February meeting
• Entered executive session for personnel and legal matters; no vote taken