The New Castle County Planning Board and Department of Land Use have recommended the rezoning request for Milltown Square be denied. The board made its recommendation at its Dec. 15 business meeting, with all members voting in opposition to the project and one abstention.
Pike Creek and Milltown area residents had opposed the plan for a 90,000-square-foot mixed use development, mostly on grounds that it would cause traffic problems at the already troubled intersection of Milltown, Limestone and McKennan's Church roads.
According to Department of Land Use Spokesman Mark Veasey, the official recommendation is in the process of being finalized. The final decision about Milltown Square will be up to the New Castle County Council, who can decide to approve the plans even with the negative recommendation. The next opportunity for both sides to be heard will be at the New Castle County Council meeting on Feb. 9.
At the council meeting the community would have the ability to present their side before council. The project could be tabled while the applicant revises the plan if they chose to do so, said Janet Kilpatrick, legislative assistant.
State Rep. Mike Ramone (District 21) said there is still a process that the community will need to be successful at – the final vote by Council. The Council could still approve the plan with a super majority vote.
“We need to be certain we communicate with the Council persons as well as we communicated with the Planning Board to help assure they also make an informed decision on this project,” he said. “When we all come together as a community it is unbelievable what we can accomplish.”
Bill Franey, president of the Milltown-Limestone Civic Alliance, said he wants to thank the MLCA for organizing speakers and presenting helpful information at the meetings.
“Anything [any meetings] open to the public we will attend,” he said. “Anything beyond creating a few new single family homes is going to generate too much traffic.”
