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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
Monday, October 17, 2016 – 7:00 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers
15 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, Delaware
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING of September 19, 2016
COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS
1) Reminder: The next Planning Commission regular meeting is scheduled for MONDAY,
November 21, 2016 at 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers.
2) Notice: The next Planning Commission Quarterly Workshop tentatively scheduled for
WEDNESDAY, November 23, 2016 will be cancelled.
3) Update on City Council Actions
4) Update from Planning Office
5) Education and Training Opportunities
a. Report on APA Maryland/Delaware Regional Planning Conference: October 14-16,
2016 in Towson, Maryland
b. Delaware APA Chapter Annual Meeting & Mini-Conference: November 3, 2016 in
Milford, Delaware
OPENING REMARKS CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
OLD BUSINESS
1) Requests for Extensions of Planning Commission Approval: None
NEW DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
1) Z-16-05 Lands of John and Carla Russum at 51 Roosevelt Avenue – Public Hearing and
Review for Recommendation to City Council on rezoning of a 7,675 SF Parcel located on the
north side of Roosevelt Avenue west of South DuPont Highway. The property is zoned R-8
(One Family Residence Zone) and the proposed zoning is C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial
Zone). The owner of record is John W. and Carla M. Russum. Property Address: 51
Roosevelt Avenue. Tax Parcel: ED-05-077.17-05-72.00-000. Council District 2. This
application is associated with item MI-16-13: Nonconforming Uses in Residential Districts.
The Rezoning is proposed in order to comply with City Council action requiring the
sunsetting of nonconforming uses in residential zones.
2) US-16-04 Creekstone Development Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan – Public Hearing and
Review of a Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan for the Creekstone Center, including wall signage
on one existing building and three future buildings and a series of freestanding signs to identify
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City of Dover Planning Commission Agenda
Public Hearing: October 17, 2016
Page 2 of 2
the complex and its tenants. The property consists of 7.64 acres and is located on the west side of
South Governors Avenue south of Lynnhaven Drive. The property is zoned C-2A (Limited
Central Commercial Zone). The owner of record is Creekstone Development LLC. Property
Addresses: 1198 and 1234 South Governors Avenue. Tax Parcels: ED-05-086.05-01-12.00-000
and ED-05-086.05-01-12.01-000. Council District 2. This application is associated with
application S-15-14 for development of the Creekstone Center, granted Conditional Approval by
the Planning Commission on November 16, 2015 and Final Plan Approval on May 12, 2016.
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURN
THE AGENDA ITEMS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
Posted Agenda: posted October 7, 2016
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION
September 19, 2016
The Regular Meeting of the City of Dover Planning Commission was held on Monday, September
19, 2016 at 7:00 PM with Chairman Mr. Tolbert presiding. Members present were Mr. Holden, Mr.
Roach, Mr. Holt, Mr. Baldwin, Dr. Jones, Mrs. Welsh, Ms. Maucher and Mr. Tolbert.
Staff members present were Mrs. Ann Marie Townshend, Mrs. Dawn Melson-Williams, Mr. Jason
Lyon, Mr. Bill Cook, Mr. Eddie Diaz, Mr. Bill Pepper and Mrs. Kristen Mullaney. Also present
were Mr. Bob MacLeish, Mr. Jules Dingle, Mr. Jonathan Street, Mr. Adam Perza, Mr. Michael
Harrington, Sr., Mr. Troy Adams, Mr. Chris Curran and Ms. Kate Mills. Speaking from the public
were Senator Brian Bushweller, Mr. Michael Harrington, Sr., Mrs. Diana Welch and Mr. Ryan
Weber.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Dr. Jones moved to approve the agenda as submitted, seconded by Ms. Maucher and the motion
was unanimously carried 8-0.
Mr. Tolbert stated that there is one amendment to the agenda. Item number 1 under New
Development Applications will be application S-16-18 Loockerman Way Re-Development Plan.
The second application will be S-16-17 Parking Lot at 623 Fulton Street.
Mrs. Welsh moved to approve the amendment to the agenda, seconded by Ms. Maucher and the
motion was unanimously carried 8-0.
APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES AND THE
QUARTERLY WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 15, 2016
Ms. Maucher moved to approve the Planning Commission Meeting minutes and the Quarterly
Workshop Meeting minutes of August 15, 2016, seconded by Mr. Holt and the motion was
unanimously carried 8-0.
COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS
Mrs. Townshend stated that the next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday,
October 17, 2016 at 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers.
Mrs. Townshend stated that October 14-16, 2016 is the Maryland Delaware APA Regional
Conference in Towson, MD. There are one day registrations as well as two day registrations
available. If any members of the Commission are interested in attending, the City would be able to
pay for a one day registration. Please contact Staff if you would like to attend.
Mrs. Townshend provided an update on the regular City Council and various Committee meetings
held on August 22 & 23, 2016 and September 12 & 13, 2016.
OPENING REMARKS CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
Mrs. Townshend presented the audience information on policies and procedures for the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
1) Requests for Extensions of Planning Commission Approval: None
2) S-16-07 The Arbors Senior Garden Apartments – Information on Revisions to Site Plan
application for construction of a 48-unit senior garden apartment complex consisting of a
proposed three-story 55,350 SF residential building, active recreation area, and associated
site improvements. The proposed Revisions consist of construction of a site entrance/drive
aisle instead of the improved public street (Senior Way) connecting form College Road to
Topaz Circle, and the reconfiguration of parking lot and walking trail system of the Active
Recreation Area. The parcel is divided into two discontinuous areas on either side of
existing street right-of-way and totals 3.77 acres. It is zoned RG-2 (General Residence
Zone). The property is located on the north side of College Road and west of McKee Road.
The owner of record is Shree Ganesh LLC. Address: 1051 College Road. Tax Parcel: ED-
05-067.00-01-35.03-000. Council District 1. The Planning Commission granted conditional
approval of the Site Plan on March 21, 2016 including approval of waivers for the partial
elimination of curbing and a reduction in the parking requirements.
Representatives: None
Mrs. Townshend stated that The Arbors Senior Garden Apartments at 1051 College Road
had come to the Planning Commission back in March 2016. At that time, Senior Way was
shown on the plan to connect to the Topaz Circle stub street. Last week, City Council took
action to abandon the Topaz Circle stub street after holding a public hearing which means
that there is no stub street in Emerald Pointe for Senior Way to connect to. At this point,
Staff is asking that the Planning Commission approve the amendment to The Arbors
Conditional Use Site Plan that reflects the revised condition at Emerald Pointe and in
particular at the Topaz Circle stub street. The Revised Plan will now have a drive aisle that
curves into the parking lot instead of going straight. It actually also allows an extension of
the walking path so that it is not crossing that street.
Mrs. Welsh moved to approve S-16-07 The Arbors Senior Garden Apartments Revised Plan,
seconded by Mr. Holt and the motion was unanimously carried 8-0.
NEW DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
1) S-16-18 Loockerman Way Redevelopment Master Plan: Two Mixed Use Buildings at 126
West Loockerman Street – Public Hearing and Review of a Site Development Master Plan,
Active Recreation Area Plan, and Architectural Review Certification to permit in two phases
the construction of retail and restaurant space and a total of twenty (20) apartment units in
two mixed use building on the existing site known as Loockerman Way. Phase 1 is to
consist of the three story 24,960 S.F. west building (5,860 S.F. ± retail and eight (8)
apartment units) while Phase 2 is to consist of the four story 29,272 S.F. east building (6,913
S.F. ± retail and twelve (12) apartment units). Reconfiguration of the existing plaza on site
and construction of additional parking are also proposed. The property consists of 1.14 acres
and is located on the south side of West Loockerman Street between South Governors
Avenue and South State Street. The property is zoned C-2 (Central Commercial Zone) and is
subject to the H (Historic District Zone). The owner of record is the Downtown Dover
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
Partnership and the equitable owner is Loockerman Plaza, LLC. Property Address: 126
West Loockerman Street. Tax Parcel: ED-05-077.09-04-06.00-000. Council District 4.
Waiver Request: Reduction of Parking Requirement. This application is associated with
application HI-16-05 to the Historic District Commission. On July 21, 2016 and August 18,
2016, the Historic District Commission recommended approval of an Architectural Review
Certificate subject to conditions for this project.
Representatives: Mr. Bob MacLeish, Lighthouse Construction; Mr. Jules Dingle, DIGSAU; Mr.
Jonathan Street, Becker Morgan Group; Mr. Adam Perza, May & Perza, PA
Mrs. Townshend stated that Mrs. Melson-Williams would be briefing on this application but she
just wanted to disclose to the Planning Commission that she has been involved in the application on
behalf of the Downtown Dover Partnership in terms of working with the property owner with the
transfer from the Downtown Dover Partnership to the applicant. Her review of this has not been
zoning based; Mrs. Melson-Williams has completed all of the zoning review. Any questions that
she answers are going to relate to that and also the connection to the other plans that they have been
working on.
Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that this is a Site Development Master Plan application which allows
for the project to present all phases of construction and then finalize the plans for each phase if they
so choose. The Loockerman Way re-development is a proposal for two mixed-use buildings at the
property addressed as 126 West Loockerman Street. The property is zoned C-2 (Central
Commercial Zone) and is in the Historic District so this application has been to the City’s Historic
District Commission. That process for review of the Architectural Review Certification aspect of
the project began with the Historic District Commission at their July meeting and then there was an
update at the August meeting of the Historic District Commission.
The proposal is for two buildings. Each building is basically a phase of the project. There is an east
building and a west building. The west building is a proposal for a three story building and east
building is a proposal for a four story building. Both of the buildings are located in the area closest
to Loockerman Street which currently exists as a grass lawn area in the current configuration of
what is called Loockerman Way, the public plaza at this location. The property extends from
Loockerman Street all the way to North Street. Along the North Street part of the property is where
the proposal for parking lot spaces is located.
In one case they will be utilizing the existing parking lot that is there and then expanding that to add
a second parking area on the eastern portion of the site. The site as it currently exists is known as
the Loockerman Way Plaza. That was created into the format seen today as part of a Conditional
Use Site Plan application from 2011 that was called the North Street Area Improvement Project
which created this plaza area and a series of parking lots and streetscape improvements in this area
of North Street. This area specifically is part of what is known as the Dover Transit Center
Neighborhood Plan and Design Book that dates from 2011. That Neighborhood Plan specifically
had ideas and concepts for this particular parcel, recognized it as a potential infill site and presented
a concept for buildings flanking what would be a pedestrian plaza area. The proposal in front of the
Commission tonight falls in line with that area study that was done.
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The project as noted is two multi-story buildings. The first floor in both buildings is setup for a
variety of potential commercial tenant options that could be retail, restaurant or other commercial
uses. The upper floors in both buildings are proposed as apartment units with the first building
consisting of eight (8) apartment units and then the second building containing twelve (12)
apartment units.
The location of the property within the Historic District requires that the project be reviewed for its
compliance with the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone.
That has a variety of Guidelines related to developing the site, placement of the buildings and other
site amenities as well as the materials that are chosen for the project itself. The Planning
Commission is in receipt of the Architectural Review Certification Report which outlines the
recommendations of the Historic District Commission in regards to the project. She will make
reference to that Report and note that the Historic District Commission did recommend approval of
the Architectural Review Certificate for the application. There are two items that they specifically
wanted the applicant to work on and those involve the windows on the Loockerman Street façade.
They had some comments regarding the windows and specifically the spacing between floors. This
drawing (visually presented) shows the improvements that the applicant proposed and actually
showed to the Commission at their August meeting. The other element that the Commission wanted
the applicant to work on was the cornice. The remaining recommendations of the Historic District
Commission are actually outlined in the series of pages beginning on pages 2-5 of their
Recommendation Report. They did accept the size and the number of floors on the buildings as well
as their placement. There was a lot of discussion in regards to answering questions about the plaza
area, material choices on the ground surfaces, planters and the buildings themselves. With the action
tonight, the Historic District Commission’s recommendation will need to be considered and the
Planning Commission will need to take action on the Architectural Review Certification for the
project.
In the C-2 (Central Commercial Zone) District, there is no off-street parking requirement
specifically based on the district; however, proposed uses in the building do have parking
requirements. Specifically for apartments, the Code would say that you need 2.25 spaces per
dwelling unit. The applicant is seeking relief from the parking requirement so there is a waiver
request to reduce the parking. They are providing a total of fifty-four (54) parking spaces. On the
Commissioner’s desks was an updated plan where they have included a number of slight
modifications to the site to accommodate and show the location of the bicycle parking and
dumpsters that are required. In doing so, the number of parking spaces now stands at a proposed
total of fifty-four (54) parking spaces. First floor parking for the building would be based on use
and not knowing the tenants it’s fairly hard to nail down what if any parking requirement would be
necessary for those first floor users. At this point, the applicant is seeking a parking waiver request.
They hope to achieve that request and basically provide at least one parking space per dwelling unit
and the balance of the parking that is on the site would be available for general parking and could be
subject to some future management plan for managing all of those parking spaces. As mentioned,
there is a bicycle rack that is purposed on the site. There is an overall walkway. The project itself
because of the residential component also requires an Active Recreation Plan. This project has
recommendation from the Parks, Recreation and Community Enhancement Committee. There is a
Report on the Active Recreation component. The Committee did recommend approval of the Active
Recreation Plan along with the Staff comments. She would refer to that Review Report for the
comments on Active Recreation Plan. With twenty (20) units, they are required to provide a
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minimum of 2,500 SF of active recreation area and they propose to do that through designating a
walking path which runs through the center of the project site from North Street to Loockerman
Street. The project also includes benches and the bicycle parking rack is also within what is that
centralized walkway area that they intend to utilize as the active recreation component.
There are tree planting elements on-site. They are required to have a total of seventeen (17) trees
based on the lot size. They have worked them into a series of locations near the parking lot and also
within the central plaza area. With reference to the DAC Report, they also have comments from the
agencies that reviewed the plan including the City’s Public Works Department, the Electric
Department, the Fire Marshal’s Office and DelDOT. Kent Conservation District will be working
with the applicants in regards to a stormwater management plan for the overall site.
Mr. Tolbert stated that according to the rendering the roof line is very flat. They have in the past,
made an effort to not have those flat roofs. They are non-descriptive; they are not attractive and they
add little to the appeal of the community. He noticed in the literature provided that there’s nothing
about the roof line. Responding to Mr. Tolbert, Mrs. Townshend stated that the architect is prepared
with a presentation.
Mr. Holt questioned if they know what the restaurants are going to be and how much parking they
are going to need? They are allowing one parking space for each apartment and he is just wondering
if we will run into a problem later with parking. Is there any way to have an emergency overflow in
case it just doesn’t work? Responding to Mr. Holt, Mrs. Townshend stated that part of the purpose
for the parking waiver is so that some of the parking built on the site can be used as part of the
public parking. As Mrs. Melson-Williams stated, there will be fifty-four (54) parking spaces for the
project which exceeds that one per unit. It’s just that some of that will go back into the public
parking inventory. When you look at the Transit Center Neighborhood Plan as it relates to parking,
it puts the focus on instead of having parking on every site to move more toward public parking
areas. The idea here is that they will provide more parking but it won’t necessarily be reserved for
that site. It will be part of the public parking inventory and then the North Street lot across North
Street during the non-business hours also has a number of spaces that are open for public parking.
The parking design is very much intended to fit in with the way the Transit Center Neighborhood
Plan envisions parking. In addition, the DDP and the Dover/Kent County MPO are actually kicking
off this week a Downtown parking study to look at where adding inventory of parking is most
logical, when they need to build a garage and those types of things. The idea in the Transit Center
Neighborhood Plan is to have more regional parking rather than parking to accommodate the uses
on every site.
Mr. MacLeish stated that they would like to start their presentation with Mr. Jules Dingle and have
him go through the process of how they arrived at the type of structure that they are proposing to
place at 126 West Loockerman Street. He will then follow that up with Mr. Jonathan Street from the
Becker Morgan Group who they’ve worked with on the site planning portion of the project.
Mr. Dingle stated that this is a project that they have really enjoyed thinking about over the last
couple of months; it’s a project that they are very excited about. They are excited about the impact
that it can have on the Loockerman district and the historic city center as well. This is more than
just a typical infill project. This is a project that really looks at the historic character and traditions
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of the Dover Downtown streetscapes like what was seen here long ago on Loockerman Street. It
also references the tradition of great urban spaces in Downtown Dover.
The concept for the building is really focused on looking at those two urban conditions; the zone of
the street and trying to reestablish Loockerman Street as the great urban historic streetscape corridor
that it once was and also the zone of the plaza. To look at that in the context of other great urban
spaces in Dover and to design a space that is appropriately scaled to revitalize a dense urban
corridor. Another key part of the design process was to look at the historic guidelines for Dover
which is based on the Secretary of Interior Standards. They aren’t going to go into all of the detail
that they did with the Historic District Commission but they will give an abridged version on some
of the things that they presented two months ago.
Mr. Dingle showed a view of Loockerman Street over seventy (70) years ago. He pointed out what
some people remember of Loockerman Street. They see a wide variety of architectural styles and
scales. They see no street trees whatsoever. They do see awnings, typically on the north side of the
street.
They used these pictures to look at the historic streetscapes but also to look at the architecture that
surrounds the public spaces as well. A tour of Downtown Dover is really a tour of all architectural
styles from the last 200+ years. Very notably, in the architecture of the Victorian District, there is
architecture of sociability and civility. There are front porches that are very closely aligned with the
street. On the upper levels there are Juliet balconies, terraces, turrets; all of which suggest an active
relationship between architecture and the landscape. As they looked to the concept of this project,
they wanted to make sure that the building was in keeping with what’s happening on Loockerman
Street, try to bring back some of that energy in some of that scale and also realize that they are
creating a new public space for Downtown Dover and one that they think is appropriately scaled. To
address both of those design objectives, they took one of the recommendations of the historic
guidelines which says the buildings that sit on corners should respond to the frontage that they face.
The corner building doesn’t need to be the same on both corners but should actually address very
different conditions if the two streets are very different. They decided that while the whole project
is intended to hold together as one cohesive development, they wanted to make sure architecturally
that the Loockerman Street side was doing what some of those great old streetscape buildings did
which was to really define the wall of the street and reinforce the scale by building right up to the
street making sure there is enough density on the street level to promote active street life. On the
corner on The Plaza side they start to take some of those cues from the Victorian Queen Anne style
that you see elsewhere in Dover which suggests a residential scale and a connection between
architecture spaces and public spaces like the balconies.
A picture of the purposed buildings was shown to the Commission.
The ground floor is entirely commercial space with remaining space being what’s required for
egress and entry into the apartment spaces above. On the bottom level, each building is divided into
four (4) apartments. On the upper levels there are five (5) apartments per floor.
The Loockerman Street elevation references some of the symmetry and formalism of Federal style
architecture but is in no way intended to be a Federal style building. The elevation of Phase 1 as it
faces Loockerman Plaza is deliberately referencing the symmetry and the compositional variety that
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you get in historic buildings and the balconies are intended to call some of that inside activity out to
the public space. Looking at the zone of the street shows the wall of the street being reestablished
but opening the corners in terms of the glazing so that Loockerman Plaza is something that you
anticipate as you come down the street and there’s enough transparency that while the building
creates the wall around the Plaza, there is certain openness as you turn the corner and enough
storefront to really allow the retail to thrive. The zone of the Plaza you can start to see the bays at a
variety of scales and symmetrically composed so that the building is very animated and similar to
some of the Victorian buildings in how the scale of the building is broken down to through roof
treatments and various bays and Juliet balconies. Some of those same principles are at work here.
But not trying to stylistically mimic any of the Victorian or Federal architecture but really to take
proportional clues from them and try to extract some of what makes those buildings great in terms
of interior spaces to public space.
They talked about many issues in great detail. There were a couple issues that they spent a few
weeks looking at in late July and early August after the Historic District Commission meeting. As
it’s been previously mentioned, they have changed the proportions of the windows on Loockerman
Street which they think is an excellent comment and they think it’s really improved the proportion
and the character of Loockerman Street elevation. One of the things that they also heard was that
greater differentiation between the building on the east and the west was something that was
desired. What was important there is that they maintain this as one cohesive project. They have tried
to balance gaining variety of scale but keeping a similar architectural language between the two
buildings. They have added a bay on the far right side. One of the balconies similar to what you see
around the corner on the Plaza is now located on the front side. This strikes a bit of a horizontal line
and creates what in no way is a cornice but adds a little bit of horizontality to the building. They are
imagining that the brick texture will be one that has a considerable amount of relief and variety to it.
This is a building that has tremendous amount of variety and scale to it. They have actually
decreased the size of the cornice after studying ten to twenty versions of it largely because it, to
their professional opinion, appeared to be a tacked on decorative element. In the interest of
simplifying and letting the variety of brick and scale gestures to really create the architectural
language of the building, they have decreased the size of the cornice which they see as an
improvement.
Mr. Street stated that what is presented before the Commission is an updated graphic of the Site
Plan. They have updated locations of dumpster enclosures; there is one per parking lot. Phase 1 of
the project has been hashed out over the past sixty (60) days and what it will entail is construction
of the first building and the additional parking lot. In doing so, that causes them to essentially
demolish almost everything that you see and construct almost the entire project with exception of
the second building. This includes utilities, infrastructure and specifically the two dumpster
enclosures, the additional parking lot and sidewalk space walking trail in between Loockerman
Street and North Street. Mrs. Townshend and Mr. Gregg Moore have had numerous meetings with
the neighbors as it relates to how they are impacted especially by the construction of this first
building, specifically the Golden Fleece. The Golden Fleece has access to the Plaza right now via
their back patio area. That is something that they have addressed; they are going to be maintaining
their space. It will be a new door or fence, whatever is appropriate and whatever they really need to
maintain their egress both for fire or whatever the alcohol board may require of them. Another thing
is drainage as they have an existing patio that is now going to abut the side of the building. That is
something that they are going to have to address with the Site Plan approval itself in addition to the
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stormwater via Kent Conservation District. They will be draining a majority to the DelDOT system
on Loockerman Street.
Mr. MacLeish stated that part of the NFPA side of it is that when you work in an urban setting with
buildings with zero lot line you cannot put a sloped roof on the building it comes down to a flat roof
from a safety standpoint. That is one of the reasons that a flat roof is in here pretty predominant in
this area.
Mr. Tolbert questioned what they could do to off-set the flatness of the roof? Responding to Mr.
Tolbert, Mr. MacLeish stated if you look at the architecture that Mr. Street addressed, there is a
combination through the criteria that they have been given through the design of this district and
that’s what has been met.
Mr. Dingle stated that the Loockerman Street facade is in many ways very similar to the buildings
that have always been on Loockerman Street which basically have flat facades and a horizontal
cornice at the top. When you go around the corner, the scale of building they believe is very much
broken down by the addition of a mansard roof which is an architectural technique that is much
more familiar in the Victorian districts. With maybe one or two exceptions, this type of architecture
is not present historically on Loockerman Street. The discussion there was to maintain the wall of
the street and the horizontality of the tops of the buildings and then as you turn the corner almost
instantly is this reference to the mansard roof and the breaking of that horizontal cornice line with
what is really an inflected roof form that comes into play almost immediately on the Plaza side.
Mr. Tolbert stated that the reason he brought it up is that this project is going to be centrally located.
It’s going to be a very important location and it’s going to be seen by many people and it’s a
historical area. In the pictures that were shown of the old Loockerman Street, some of the buildings
had ornate rooftops; they weren’t all flat. That distinguished them from everything. The applicant
may not be able to do all of that but there weren’t so many flat roofs then. The Commission has
made it an issue in the past of trying to do away with some of these flat roofs. It makes for a much
more attractive building in his view.
Mr. Holt questioned if they were going to put any memorial plaques up? Maybe one where Dover
Hardware was since they were such a big part of Downtown Dover for so many years. Also, he
thinks where Loockerman Plaza is there was a plaque for Mr. Bobby Chamberlain. Responding to
Mr. Holt, Mrs. Townshend stated that his plaque is now in the Planning Office.
Mr. Tolbert questioned if the applicant has any concerns with the overview presented by Staff?
Responding to Mr. Tolbert, Mr. MacLeish stated that they are in agreement with the comments
from the DAC Report.
Ms. Maucher questioned the sizes of the apartments? Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Dingle
stated that they range from 2 bedrooms to 4 bedroom apartments and they typically have 2
bathrooms a large combined kitchen and living room area.
Dr. Jones stated if there are two adults in an apartment, one parking space per apartment and the
other spaces will be public parking will the public parking be managed as all other public parking?
Does that mean fees? Responding to Dr. Jones, Mrs. Townshend stated that they are just getting
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started with the Downtown Parking Study so a fee structure hasn’t been determined yet. Right now
fees are not charged other than 8AM to 5PM. 8AM to 5PM is permit parking or metered parking.
During the evening and weekend hours there are no fees. It could be that you have some people who
end up parking there overnight because they live there but they are not guaranteed a spot for 24
hours.
Dr. Jones stated that she still has a degree of unrest about there being 4 bedroom apartments and
only one parking space per apartment.
Mr. Holden stated that he counts seventy-one (71) bedrooms out of the apartments and twenty some
parking spaces. He is curious from the applicant’s view how that will work. The expectation that he
would have is that there are going to be people with cars without an identified parking spot. What
do permits cost Downtown? Are there permits available currently? He understands that the more
urban area. Relative to some of the past planning that dedicated on-site parking changes as you
move towards that more urban and transit oriented, he is concerned that they may be creating a
problem. He is curious from the applicant’s standpoint of how that may be addressed, if there is
intent for a market for who might be here and are we expecting seventy-one (71) cars or fifteen (15)
cars. Responding to Mr. Holden, Mr. MacLeish stated that in working through this project when
you identify parking, initially when they started out there was a real concern as they started looking
at it and meeting with Mrs. Townshend and Mr. Gregg Moore from the Downtown Dover
Partnership. One of their biggest concerns was the parking in Downtown Dover. What you find out
is that most of the people who will be occupying these apartments most of those people are working
and not home during the day. The other thing that they’ve seen and are hearing as they are putting
together a marketing report is that they will not have seventy-one (71) people with seventy-one (71)
cars in the lot. The market that they are targeting is a more professional graduate student. A lot of
those students do not bring their cars with them. When they looked at it and evaluated it they looked
at the parking that is available in that area, it is sufficient. When he first looked at it he didn’t think
there was sufficient parking Downtown. It would be a concern because if they don’t have sufficient
parking then the project itself will not be successful. They are confident in the parking that they
have made also allows for that parking when nobody is parking there to be used by those people
who want to come to Downtown. Hopefully, this is a synergy that brings more people to the
Downtown, not just during the day but in the evening as well. Based on the numbers that they have
seen, there is a significant availability of parking. At current times the parking will fill up and there
could be a challenge but it’s not different than when his kids went to the University of Delaware.
There were days when he parked and it was very easy. He thinks that it can be accomplished and
managed. At the same time, they want to be a good partner and provide that parking during the day
when it’s not being used and not for it to just sit there empty. There is a concern but they think that
they have addressed it in how they are going to have those people park and have efficient use of that
parking space.
Mr. Holden questioned if there are available permits in the North Street lot? Responding to Mr.
Holden, Mrs. Townshend stated that the permits in the North Street lot at this point are all
accounted for. Part of the parking perception issue that is actually a real issue and not just
perception but it has more to do with the allocation of parking spaces than the existence of parking
spaces. That’s one of the things that the Downtown Parking Study is going to look at. One of the
things that she hears frequently is that people will come Downtown for lunch and they can’t find a
place to park, not because there aren’t plenty of empty parking spaces but because the empty
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parking spaces are permit only. The issue of how they park Downtown they are still learning a lot
about and to try to accommodate surface parking to support every use is going to be incredibly
inefficient from a land use standpoint but even just the idea of reserving spots for residences can
also be inefficient. They will be looking at it closely as the first phase completes and those first
apartments are occupied but again they also have a parking study. One of the things that the parking
consultant is specifically tasked with is helping us identify the trigger points of when we need a
parking structure, where it would go and how they would start to pay for it. She thinks that the
major issue related to parking regardless if it’s for this project or filling the vacant storefronts is that
you have to do something other than surface parking. There needs to be a larger regional wide plan.
That’s what they are working on through the MPO and the DDP. While it’s not the suburban
parking situation that most of us are used to. She thinks in terms of an urban environment, the
arrangement that they have been planning for allows that kind of fluidity of how you manage the
demand with the use during the day versus during the night.
Mr. Perza stated that one of the objectives of the applicant is trying to make it elastic. If the City
were to enforce the Code in such manner that required three (3) parking spaces for each apartment,
the entire fifty (50) or sixty (60) parking spots would be residential parking. The result of that is that
the entire Loockerman Street commercial community is going to be concerned. Part of this project
is adding commercial energy into Downtown. Whether it’s restaurants and other businesses, there
needs to be space available during the day for that parking. The design portion is that during
daylight hours if you are trying to reserve or make accessible additional parking, Loockerman Street
has parking now and much of it is metered. They are trying to expand the amount of spaces not only
to benefit this project but other commercial restaurants and businesses up and down Loockerman
Street which under the waiver application allows that to happen during daylight hours. During
evening hours when much of that commercial track doesn’t exist in the frequency that it does during
the day. It allows it to be converted back over to the residential uses. If you literally have seventy-
one (71) beds and seventy-one (71) cars, in theory you could do that in evening hours but most
often if you are doing that and they are truly working somewhere outside of Dover, they won’t be
there during the day at which point that parking converts back to commercial use. They are trying to
be as flexible and expansive as possible, working within the reality that you only have space for
fifty-five (55) or sixty (60) parking spaces. To answer Mr. Holt’s question, yes added all of these
commercial uses to the first floor they are going to need space for everyone to come down and park.
This doesn’t change the Downtown public perception that it’s free. He doesn’t think that the City of
Dover, the DDP or any other public entities Downtown that manage parking are going to offer just
free parking for blanket but they are trying to benefit as much of the commercial space which
benefits the Plaza as well as every other restaurant or business on Loockerman Street to expand the
foot traffic. It’s trying to do both which helps explain why the waiver works for the benefit of the
City.
Mr. Holt questioned if they will be giving out parking maps to people who move into the
apartments so that people know up front where the best parking would be for them? Responding to
Mr. Holt, Mr. MacLeish stated that it would be part of the package the way that they have it set up
presently. They just haven’t taken it out to marketing but it will be part of the process.
Ms. Maucher stated that traffic is an issue and with adding fifty (50) additional cars, has there been
discussions about returning North Street back to one way? It just seems like there is going to be a
lot of congestion in an area that is already congested. Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Lyon stated
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that the Department of Public Works does not necessarily have any objection to the one-way
situation. He thinks that is more of a global evaluation that is going to have to take place down the
road. As far as the congestion of traffic, they don’t anticipate it being that much. There is existing
parking there now. They don’t anticipate it being so much more that it becomes unmanageable.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing.
Senator Brian Bushweller
Senator Bushweller stated that he is here this evening in his capacity as a member of the Board of
Directors for the Downtown Dover Partnership at the request of the President of the Partnership.
Obviously, he can’t separate his comments tonight from the fact that he is the State Senator for the
area and has for a number of years been very supportive of the whole idea of developing what they
now call Loockerman Plaza. He thought he would share a little bit of the history that demonstrates
how significant a lot of people view this project. The application before the Commission tonight is
the combination of 5-7 years of planning that involved the relocation of the Dover Transit Center,
the MPO Study of Downtown Dover and it got involved with the State Legislature and the Bond
Bill Committee and the $3 million for that and then finally the Downtown Development District.
Senator Bushweller shared a visual presentation of what Loockerman Plaza looked like four (4)
years ago. It was not very attractive; it was just a big empty lot. There was some random pavement
in places and not in other places. There were weeds and cars parked randomly. That lot got that way
because of a previous proposal which had been approved by the Planning Commission but
unfortunately was approved in 2005 or 2006 and never came together because of the economic
collapse in 2008. That economic collapse let what used to be Dover Hardware looking like this. As
part of the relocation of the Dover Transit Center, the MPO looked at all of the issues related to
relocation and including the issues in the surrounding areas of Downtown Dover. This was a very
public process that the MPO undertook with a lot of public participation and a lot of consideration;
all of the interested players participating and they came up with a number of excellent
recommendations. One of which had to do with various properties owned by the Downtown Dover
Partnership. C Moore’s what the first concrete indication that the renovations of the North Street
Corridor were going to have a positive impact. After the North Street Corridor was finished, the EZ
Pass Company decided to locate into what used to be C Moore’s restaurant with substantial
renovations to that building with entrances on both the North Street side of that building and on the
Loockerman Street side of that building. Today, on any given day between customers and
employees there are more people populating the Downtown area because of that. That gave a lot of
us hope that this idea of renovating North Street was going to have a positive effect.
A slide was shown from the 2011 Design Book prepared by the MPO coming out of the Transit
Center relocation project. You can see the Loockerman Way area before anything was done to it. It
shows the parking areas and the two white spaces at the top are the footprints for the buildings that
will be proposed on either side of Loockerman Way Plaza. The next slide shows the effect of the
North Street renovations. The North Street renovations came about because virtually every
legislator in the Dover area got behind this idea of the DDP to ask the Bond Bill Committee in the
State Legislature for $3 million to do three basic things to North Street. Ultimately, the Bond Bill
Committee said yes. There are three basic things that the North Street renovations did. One being
the Loockerman Way improvements; changing that ugly vacant lot into what is seen today. The
second is the horizontal line going through the middle which is North Street. Sidewalks got put in,
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curbing was put in, it was repaved making it a far more desirable and attractive street. The last part
was the reconfiguration of seven (7) different parking lots that were reconfigured into a single
parking area that substantially increased the number of parking spaces available for Downtown.
The next slide shows an original Site Plan that the Planning Commission approved but it was never
completed because there was one element still missing when that Site Plan was approved. The basic
idea is still there; on the bottom part there was parking on the top part were two buildings on either
side of the site facing inward towards the site.
The next slide shows the design that the Commission is being asked to consider tonight. Again,
very consistent with everything else that they have seen prior to this with even more parking with
both sides of the site having parking at the bottom and then the two buildings on the north. This
proposal is the final culmination of all of this stuff coming together. It started with advanced
planning on the part of the Metropolitan Planning Organization. It went to the DDP and the North
Street renovations and then to the General Assembly Bond Bill Committee approving that idea of
the North Street renovations coming across with $3 million. That all got done and they are all very
happy to see the vast improvement that all that stuff did but we were still missing a piece. That is
when Governor Markell came forward with a proposal that was called the Downtown Development
District which was a program where the State would say you come up with a good idea for the
development of your own downtowns across the State and the State will kick in some seed money
to try to make it so that a private developer can take advantage of that seed money and undertake a
development project that without that seed money would not be profitable and would not be
successful but with the seed money would be profitable and can be successful. The General
Assembly enacted that and Dover was selected as one of the first cities to be able to participate in
that program and when Dover applied not only were they applying for what the State Governor had
proposed but the City Council in Dover decided to step up to the plate also and added other kinds of
incentives with regard to permits. Kent County Levy Court also stepped up to the plate and did the
same thing which resulted in a package that became very appealing. That meant that finally the
development community started looking at this and said there is opportunity here. Lighthouse
Construction stepped up to bring the final private sector element to the whole thing. That result of
all of this effort over many years from many different entities is this wonderful project that is being
considered tonight that will bring more business, more people, more commercial activity, more
social activity and a rejuvenated and reinvigorated Downtown for Dover. He would respectfully ask
the Commission to give very serious consideration and to approve this plan.
Mr. Michael Harrington Sr. – Harrington Realty, 736 North DuPont Highway Dover DE
19901
Mr. Harrington stated that he owns Harrington Realty and he was just thinking from a different
perspective as far as this project goes. He owns a couple of properties on Loockerman Street; 33
West Loockerman Street and also 109-111 W Loockerman Street which is directly across the street
from the project. He too presently serves on the Downtown Dover Partnership Board and he goes as
far back as 1967 when he was a merchant on Loockerman Street for eleven (11) years. He watched
Loockerman Street change a lot through the years. This is something like Senator Bushweller said,
this is a plan that’s come to be that’s phenomenal for the City of Dover. As a Realtor, he can tell
you that it will increase the values of the other properties on Loockerman Street. It will help to fill
the vacant properties on Loockerman Street; it will revive the Downtown area. We are so proud to
have Lighthouse Construction come forth to make this be a reality. He just thought that he would
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give his perspective from someone who owns property and what he thinks this project will do for
the Downtown and for the City of Dover and to increase the tax rolls.
Mrs. Diana Welch – The Golden Fleece Tavern, 132 West Loockerman Street Dover DE
19901
Mrs. Welch stated that she is one of the owners of the Golden Fleece Tavern which is next door to
this project. They own four (4) properties downtown. The Governor’s initiative is a very good
program. She has invested a lot of time and money in the Downtown. She is really pleased to see all
eyes starting to look towards Downtown in terms of development and renovation. She thinks this
project is amazing and she is really looking forward to it. She in no way wants to stop this project.
There are some concerns that they have as the building next door. They have a fence line there and
they are concerned about the windows of the apartment upstairs. According to the International
Building Code, if you cut those windows off there will be no more egress through a window other
than the door which is what is required per the International Residential Building Code. They think
that they have come up with a solution and they can talk to Lighthouse directly about that. She does
want it on record as a serious concern of theirs. Also, they are very concerned about the roof tie in.
They worked hard to put up wood siding because it could not be vinyl and it was twice the cost.
This was required because it faces the street and she totally gets it; she is not bitter about it at all.
The concern is that when the two buildings are put together, the maintenance of the wood. Mrs.
Townshend has been very kind to address some of that to them but they are still not really sure what
the solution is yet. She just asks that the applicant stay in touch with them on how to move forward.
Downtown you have no easement and you are building a building right next to one another; there is
some different concerns than if there was two feet or three feet between them. These are old
buildings and they don’t take rattling around well at all. You push on them and they crack. She also
wants to say that regarding traffic, that is a really big concern for them. She is going to let her
business partner talk about his concerns on parking. You cannot whether you are traveling east or
west make a left on Governors Avenue from Loockerman Street without blocking traffic up for two
blocks back. It is something that is at a critical point right now and it is going to snap. That specific
space needs to be looked at for how people are going to make a left going north or south on
Loockerman Street. She is really with Mr. Tolbert on the roof line. She spent a lot of time in Europe
and she likes the mansard roofs on the north/south way but the east/west view reminds her of
European housing that was put up in 1980. It was just very blocky. She is also a real estate agent
and it’s definitely going to increase the property values and it is a really good project.
Mr. Ryan Weber – The Golden Fleece Tavern, 132 West Loockerman Street Dover DE 19901
Mr. Weber stated that he does have concerns with the parking; it’s going to be a problem. They
keep mentioning that there could be up to seventy-one (71) cars if there are seventy-one (71) beds.
Yes, they go away during the day but when they leave work they come home and they bring their
cars. With the current restaurants 33 West, the Golden Fleece Tavern and Grey Fox Grille that lot is
already currently filled. When you have up to seventy-one (71) people coming home at 5 PM and
then everyone else who just came home and decides that they want to go to dinner, where are they
going to park? There will be no spots for them; they will be filled. He can personally say that the
lots next to the Golden Fleece Tavern are filled everyday if you go there past 10 PM. He has had to
park two blocks away from the Golden Fleece Tavern and walk because those lots are filled up,
especially on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. That’s when people want to go out to dinner or out
to the bar. Especially, if another restaurant is being added then a lot of people won’t be able to come
Downtown and go to these restaurants because every lot will be taken up with the people that will
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live here. He doesn’t know if a simple solution would not only solve some of the parking issue but
also some of the issues with the Golden Fleece Tavern that they personally have is maybe the west
building instead of being retail could be a parking space under the building. The added retail is not
even needed. There are empty spaces Downtown. The east building and the amount of retail that
could be in that east building would be great. They could put the restaurants in the east building.
That could be just for that property maybe just for the residents and then maybe the lot behind it be
more open. He can currently tell you that the back lot is currently filled if you get there past a
certain time and if you add up to seventy-one (71) more people, that will not work very well.
Mr. Tolbert closed the public hearing.
Mr. Roach stated that it seems as though there were issues in regards to the new project and things
that Mrs. Welch may have already spoken to Staff about. The issues with the property line, has it
already been discussed with the applicant? Responding to Mr. Roach, Mrs. Townshend stated that it
has started to have been discussed between the applicants; it does not relate to the approval. The
plan presented is Code compliant and obviously it would need the waivers but it meets the
requirements of the Code.
Ms. Maucher questioned if someone could speak more about the parking requirement? What’s the
timing of the study and does this need to be approved in order to factor that into the study?
Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mrs. Townshend stated that the study kick-off meeting is actually this
week. She would expect the study to last probably about nine (9) months at the most. By the time
the first building is complete, the parking study should be complete. The challenge of parking again
there is some degree of reality, but there is a lot of degree of perception especially if you talk about
things that are beyond the normal working hours. There is parking behind City Hall and the Library
that’s available during evening hours. The State parking lots are pretty much empty during evening
hours. If we are very successful in having a lot of restaurants; if you have a draw people don’t mind
walking a couple of blocks. From the perspective of do we have a parking problem, it depends on
what your expectation is. She can tell you that there are people who want to stop and pick
something up at Bayard Pharmacy, if there isn’t a spot on Loockerman Street in front of Bayard
Pharmacy then we have a parking problem. But if you want to buy something at Dick’s Sporting
Goods and park by Macy’s you’re not complaining. A lot of it has to do with the fact that we are a
little bit lazy and really if the draw is there then people will walk a little bit more. She thinks that
they could at some point, if they aren’t planning for it, end up with a parking problem but she
doesn’t think that they are there.
Ms. Maucher stated that there are also public safety issues in Dover that aren’t necessarily at the
mall. She thinks that influences how far and where people are willing to walk especially after hours.
Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mrs. Townshend stated that part of the counter to the safety problems
is having a built up vibrant environment. It becomes this kind of cyclical thing that if we don’t
approve project because they are worried where people are going to park and they are not going to
be safe, then we are just going to be a dog chasing our tail. In some ways, it wouldn’t hurt us to
have a manageable parking problem. She thinks that our biggest parking problem right now is that
we have a lot of space allocated for permits and they are empty most of the day. If you come
Downtown for lunch or you come down for an appointment at A Center for Mental Wellness you
might not be able to find a parking space but there are lots of empty spaces. She thinks the parking
problem right now is a parking allocation problem. The Bradford Street lot is just across the street
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and up a block from this and that’s pretty much empty at night as well. She thinks that there is
parking and she doesn’t doubt that the parking lot is full at night but she goes to 33 West a lot and
there are many nights that she parks on the street. The Downtown Dover Partnership during the
spring collected a lot of data. The data doesn’t bear out that there is a true parking problem.
Mrs. Welsh stated that she goes to the gym and she will see people go around three (3) times to get
the closest spot to the gym door because that’s where they want to park not because there aren’t
spaces available. She thinks that is a good perception with what Mrs. Townshend is saying.
Mr. Street stated that across the street from North Street just behind this property there is a rather
large consolidated parking lot which for nights and weekends is entirely free with the exception of
fourteen (14) spaces which are dedicated for the Loockerman Plaza.
Mrs. Welch questioned how many of the Commissioners are Downtown at 11:30PM to 1PM? Every
single space in the parking lot that is next to the Golden Fleece is full, every single space in the
North Street parking lot that Mr. Street just referenced is full, all of the street parking down to
Angelo’s is full and around the corner near the tire place every single space where people are
supposed to park are full. Every space between Irish Mike’s, Golden Fleece, Grey Fox and
Angelo’s are full. It’s a nighttime environment and it doesn’t pop until 10PM or 10:30PM and she
would venture to say that most of the Commissioners are home. She can take pictures to show that
every space is full. If you add seventy-one (71) more cars there is going to be a problem. Does she
think that it’s okay at 5PM to walk two more blocks? Absolutely. Does she want to ask her servers
with pockets full of money to walk to New Street? Probably not. Where they have to park
sometimes is a little scary. They have actually walked some of their servers out who are parking in
the Bradford Street parking lot because they don’t want to walk that far alone. They like to park as
close as they can because they are leaving at 1AM or 2AM depending on how long it takes to shut
down the bar. She wants to remind everyone that there are possibly three different crowds in terms
of parking. There is a day time where offices are going on, there’s the evening dinner hour from 7-
9PM and then the after 10PM group.
Mrs. Townshend stated that the parking waiver doesn’t affect the amount of spaces that are
constructed. The parking waiver affects how many are allocated to this project. If the parking
wavier is not approved, none of the parking on this site is public parking.
Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that for twenty (20) apartment units based on the Code requirement of
2.25 parking spaces per dwelling unit would require forty-five (45) parking spaces.
Mrs. Townshend stated that the fifty-four (54) spaces more than satisfies the requirement. They are
not looking to under-build parking; they are asking for a waiver so that they can maximize the
amount that is open to the public rather than reserve for their buildings. If you are hearing that that
parking lot that’s adjacent to the Fleece is entirely full and you don’t approve the parking waiver,
those patrons won’t have access to the parking. It’s not a parking waiver in that they are looking to
reduce the number of spaces on the site; it’s that they are looking to reduce the number of spaces
that they have to reserve for their site.
Mr. Holden stated that he shares that there is a perception of lack of parking and people are
accustomed to being able to park in front of the commercial establishment, store or restaurant that
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they want to go into. That’s a changing of what people are accustomed to. But he thinks that there is
also something very different here that they also have seventy-one (71) proposed bedrooms. Are
they also saying that their expectations should be that they could have to park two or three blocks
away? They are creating more of a problem that we recognize that there is a problem at some times
and they are going to resolve it sometime down the road. Who bears the cost of resolving that? Is
that issue better born by patrons for commercial establishments or somebody trying to park near to
their home? He wonders what their expectation is of the average apartment size. Is the average
apartment a four bedroom apartment or a two bedroom apartment? Where did they come up with a
2.25 parking spaces per apartment? Responding to Mr. Holden, Mrs. Townshend state that the 2.25
for apartment parking was a standard that was adopted in 2009. It was really a suburban standard.
Because you can get the waiver in the Downtown it ends up being able to be off-set. When you look
at the changes that were made to the RG-1 (General Residence Zone) district which you can have
townhouses and duplexes, they only require one off-street parking space per unit. There could be
seventy-one (71) cars but part of that is also on the property manager and property owner to let their
tenants know what their parking allocation is. You may end up with some people who decide that
they are not going to have a car or that they are going to share a car with their roommates. Part of
the Downtown environment is that you are less auto dependent so you don’t design everything
around a car. We are still an auto dependent society so you can only do that so much especially in
Dover. She thinks that the applicant in working with perspective tenants is going to have to let them
know if there is one per unit that they have one parking space per unit and the roommates are going
to have to figure out how they are going to manage that. Her understanding is that they are looking
to market towards college and graduate students and young professionals.
Mr. Holden stated that it seems like we are sticking the issue with the people who are renting the
apartments. When everything is very transparent and known ahead of time and the people are savvy
to the environment that they are moving into maybe that’s not a big burden but it seems like we are
really under parking and pushing those people at times where they come home after work and there
aren’t parking spots because the restaurants and other commercial establishments are utilizing them.
Is there an avenue to amend what the waiver request would grant? Responding to Mr. Holden, Mrs.
Townshend stated that the Commission can certainly adjust the parking amount. The concern being
that the more that’s allocated to the apartments is the more that will sit vacant during the day. It’s a
balancing act but certainly the Planning Commission could adjust it so that it’s not a full 50%. If the
Commission is comfortable that they could come up with a number that they would be comfortable
with then they could adjust the number tonight but if they don’t feel comfortable with setting a
number, then it might be best to defer.
Mr. Holt stated that he feels like they are kind of looking into the future with a crystal ball and they
can’t really do that. He feels like they have gone a long way and have gotten this Master Plan about
as good as it can be. He gets the feeling that they should let the parking waiver go with the motion.
Mr. Holt moved to approve S-16-18 Loockerman Way Redevelopment Master Plan: Two Mixed Use
Buildings at 126 West Loockerman Street with the reduction in parking waiver and also the
recommendation of the Historic District Commission (for the Architectural Review Certification),
the Recreation Plan and the DAC comments, seconded by Mrs. Welsh and the motion was carried
7-1 by roll call vote. Mr. Holden voting no; due to concerns over parking. He is highly supportive of
the project; he thinks it’s a great thing to move forward. He thinks that there needs to be a little
more attention paid to the parking issue. Mr. Roach voting yes; he is one of the people who does
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frequent the Golden Fleece and Irish Mike’s during the weekends and he is also a person who
drives down these streets to take his daughter to South Dover Elementary so he definitely knows the
struggle in regards to the traffic issue whether it’s coming down Loockerman Street or North Street
throughout the day and to think about adding apartments with more flow but in the same sense he
really does feel that generating more people Downtown is more important than them tackling a
parking issue that may not even come to fluition. It’s like looking into a crystal ball and expecting
everyone that goes into an apartment to have a car. There are issues with parking Downtown and
he agrees that it is something that they should look at but he doesn’t think that they should hold the
project up for it. One of the issues that he does have with the Downtown Dover District is the lack
of handicapped parking. Mr. Holt voting yes; he feels like it’s a good step forward for Dover and
they have a good plan here. He feels like the parking issue will take care of itself in the future. Mr.
Baldwin voting yes; he thinks it’s a good plan. For the parking waiver, he thinks they should allow
the property managers to manage the parking as fore stated by Staff. Dr. Jones voting yes; however,
she does have some concerns about the residents. Professional graduates go and come home during
the middle of the day; there is not really a standard for students who are in school. She would like
to see some additional consideration regarding a parking configuration. Mrs. Welsh voting yes;
based on all of the comments that she heard tonight that the public doesn’t want to jeopardize this
project, everyone wants to see this project succeed and she believes that parking as a whole could
be addressed in the future. She is sure that other Downtown parking issues will come into play once
everything gets underway. Ms. Maucher voting yes; she too has concerns with parking and traffic
issues but she thinks that those concerns are outside this project and by approving this project will
hopefully encourage a speedier recognition to the issues and addressing the issues rather than
putting it off. Mr. Tolbert voting yes; the location of the project is so strategic to overall Downtown
Dover and it’s continuing growth and economic advantage to the City and he is certain whatever
problems that they have with parking and the flat roof line that the applicants have shown a
willingness to work with the Staff to iron out any problems or concerns that they may have.
S-16-17 Parking Lot at 623 Fulton Street – Public Hearing and Review of a Site Development Plan
to replace an existing 11,600 S.F. ± gravel parking lot with a thirty-four (34) space asphalt parking
lot of the same area, with striping, parking bumpers, and lighting. The purpose of the parking lot is
to provide for adjacent properties. The property consists of 0.33 acres and is located on the north
side of Fulton Street east of Ridgely Street. The property is zoned IPM (Industrial Park
Manufacturing Zone). The owner of record is Harrington Commercial, LLC. Property Address: 623
Fulton Street. Tax Parcel: ED-05-076.08-01-13.00-000. Council District 4. Waiver Requests:
Elimination of Sidewalk Requirement, Partial Elimination of Curbing Requirement, Elimination of
Bicycle Parking and Elimination Opaque Barrier (Fence Component). This application is
associated with approved variance V-15-06 (granted March 18, 2015) to allow the property to use
gravel surfacing for a specific time period.
Representatives: Mr. Mike Harrington Sr., Owner; Mr. Troy Adams, Mountain Consulting
Mr. Cook stated that this application is S-16-17 and the address is 623 Fulton Street. This is located
on the north side of Fulton Street east of Ridgely Street and west of the railroad track. Site area is
approximately 0.33 of an acre. Zoning is IPM (Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone). The existing
use in its current state is as accessory parking with a crushed stone surface. The proposed use is also
for accessory parking but to be improved with asphalt and other improvements. There are no
buildings planned.
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
The plan is to replace an 11,600 SF parking lot with a thirty-four (34) space asphalt parking lot. The
application is associated with an approved variance, V-15-06, which was granted by the Board of
Adjustment at their March 18, 2015 meeting to allow the property to use the crushed stone that was
in place for a defined period of time. As you may know, crushed stone or gravel is not a permitted
parking surface in Dover. The Ordinance requires either hard concrete or asphalt; a hard dust free
surface. Upon the granting of the variance, the property would be required to come into compliance
within a five (5) year time period. This application is for a Site Development Plan to bring the
property into compliance.
There is an entrance off of Fulton Street. The Department of Public Works provided comments in
the DAC Report in regards to how that entrance is made; an apron is to be constructed. They also
made comment for a stop sign and a stop line when exiting the parking lot at that location. The lot
consists of four (4) rows of parking totaling thirty-four (34) spaces. There are code compliant drive
aisles which allow bi-directional traffic throughout the parking rows. Concrete parking bumpers are
provided for all spaces as shown on the plan.
He made a comment in the report about ADA accessibility and handicapped parking. Typically, the
handicapped parking is guided by the Building Code so the expectation would be that required
handicapped parking for an individual property would be at the site of that property. This particular
parking lot is accessory parking to serve many potential businesses that are in the area that are under
common ownership with the property owner of this lot. This lot does not require handicapped
parking. There is a requirement for bicycle parking and the bicycle parking requirement would be
for one space every twenty (20) parking spaces; therefore, two bicycle parking spaces are required.
The applicant has submitted a waiver which will be referenced later.
There is a requirement for screening. At the west side of the site there is a residence next door.
Although the property is zoned IPM (Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone) as well, it is a legal non-
conforming residential use with an active rental dwelling license. Therefore, the Ordinance does
require screening between the proposed use and that residence. The Ordinance requires an opaque
barrier, typically meaning a fence six (6) feet in height, accompanied by landscaping. The applicant
has also submitted a waiver request since the Ordinance does allow a waiver of the opaque barrier
requirement. There is still the requirement to have landscape screening but they can request an
opaque barrier (fence) waiver.
As stated in the description, the purposed surface is asphalt to replace the crushed stone. The
applicant has also submitted a waiver request in regards to curbing. There will been a change which
is not shown in the Site Plan as submitted. The Site Plan that the Commission received does not
have any curbing shown. When the curbing waiver was requested, the applicant did reference that
curbing would be along the Fulton Street frontage. Also with the Site Plan there was a Lighting Plan
submitted for light poles to be installed with dome lighting for the site. Also in terms of zoning
requirements, Article 5 Section 18 does require sidewalk to be installed along the public street
frontage of the property when that Site Plan proposal is subject to Planning Commission review.
There is no sidewalk shown on the property frontage in the submitted Site Plan and the applicant
did submit a waiver request for elimination of the sidewalk requirement.
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
The other thing to mention is a stormwater and sediment plan that’s pending; however, the site does
show proposed sub-surface drainage and retention which is under the parking lot. There is also a
requirement for Landscape Plan; one tree for every 3,000 SF and the Commission did get a
landscape sheet that was submitted in the plan set which has five (5) trees shown.
Staff recommendations for the waivers are as follows: They did recommend approval of the waiver
to eliminate the bicycle parking specific to this particular lot. They made that in recognition of the
applicant’s request and their statement in what they believe is a limited demand due to the nature of
the property. At this point Staff tends to agree with that; however, in the future if any of the
surrounding properties are subject to a Site Development Plan approval the bicycle parking on those
individual properties would be considered at that time. In regards to the waiver request of the
opaque barrier, Staff recommends approval of that request as well to eliminate the fence component
of that requirement and to accept a continuous vegetative screen as satisfying the buffering
requirement. He believes that they made in their comments that when the Final Plan comes in for
Staff approval they would recommend that those changes be reflected on the Landscape Plan and
probably the most likely scenario would be the trees as proposed on the Landscape Plan would end
up being substituted for the plants that would be required as the landscape screen between the two
properties. Also, the Staff recommendation in regards to the curbing requirement was to recommend
approval of the waiver request for partial elimination of curbing. This means that the curbing would
still be retained along the Fulton Street frontage but that it could be waived for the perimeter of the
lot to allow stormwater sheet flow off of the asphalt to grass. In regards to the request for the
elimination of sidewalk, Staff does not recommend approval of that waiver request. There is some
existing sidewalk. There is a piece about fifteen (15) feet long on the property that’s to the east and
there’s also a short segment of sidewalk at that residential property at the corner of Fulton Street
and Ridgely Street. Indeed the sidewalk network there is discontinuous but Staff recommends
construction of the sidewalk along the frontage of this property to allow safe access between the
parking lot and the surrounding businesses. Also because it has been the policy of the City to
enforce the construction of sidewalk as properties develop so that that infrastructure is in place as
other properties adjacent continue to develop over time.
Ms. Maucher questioned if there were other residential properties in the area that are non-
conforming? Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mrs. Townshend stated that there is just one.
Ms. Maucher further questioned if it was legal non-conforming and if it would remain? Responding
to Ms. Maucher, Mrs. Townshend stated yes, it can remain until it expires for a period of one year.
If it were to be vacant for a period of one year then it would no longer be able to be residential
again.
Ms. Maucher questioned if the lighting on the lot and the opaque barrier were taken into
consideration with the residential property? Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mrs. Townshend stated
yes.
Mr. Adams stated that they agree with the DAC comments and Mr. Cook accurately described this
project. They are planning for thirty-four (34) parking spaces but that may shift a little bit. It could
be less potentially by the time they take into account all of the landscaping comments that they need
to address. One of the things that he would like to have stated for the record are the dates that this
19
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
parking lot has to be paved, taking into account the Board of Adjustment variance from March
2015.
Mrs. Townshend stated that the variance provided five (5) years. This Site Plan has a two (2) year
life plus the ability to extend for a third year so you really have three (3) years from now.
Mr. Harrington stated that on Fulton Street from the railroad tracks all the way down including the
house that is being discussed, he owns all of that property. Across the street where Gede Insulation
is located and that whole block he owns as well. He is not bothering anybody and it was a service to
the City that he decided to do this lot because Gede Insulation probably has seventy-five (75)
employees with at least fifty (50) cars a day parking all over the streets. Prime Care is also on
Fulton Street; it’s the City’s ambulance service. He was seeing a hazard to people parking all over
the streets and he could see a hazard in slippery conditions. That’s why he stepped forward and put
the lot where it is. It’s really cleaned up the area and it’s needed. He hates to have to spend the
money to black top it but he will do it.
Mr. Holt questioned if there would be assigned parking spaces for each business in the lot?
Responding to Mr. Holt, Mr. Harrington stated that the parking for the ambulance service on their
property is plenty for them so they don’t need to use this parking lot. The only tenant there that has
any use of the parking is Gede Insulation so he doesn’t need to assign it.
Mr. Tolbert questioned if there were any fees to park in the parking lot? Responding to Mr. Tolbert,
Mr. Harrington stated no.
Ms. Maucher questioned if people needed the sidewalk in order to get to a certain place?
Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Harrington stated that they really don’t but Gede Insulation walks
across the street. The sidewalk is not really needed for pedestrians but he is willing to agree with the
City in that it makes it look more uniform and much more pedestrian friendly. He thinks it’s the
right thing to do.
Mr. Baldwin questioned if this parking lot was going to be available to anyone? Responding to Mr.
Baldwin, Mr. Harrington stated yes, Gede Insulation is really filling the lot up but anybody could
use it. The problem is that there is nobody in the area that had the need to be in the area. He owns a
house near the parking lot and there is plenty of parking near the house.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing and after seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public
hearing.
Mr. Holden moved to approve S-16-17 Parking Lot at 623 Fulton Street to include approval of the
elimination of bicycle parking waiver request, the elimination of the opaque barrier waiver request,
the partial elimination of curbing waiver request and following Staff recommendations in denying
the elimination of sidewalk waiver request, seconded by Mr. Holt and the motion was carried 8-0 by
roll call vote. Mr. Holden voting yes; it’s a welcomed improvement to the area and in line with City
Code. Mr. Roach voting yes; for the reasons previously stated. Mr. Holt voting yes; it is a good
improvement for the area. Mr. Baldwin voting yes, for all of the reasons previously stated. Dr.
Jones voting yes; it’s a welcomed improvement. Mrs. Welsh voting yes, for the reasons previously
stated and she commends Mr. Harrington for doing it. Mrs. Maucher voting yes, for the reasons
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
previously stated. Mr. Tolbert voting yes; the parking lot will improve the area and also give
additional parking in the area which is needed.
2) S-16-19 Schutte Park Public Works Yard – Public Hearing and Review of a Site
Development Plan to permit construction of a maintenance building, a greenhouse, a salt
barn, two truck wash stations, material storage and other improvements at the City
Department of Public Works Yard in Schutte Park. The total area of proposed new building
is 7,855 S.F. The property consists of 104.33 acres and the project area consists of
approximately 15.61 acres. The project site is located at the end of Electric Avenue inside
Schutte Parl. The property is zoned ROS (Recreational and Open Space Zone) and is subject
to the SWPOZ-3 (Source Water Protection Overlay Zone – Tier 3 Excellent Recharge Area).
The owner of record is the City of Dover. Property Address: 10 Electric Avenue. Tax Parcel:
ED-05-076.00-01-06.00-000. Council District 2. Waiver Request: Reduction of Parking
Requirement; Elimination of Sidewalk Requirement; Consideration of Area Subject to Tree
Planting Requirement; and Construction of a Tree Mitigation Plan
Representatives: Ms. Kate Mills, Public Works; Mr. Chris Curran, AE Com
Mr. Diaz stated that this project is to renovate the existing Public Works Yard that is located in
Schutte Park used by the City’s Department of Public Works. It’s located at the very south end of
the park at the end of Electric Avenue, quite far from the Hazlettville frontage and right next to the
Dover Little League fields. There are two major parts to this renovation. The first is to build some
new buildings. Those include a new storage building, a greenhouse and a truck wash station. The
second major part is to re-configure the material storage areas that’s geared more towards storing
things in bins than storing them in stock piles. The site is zoned ROS (Recreational and Open Space
Zone) and is partially subject to the SWPOZ-3 (Source Water Protection Overlay Zone – Tier 3
Excellent Recharge Area).
There are a few issues with this project that they were able to work out during the DAC process.
One is that the plan shows the location for a salt barn but that is not part of the current application.
Staff will be getting a separate plan later for the administrative review for that building. Another
one is that we discuss the use of the storage building to make sure there would be no uses going on
in it that are incompatible with the SWPOZ-3 since that building is the only new one that is in the
overlay at the very north end of the work yard. He believes that this project still needs to go to the
Kent Conservation District for a full stormwater review especially considering its somewhat
sensitive location next to the streams in this area.
The new buildings are similar to the existing buildings in the work yard. They have pre-finished
insulated metal wall panels and low pitched standing seam metal roofs. The exception is the
greenhouse which will be made out of polycarbonate panels that are translucent.
There are a number of waiver requests that are associated with this application. The first is for
parking. There is no formal parking lot at the work yard. There is an exhibit in the packet that the
applicant submitted showing that there is space to park fifty (50) vehicles in the existing paved area
near the existing buildings. They are seeking a waiver from constructing forty-one (41) additional
spaces because according to them, the renovations are not going to increase the number of vehicles
that need to actually park in the work yard or the number of employees that will need to go there
21
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
during the day. Staff is recommending approval of that waiver request because based on the use
they concur that a large number of standard parking spaces in a traditional lot would not be an
appropriate solution for parking the variety of trucks, construction vehicles and other wide variety
of non-standard vehicles that use the Public Works Yard. The second waiver request is for sidewalk.
As he previously mentioned, the work yard is at the end of Electric Avenue placing it far from the
main road frontage of the park on Hazlettville Road. There is a multi-use trail that extends partly
down Electric Avenue to a gravel parking lot that’s mainly used by the softball fields but from there
it’s almost another 0.5 mile from where the sidewalk ends to where the work yard is located. To
connect to that trail, the applicants would have to build sidewalk well outside of the work yard
project area. That’s the reason they are requesting the waiver and also the reason that Staff is
recommending granting it. Finally, there is a request for alternative tree planting requirements. If
the tree planting requirements for this project were to be based on the area of the parcel that the
work yard is located on the requirement would be three hundred ninety-one (391) new trees. The
applicant would like to base their requirement just on work yard area which is 14.9 acres as opposed
to the 104 acre size of the parcel, so that would be one-hundred seventeen (117) trees. In addition to
seeking that reduction, the applicants would like to avoid planting the trees inside the work yard
itself to avoid there being conflicts between the trees and the vehicles using the work yard. Staff has
prepared a Tree Mitigation Plan showing where else in Schutte Park the trees could go. Most of
them would be along the Wyoming Mill Road frontage similar to some other trees that were planted
as part of a Tree Mitigation Plan for the Garrison Energy Center along Hazlettville Road and some
more would be located outside the work gates of the yard near the Little League fields. Staff is
recommending approval of the alternate tree planting requirements because they do think it’s
inappropriate to hold the applicants accountable for planting trees for large amounts of park land
outside the work yard area and because the trees that they are proposing would be in locations that
are more beneficial to park users being in areas of the park outside the work yard.
Ms. Maucher stated that for the truck wash are there wastewater regulations for the run-off?
Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Curran stated that he is from AE Com and he is helping the City
with this project. As far as the wash water from the truck washing station, it will go through a
sediment trapping device kind of like a septic tank area before it’s discharged to the sanitary sewer.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing and after seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public
hearing.
Dr. Jones moved to approve S-16-19 Schutte Park Public Works Yard to include approval of the
waiver requests for the reduction of parking requirement, the elimination of sidewalk requirement,
the consideration of area subject to tree planting requirement and the consideration of a Tree
Mitigation Plan, seconded by Mrs. Welsh and the motion was unanimously carried 8-0 by roll call
vote. Mr. Holden voting yes; it’s well put together plan and a needed expansion capacity for the
City. Mr. Roach voting yes; he thinks that it would be unnecessary to try to plant trees where there
is no reason to have them and put them somewhere where they would have a good use. Mr. Holt
voting yes; he thinks it’s a good plan and it’s going to be an asset to the City. Mr. Baldwin voting
yes; it’s going to be a great improvement for the area. Dr. Jones voting yes; it’s going to be a great
improvement. Mrs. Welsh voting yes; it’s a good plan. Ms. Maucher voting yes; it’s a great addition
to the City of Dover. Mr. Tolbert voting yes; with the understanding that the applicant is going to
keep this yard in good condition and in no way become an eye sore to the community.
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
NEW BUSINESS
Meeting adjourned at 9:23 PM.
Sincerely,
Kristen Mullaney
Secretary
23
Paj 26
PETITION TO AMEND AND ZONING DISTRICT
Public Hearing before the
City of Dover Planning Commission
October 17, 2016
Applicants/Owners: John W. and Carla M. Russum
Address: 51 Roosevelt Avenue
Location: North side of Roosevelt Avenue, west of South DuPont Highway
Tax Parcel ID #: ED-05-077.17-05-72.00-000
Size: 7,675 +/- Square Feet
Present Use: Barber Shop
Proposed Use: Barber Shop
Comprehensive
Plan Designation: Residential Medium Density
Present Zoning: R-8 (One Family Residence Zone)
Proposed Zoning: C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial Zone)
File Number: Z-16-05
Associated File Number: MI-16-13 Nonconforming Uses in Residential Districts
Ordinance Number: 2015-20
Paj 27
Z-16-05 Lands of John and Carla Russum at 51 Roosevelt Avenue
DAC Report
Page 2
Overview
The property is currently zoned R-8 (One Family Residence Zone). This rezoning request would
rezone the property from R-8 to C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial Zone).
The rezoning request is necessary due to the Planning Office’s ongoing project, assigned by City
Council in December 2015, to sunset nonresidential, nonconforming uses in the City’s residential
zones. This sunsetting is required under the Zoning Ordinance, Article 7 §1.53:
Article 7 Section 1. Nonconforming buildings and uses.
1.53 In any residence zone, any non-conforming use of buildings which is not permitted
under the provisions of this ordinance may be continued for a period of:
a) Twenty years after the effective date of this ordinance, or
b) Forty years after the initial construction of the building containing such use or
of any addition thereto adding 50 percent or more to the floor area occupied
by such use,
Whichever is the longer period, provided that, after the expiration of that period, such
nonconforming use shall be terminated. However, no such nonconforming use shall be
permitted to continue for a period exceeding two years, unless such use shall be
operated in conformance with performance standards established in article 5, section 8.
The effective date of the current Zoning Ordinance is April 21, 1975. As such sufficient time has
passed that all remaining nonconforming uses in the City’s residence zones must now be
discontinued or brought into compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.
The parcel is developed with a commercial building (possibly a former one-family residence)
and parking in the rear. The building is occupied by an active beauty shop/salon business (“Cuts
R Us”).
Surrounding Land Uses:
The properties to the north and west of the subject property are one-family residences zoned R-8
and characteristic of that zone. The property immediately to the east is vacant and is zoned C-4
(Highway Commercial Zone). The property across the street to the south is also zoned C-4 and is
occupied by a medical office building. Further to the east and south are other commercial
properties zoned C-4 and characteristic of South DuPont Highway.
Comprehensive Plan:
The 2008 Comprehensive Plan depicts the subject area with the Residential Medium Density land
use classification on Map 12-1: Land Development Plan Map. Table 12-1: Land Use and Zoning
Matrix specifies that the following zones are compatible with this land use classification:
- R-8 (One Family Residential)
- R-7 (One Family Residential)
- RM-1 (Medium Density Residential)
- RM-2 (Medium Density Residential)
- RG-1 (General Residential)
- RG-2 (General Residential)
- RG-3 (Group Housing)
- RGO (General Residence and Office)
- C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial)
- MH (Manufactured Housing)
Paj 28
Z-16-05 Lands of John and Carla Russum at 51 Roosevelt Avenue
DAC Report
Page 3
Request for C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial Zone)
The uses permitted in the C-1 zoning district are listed in Article 3 §11 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Permitted uses in the C-1 Zone include retail stores with some exclusions; personal service
establishments; service establishments with some exclusions; restaurants; one-family residences
including attached and semi-detached dwellings; apartments and multi-family dwellings. The size
of stores or establishments in the zone is limited to 2,500 S.F. of floor space. The zone
conditionally permits Planned Senior Housing Developments. The zone prohibits fuel pumps;
motor vehicle storage, sales, or repairs; drive-throughs; liquor stores; firearm sales; and tobacco
shops.
The existing and proposed use as a Barber Shop would be permitted in the C-1 Zone as a personal
service establishment. The Zoning Ordinance, Article 12 defines personal service establishments
as “establishments primarily engaged in providing individual services generally related to personal
needs, such as a hair salon.”
Recommendation of the Planning Staff:
Staff supports the rezoning request from R-8 to C-1. The C-1 Zone will allow for buffer and
transition between the highway commercial uses to the south and east and the residential uses to
the north and west. In addition, the business on the property is currently a non-residential,
nonconforming use in a residential zone. Rezoning the property will restore it to a conforming use.
The restoration to conformity will allow the business to stay in operation, by voiding its need to
comply with sunsetting requirements.
This recommendation is being made without the benefit of hearing the comments of surrounding
landowners and residents. A public hearing is required on this matter and the Planning Commission
should give comments made in it consideration.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT:
1) Formal Notice of Decision will indicate actions taken on this rezoning by the Planning
Commission and City Council, and will indicate the resolution (or lack thereof) of the
property’s nonconforming use status.
2) The applicant shall be aware that following any decision made by City Council in regards to
approval of this rezoning, that a Site Plan, Subdivision Plan and or appropriate Building
Permits must be submitted to the Planning Department prior to the establishment of a new
use or any construction activity on the site. The applicant should contact the Planning Staff
to determine the appropriate review process for any proposed projects.
3) The applicant shall be aware that approval of any rezoning application does not represent a
Building Permit, other construction activity permit approval, or authorization to establish a
new use. A separate application submission showing proposed improvements is required
before issuance of permits by the City of Dover.
If you have any questions or need to discuss any of the above comments, please call the above
contact person and the Planning Office as soon as possible.
Paj 29
CITY OF DOVER
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY
STAFF D.A.C. MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
APPLICATION: LANDS OF JOHN AND CARLA RUSSUM 51 ROOSEVELT
AVENUE REZONING FROM R-8 TO C-1
FILE #: Z-16-05
REVIEWING AGENCY: City of Dover
CONTACT PERSON: Paul Waddell - Electric
Jason A. Lyon, P.E. – Public Works
CONTACT PHONE #: ELECTRIC - 302-736-7070 PUBLIC WORKS – 302-736-7025
T HE S UBJECT P ROPOSAL HAS BEEN R EVIEWED FOR C ODE C OMPLIANCE , P LAN C ONFORMITY AND C OMPLETENESS IN
A CCORDANCE WITH THIS A GENCY ’ S A UTHORITY AND A REA OF E XPERTISE .
T HE F OLLOWING I TEMS HAVE BEEN I DENTIFIED AS E LEMENTS W HICH N EED TO BE A DDRESSED BY THE A PPLICANT :
CITY AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS
ELECTRIC / WATER / WASTEWATER / STORMWATER / STREETS / SANITATION / GROUNDS
Our office has no objection to the rezoning of:
ED-05-077.17-05-72.00-000
RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGESTED AS CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO MEET CODE OBJECTIVES
ELECTRIC / WATER / WASTEWATER / SANITATION / STORMWATER / STREETS / GROUNDS
1. Should this site be redeveloped, which includes modifications to the use, the applicant / developer will be responsible
for all costs associated with providing the appropriate meter / service / main to this site based upon the use including
any necessary system upgrades or extensions. The appropriateness and adequacy of electric, water and sewer
services and meters will be assessed at that time. (Please note that each water meter registered with the City of
Dover must have a separate service line.) Should the existing water and sanitary sewer services no longer be
required based upon the proposed use, they must be properly abandoned at the mains in accordance with all City of
Dover Department of Public Works standards and specifications.
2. Any redevelopment shall adhere to the City of Dover Water/Wastewater Handbook, the Specifications, Standards &
Procedures for City of Dover Public Works requirements, and the City of Dover’s Electric Service Handbook.
3. Please note that renovations and or change of use projects must ensure that the water and wastewater service is
brought up to current requirements. This may include relocating the water meter outside or changing service line
sizes. Please ensure you schedule a meeting with the Department of Public Works during the planning phase for this
site. Additional impact fees may apply for future development.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT
ELECTRIC / WATER / WASTEWATER / STORMWATER / STREETS / SANITATION / GROUNDS
1. None.
I F Y OU H AVE A NY Q UESTIONS OR N EED TO D ISCUSS ANY OF THE A BOVE C OMMENTS , P LEASE C ALL THE A BOVE
C ONTACT P ERSON AND THE P LANNING D EPARTMENT AS S OON AS P OSSIBLE .
Paj 30
CITY OF DOVER D
E
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
L
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY D
O
D.A.C. MEETING DATE: September 28, 2016 T
===============================================================
APPLICATION: Lands of John and Carla Russum
FILE#: Z-16-05 REVIEWING AGENCY: DelDOT
CONTACT PERSON: Jonathan T. Moore PHONE#: 760-2145
===============================================================
THE SUBJECT PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR CODE COMPLIANCE, PLAN CONFORMITY AND COMPLETENESS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGENCY'S AUTHORITY AND AREA OF EXPERTISE.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ELEMENTS WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE APPLICANT:
CITY & STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS:
DelDOT has no City & State Code Requirements at this time.
RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGESTED AS CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO MEET CODE
OBJECTIVES:
DelDOT has no recommendations at this time.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT:
DelDOT has no Advisory Comments at this time.
If you have any questions or need to discuss any of the above comments, please call the
above contact person and the planning department as soon as possible.
Paj 31
CITY OF DOVER
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY
October 2016
APPLICATION: Lands of John and Carla Russum at 51 Roosevelt Avenue
FILE #: Z-16-05
REVIEWING AGENCY: Kent Conservation District
CONTACT PERSON: David C. Cahill PHONE #: 741-2600 ext.3
THE SUBJECT PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR CODE COMPLIANCE, PLAN CONFORMITY AND
COMPLETENESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGENCY’S AUTHORITY AND AREA OF EXPERTISE. THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ELEMENTS WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE
APPLICANT:
Source: 2014 Delaware Sediment and Stormwater Regulations
CITY AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Kent Conservation District has no objection to the re-zoning plan for the above referenced site.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT:
1. If at any time expansion or earth disturbing activity (clearing, grubbing tree clearing etc.) takes place and
exceeds 5000 square feet; a detailed Sediment and Stormwater Management Plan must be submitted and
approved to the Kent Conversation District.
Paj 32
City of Dover Application No.: Z-16-05
Department of Planning & Inspections
R-8
ORCHARD
C-4
R-8
Site
ROOSEVELT
T
N
DU
PO
C-4
C-4
Title: Lands of John and Carla Russum
Ordinance #: 2016-20
Address: 51 Roosevelt Avenue
Parcel ID: ED-05-077.17-05-72.00-000 Legend
Existing Zoning: R-8 One Family Residence Zone
2012 Buildings
Proposed Zoning: C-1 Neighborhood Commercial Zone
Owner: John W. & Carla M. Russum Zoning
Date: 9/15/2016
Dover Parcels
« 0 62.5 125 250 Feet
Subject Property
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City of Dover
DATA SHEET FOR UNIFIED COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAGE PLAN REVIEW
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF October 5, 2016
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF October 17, 2016
Plan Title: Creekstone Center Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan (US-16-04)
Plan Type: Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan
Property Location: West side of South Governors Avenue, south of Lynnhaven Drive.
Property Addresses: 1198 South Governors Avenue
Tax Parcels: ED-05-086.05-01-12.00-000, ED-05-086.05-01-12.01-000
Owners: Creekstone Development LLC
Project Professional: First State Signs
Site Area: 7.64 acres +/-
Existing Signs: Wall signs installed on existing two-story office building.
Proposed Signs: Two (2) illuminated pylon signs, 222 SF each
One (1) monument “entry wall”
Four (4) directory/directional signs
Future wall signs on buildings per standard Sign Regulations.
Zoning Classification: C-2A (Limited Central Commercial Zone)
Roadway Classification: Urban Minor Arterial
(per Sign Regulations)
P. O. Box 475 Dover, DE 19903
Community Excellence Through Quality Service
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C P
I L
CITY OF DOVER T A
Y N
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE N
O I
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY F N
G
D.A.C. MEETING DATE: September 28, 2016 D
O
V
APPLICATION: Creekstone Center Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan E
R
FILE #: US-16-04 REVIEWING AGENCY: City of Dover Planning
CONTACT PERSON: Bill Cook, Planner PHONE #: (302) 736-7196
PLAN SUMMARY
This is an application to the Planning Commission for a Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan
Review. The plan includes the construction and implementation of signage for the Creekstone
Center, a multi-building mixed-use office complex with an additional residential component.
The property is ultimately planned to consist of three (3) two-story office buildings, one (1) five-
story office building, and three (3) 2-story residential buildings. The project area qualifies for the
Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan process because the site will have three (3) or more principal
structures under common management located on a contiguous property.
Related Actions
Site Development Master Plan S-15-14 was conditionally approved by the Planning Commission
at its meeting of November 16, 2015. The plan proposed the construction of a commercial
complex in Phases 1-4 consisting of two 2-story, 18,080 S.F. commercial/office buildings and
one 5-story, 77,745 S.F. retail/office building. One existing 2-story 18,080 SF office building
and associated site improvements, and the residential buildings were previously constructed
under Site Plan S-04-19.
Summary of Signage Requested
This project is to establish building and freestanding signage for a mixed-use complex. The Plan
Book drawings and Site Plan submitted by the applicant depict the area and placement for each
sign, as well as design details such as typeface, color, and dimensions. Table 1 on the page that
follows is a detailed listing of all signs proposed, and references the exhibits submitted by the
applicant.
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Pylon Signs (2)
The applicant is requesting two identical pylon signs, one to be located north of the entrance, and
one to be located south, as identified on the submitted Site Plan sheet and outlined in Table 1.
Each sign identifies the center name and address number at the top. This area will have back-
lighted lettering made of a material that is black during daylight, but illuminates at night.
Underneath are three (3) internally-illuminated panels identifying tenants. The sign has a stone
base which is the same color as the stone used in the water table on the building façades. The
sign is proposed to be constructed of painted metal columns, with framing and face materials
match the building color.
Entry Wall Sign
Directional signage is proposed to be placed on an entry wall that is located on the site and
approached from the entrance from South Governors Avenue. The signage shown consists of
black aluminum lettering with text guiding motorists to the buildings on the site. The adjacent
area has fencing and landscaping complimenting the site. The wall material is simulated stucco
that compliments the buildings.
Table 1: Proposed Signage
US-16-04; Creekstone Center
1198 South Governors Avenue
FREESTANDING SIGNS
Planbook Total Total Sign
Page Description Dimensions Height Setback Area (SF)
5 "ABC" Sign, north of entrance
Pylon Sign with 4' high cut stone base. Double-sided
18' H x 12' W 18' 15' 145
and internally illuminated. Top header identifying
center and address number. 3 tenant panel areas 12'
W x 5' W each.
6 "D" Sign, south of entrance
18' H x 14' W 18' 15' 145
Identical in style and design to "ABC" Sign
4 Directory Signs (4)
60
5' H x 3' W 5' --
Four signs located near each building identifying the (15 ea.)
building and building tenants.
Total Square Feet, Freestanding Signs: 350
WALL SIGNS
3 Entry Wall Sign
Located approx. 140' inside entrance from South 7' H x 40' W 7' -- 82.5
Governors Avenue. Black aluminum lettering applied
to masonry wall.
2 Building Signage to be on each building per standard
City of Dover Sign Regulations.
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Directional Signs
Additional directional signage consists of four (4) painted metal directory panels located near
each building, identifying the building and listing the building tenants. The signs are five (5) feet
tall and total 15 square feet each with a black face.
SIGNAGE REGULATIONS
The subject site has frontage on South Governors Avenue, an Urban Minor Arterial street.
Table 2 lists the requirements and limits for signs permitted under the Sign Regulations of the
Zoning Ordinance for the subject property’s location.
Table 2: "Sign Table"
Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.7 (excerpt)
Road
Permitted Signs
Location Use Type
% of
Total
Number Max. Max. Wall Setback Exclusion
Sign Type Permitted Size Height Area (R.O.W.) Zone
Nonresidential Uses Wall & 2/frontage 64 S.F. N/A < =15% N/A N/A
Nonresidential Uses
in Urban Monument
Minor or Post and 1/entrance 64 S.F. 7 feet N/A 5 feet 20 feet
Nonresidential Arterial Panel OR
Districts Post** 1/frontage 16 S.F. 7 feet N/A 5 feet 10 feet
** Post sign w ould be in lieu of a monument sign or post and panel sign.
Additional Sign Regulations
In addition to the “Sign Table” there are specific provisions in the Sign Regulations related to
particular types of signs relevant to this project:
Definitions for “Pylon Sign” and “Monument Sign” (Zoning Ordinance Article 5 §4.3)
o “Pylon sign: A tall freestanding sign that is held up by a pole or poles. The supporting
structure must be equal to or narrower than the sign itself.”
o “Monument sign: A low freestanding sign that is affixed to a base that is equal to or
wider than the sign itself. The height of the sign is to be measured from the finished
grade to the top of the sign.”
o Several definitions within the Sign Regulations and elsewhere in the Zoning
Ordinance consider the “Entry Wall” feature proposed by the applicant as a
“building”, therefore the regulations applicable to wall signage apply to this structure.
Code related to multi-tenant properties (Zoning Ordinance Article 5 §4.9.G)
o “Multi story office buildings with multiple tenants are permitted one wall sign per
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tenant.
o Signs shall not be located above the second story.”
Code pertaining to signs which do not require a permit (Zoning Ordinance Article 5 §4.5)
o “Any sign located in an internal location on a site, campus, or complex and that
cannot be seen from any public right-of-way or adjacent property.” (G)
o “Directional signs limited in area to no more than five square feet per sign, plus one
square foot for each additional tenant. A permit is required for directional signs
identifying the entrance or exit of a site if over five square feet in sign area. The sign
area for these larger directional signs shall not exceed eight square feet and shall not
be over four feet in height.” (D)
Table 2 presents the conventional sign regulations for the property based on its road frontage.
However, the applicant has requested consideration of a Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan.
Under the provisions for Comprehensive Signage Plans for unified campuses and complexes
found in Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.8 of the Sign Regulations, an applicant may request that
the Planning Commission grant additional signage and sign area than would be permitted under
the conventional sign regulations in the Zoning Ordinance.
DESIGN GUIDELINES AND OBJECTIVES FOR COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAGE PLANS
The Sign Ordinance specifically spells out the guidelines, design objectives, and duties for the
Planning Commission to use to approve or disapprove a Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan
(Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 § 4.8 B and C). The pertinent design guidelines and objectives are
as follows:
B. Design guidelines for unified comprehensive signage plans.
1. Unified campuses and complexes applying for a unified comprehensive signage plan
may not be held to the height, size, number and area regulations for signs found in other
subsections of this section. However, the number, type and size of signs proposed may
not be excessive, and must be in proportion to the scale of the buildings and the uses on
the site.
2. All unified comprehensive signage plans must comply with all design guidelines found
in subsection 4.4-Design requirements of this section, as well as all specific design
guidelines found in this section.
3. Building signs shall be in harmony with the overall architectural concept for the site,
and be compatible with each other and the building facades.
4. The freestanding signs identifying shopping centers and other unified campuses and
complexes shall identify the name of the campus or complex and no more than three
separate tenants within the campus or complex unless otherwise approved by the
planning commission.
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5. There shall be architectural harmony and unity of signs within a unified campus or
complex. Sign type, color scheme, size, and illumination within the site shall be
coordinated and shall be compatible with the architecture of the center and the
surrounding area.
C. Planning commission duties. In reviewing and approving comprehensive signage plans,
the planning commission shall take into consideration the public health, safety and
welfare, the comfort and convenience of the public in general and of the residents,
businesses, and property owners of the immediate neighborhood in particular, and shall
ensure that unified campuses and complexes have adequate, but not excessive,
signage. Specifically, the following objectives shall guide the commission when
reviewing such plans:
1. That the size and complexity of the campus or complex warrants the need for extra
signage under the provisions of this section;
2. That, in respect to the number and type of entrances, the placement of signage at or
near those entrances provides superior visibility in order to ensure the safety of the
driving public;
3. That the proposed signs are adequate in number to safely direct the public to the use
or uses on the site;
4. The proposed signs must not have an adverse impact on the visibility of adjacent
signs, and shall be consistent with, or an improvement over, the prevailing type and style
of signage in the general area;
5. That the proposed signs will be of a style and color which will complement the
architecture of the site, and the area in general.
CODE ANALYSIS OF SIGNAGE
This project is to establish building and freestanding signage for a mixed-use complex. The
submitted Plan Book drawings and Site Plan depict the area and placement for each sign, as well
as design details such as typeface, color, and dimensions. Table 3 compares the requested
signage area and design criteria to the standard Sign Regulations of the Zoning Ordinance.
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Table 3: Sign Code Comparison
US-16-04; Creekstone Center
1198 South Governors Avenue
FREESTANDING SIGNS
Permitted Difference Between
by Code Proposed Proposed and Code
"ABC" Pylon Sign (north of entrance)
Sign Type Monument Pylon Pylon not perm itted for street type
81 SF greater
Sign Area (max.) 64 SF 145 SF
(126% increase)
11' taller
Height (max.) 7' 18'
(157% increase)
Setback from Right-of-Way (min.) 5' 15' Complies
Exclusion Zone (min.) 20' > 20' Complies
"D" Pylon Sign (south of entrance)
Sign Type Monument Pylon Pylon not perm itted for street type
81 SF greater
Sign Area (max.): 64 SF 145 SF
(126% increase)
11' taller
Height (max.) 7' 18'
(157% increase)
Setback from Right-of-Way (min.) 5' 15' Complies
Exclusion Zone (min.) 20' > 20' Complies
Directional Signs (4)
7 SF greater
Sign Area (max.): 8 SF 15 SF
(87.5% increase)
Height (max.) 4' 5' 1' taller
WALL SIGNS
Entry Wall Sign
</= 15% Sign is greater than 15% of the
Sign Area (max.) 82.5 SF
or 64 SF wall area
Height (max.) n/a 7'
Setback from Right-of-Way (min. for a bldg.) 15' 140'
Wall Signs on Buildings
</= 15%
Sign Area (max.) --
or 64 SF Wall signs on buildings to be
Number of wall signs per tenant in office subject to standard Sign
buildings. Signs may not be installed above 1 -- Regulations.
the second story
TOTAL PROPERTY
1 additional sign
Number Monument Signs* Permitted per *Applicant proposes Pylon signs,
1 2
Frontage, Urban Minor Arterial which are not a permitted type for
the street classification
Number of directional signs Not specified 4
Design Guidelines, Art. 5 §4.8.B.4,
freestanding signs shall identify name of
Pylon signs could identify more
campus/center and no more than 3 separate
than 3 tenants if the panels were
tenants within, unless approved by the
to have divided faces.
Planning Commission
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Freestanding Signage: Summary
Pylon Signs (2)
Two (2) pylon signs are proposed, one located north of the entrance to the complex, and one
located to the south. Pylon signs are not a permitted sign type on Urban Minor Arterial streets.
The functional difference between a pylon sign and a monument sign relates to height.
A monument sign is permitted, one (1) per entrance, subject to the height and area limits in Table
2. The number of pylon signs proposed (2) exceeds the number of monument signs which would
be permitted (1).
While the Planning Commission may approve a height increase for a monument sign, the
maximum height for a monument sign is seven (7) feet. The height of the proposed pylon signs is
18 feet, which is 11 feet taller than the maximum height for a monument sign, representing a
157% increase over what code would allow.
The sign area for each sign proposed pylon sign is 145 square feet. The maximum sign area for a
monument sign on an Urban Minor Arterial street is 64 square feet. The proposed signage is 81
square feet greater in sign area than the type of signage permitted by code, a 126% increase.
The design guidelines for Unified Comprehensive Sign Plans (see pages 5-6) and the duties of
the Planning Commission allow for flexibility in terms of the height, size, number, and area
regulations of the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to signage. However, in considering that such
qualifying campuses or complexes have adequate signage, the design guidelines advise that “the
number, type and size of signs proposed may not be excessive, and must be in proportion to the
scale of the buildings and the uses on the site.”
Directional Signs
Staff believes that the proposed signs are more accurately described as “Directory” signs than
“Directional” signs. The proposed signs are placed near the buildings and are proposed to
identify the buildings (“A”, “B”, etc.) and list the building tenants.
The standard Sign Regulations have a size limit for directional signs that can be installed without
a permit (5SF), and also an absolute size limit for directional signs that can be installed but
require a permit (8SF, max. 4 feet high).
Wall Signage: Summary
Entry Wall Sign
For purposes of the Zoning Ordinance, the proposed structure is considered a wall. The sign area
proposed is 87.5 square feet. The permitted maximum sign area for a wall sign on an Urban
Minor Arterial street is 15% of the wall area, capped at a maximum of 64 square feet. Without
greater detail staff is unable to calculate the exact area of the wall, but estimates that the
proposed sign area covers more than 34% of the wall, so that a code compliant sign would be
between 36 and 40 square feet.
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Building Signs
The applicant has proposed no changes from the standard Sign Regulations with regard to wall
signage on the buildings.
The sign area for such signs is the lesser of a maximum of 15% of the wall area, or 64 square
feet. Tenants are permitted one (1) sign per tenant. Signs may be placed on any wall, but signs
may not be installed above the second story.
THE SUBJECT PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR CODE COMPLIANCE, PLAN
CONFORMITY, AND COMPLETENESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGENCY’S
AUTHORITY AND AREA OF EXPERTISE.
CITY AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS:
The following revisions and corrections to the Comprehensive Signage Plan submission
documents are listed:
1) Plan Book, by page:
a) Page 3:
i) Include an area calculation of the wall, or a reasonable estimate.
ii) Add a note of explanation of wall construction materials.
b) Page 4:
i) Add a note of explanation of sign construction materials and sign type (flush, post
and panel)
ii) Add note describing illumination.
c) Page 5:
i) Add note describing illumination.
ii) Add note describing materials (not face panels), i.e. painted metal, other composite,
Dryvit/EIFS, fiberglass, etc.
iii) Verify area calculation. Staff gets different result.
2) Site Plan Sheet:
a) The entry wall is not shown on the plan.
b) Per DelDOT comments, note the permanent easement or right-of-way line across the
frontage.
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RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGESTED AS CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO MEET CODE
OBJECTIVES:
1) Pylon Signs: Staff does not recommend approval of the proposed Pylon Signs for reasons as
follows:
a. While there may be some signs nearby that are near this height, they are either located
outside of City limits, or are old and legal non-conforming.
b. Staff believes that the significant increases in sign area and height compared to code
qualify as “excessive.”
c. Overall Staff finds that the proposed signs are inappropriate to the scale and posted
speeds for South Governors Avenue, an Urban Minor Arterial street. The height and
area of the proposed signs is more appropriate for an Urban Principal Arterial street
such as DuPont Highway or Bay Road, and would be permitted on that street type.
Additionally, the proposed design is more appropriate in scale and type to a retail
shopping center use than an office complex use.
Staff comments that the design as currently proposed may conflict with the recommendations
of the Design Guidelines for Unified Comprehensive Signage Plans that state that
freestanding signs shall identify the name of the campus/center and nor more than three (3)
separate tenants within, unless approved by the Planning Commission.
Staff notes that revisions were made to the design of the pylon signs subsequent to the
original plan submissions. Reductions in sign area and height were made compared to the
original design. Staff also recommended that the signs be placed closer to the right-of-way to
improve visibility of the signs. They formerly were placed 30 feet from the right-of-way and
staff was concerned that some parts of the sign could be blocked by parked vehicles.
The applicant has indicated that additional printed graphics will be provided at the Planning
Commission meeting and public hearing that better demonstrates the scale and height of the
signs relative to the adjacent buildings and surroundings.
2) Directional Signs: Staff recommends approval of the Directional Signs as proposed for the
reasons as follows:
a. The proposed signage appears in character with and complimentary to the proposed
architecture of the buildings on site and presents a harmonious design approach.
b. The use of the signs as building directories is appropriate, and the increased size and
height of the proposed signs is appropriate and not excessive for the use.
3) Entry Wall Sign: Staff recommends approval of the entry wall sign as proposed for the
reasons as follows:
a. The proposed signage appears in character with and complimentary to the proposed
architecture of the buildings on site and presents a harmonious design approach.
b. While the structure and sign area is large and represents an increase in the allowable
sign area for a wall sign, it is not inappropriate given the internal location within the
site set far back from the right of way.
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c. The proposed structure should function well as a directional device to make it easy
for motorists to make decisions upon entering the complex from South Governors
Avenue.
4) Staff believes that the provisions of the standard Sign Regulations are sufficient to address
wall signage on the buildings.
5) The total signage area will be noted in the Final Plan Approval letter upon completion of
corrections to the Final Plan. This total will form the baseline and “originally approved sign
area” per Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.8.E as related to future new or revised signs for the
buildings and signs on the final approved plan.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT:
1) The applicant shall be aware that Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan approval does not
represent a Sign Permit. Any proposed site or building identification sign shall require a
Sign Permit from the City of Dover prior to placement of any such sign.
a. Each wall sign requires a permit.
b. Each freestanding sign requires a permit.
c. Initial facings and subsequent refacings of tenant panels on freestanding signs
require permits.
2) Staff requires a final submittal and approval of the Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan,
including any revisions and conditions of Planning Commission approval, before Sign
Permits will be issued.
3) Window signage is subject to regulations in Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.9.A and
require permits.
4) Applicant is advised to consult Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.6 related to prohibited
signs, which include pennants, streamers, balloons, “flutter flags”, and other types.
5) Applicant is advised to consult Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.9.D in its entirety related
to temporary signs, which include banners, and provisions related to grand openings.
6) In the event that major changes and revisions to the Signage Plan occur in the finalization
of the signage plan contact the Department of Planning and Inspections. Examples
include reorientation of signage, relocation of signs, changes in sign area, etc. These
changes may require resubmittal for review by the Development Advisory Committee,
Planning Commission, or other agencies and commissions making recommendations in
regards to the plan.
7) Other agencies and departments which participate in the Development Advisory
Committee may provide additional comments related to their areas of expertise and code
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requirements.
8) The applicant/developer shall be aware that prior to any ground disturbing activities on
the site the appropriate site inspections and permits are required.
9) Signs should be placed in a manner that meets National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
requirements.
10) Be advised that the City of Dover, Public Works Department does not permit signs to be
installed within ten (10) feet of existing or proposed water lines.
11) Be advised that the City of Dover, Public Works Department does not permit signs to be
installed within ten (10) feet of existing or proposed sanitary sewer lines.
If you have any questions or need to discuss any of the above comments, please call the
above contact person and the Planning Department as soon as possible.
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CITY OF DOVER
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY
STAFF D.A.C. MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
APPLICATION: CREEKSTONE DEVELOPMENT UNIFIED
COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN
FILE #: US-16-04
REVIEWING AGENCY: City of Dover Electric and Public Works Departments
CONTACT PERSON: Paul Waddell - Electric
Jason A. Lyon, P.E. – Public Works
CONTACT PHONE #: Electric 302-736-7070, Public Works 302-736-7025
T HE S UBJECT P ROPOSAL HAS BEEN R EVIEWED FOR C ODE C OMPLIANCE , P LAN C ONFORMITY AND C OMPLETENESS IN A CCORDANCE
WITH THIS A GENCY ’ S A UTHORITY AND A REA OF E XPERTISE .
T HE F OLLOWING I TEMS HAVE BEEN I DENTIFIED AS E LEMENTS W HICH N EED TO BE A DDRESSED BY THE A PPLICANT :
CITY AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS
ELECTRIC
1. Signs should be placed in a manner that meets NESC requirements.
WATER / WASTEWATER / STORMWATER/ STREETS / SANITATION / GROUNDS
1. The City of Dover Department of Public Works has no objection to the proposed sign plan, due to the fact that the
signs are not located within ten feet (10’) of underground utility infrastructure.
RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGESTED AS CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO MEET CODE OBJECTIVES
WATER / WASTEWATER / STORMWATER / STREETS / SANITATION / GROUNDS
1. None.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT
WATER / WASTEWATER / STORMWATER / STREETS / SANITATION / GROUNDS
1. None.
I F Y OU H AVE A NY Q UESTIONS OR N EED TO D ISCUSS ANY OF THE A BOVE C OMMENTS , P LEASE C ALL THE A BOVE C ONTACT
P ERSON AND THE P LANNING D EPARTMENT AS S OON AS P OSSIBLE .
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CITY OF DOVER D
E
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
L
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY D
O
D.A.C. MEETING DATE: September 28, 2016 T
===============================================================
APPLICATION: Creekstone Development Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan
FILE#: US-16-04 REVIEWING AGENCY: DelDOT
CONTACT PERSON: Jonathan T. Moore PHONE#: 760-2145
===============================================================
THE SUBJECT PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR CODE COMPLIANCE, PLAN CONFORMITY AND COMPLETENESS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGENCY'S AUTHORITY AND AREA OF EXPERTISE.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ELEMENTS WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE APPLICANT:
CITY & STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS:
DelDOT has no comments regarding city & state code at this time.
RECOMMENDATIONS SUGGESTED AS CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO MEET CODE
OBJECTIVES:
DelDOT has no recommendations at this time.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT:
Since the right-of-way line (ROW) and any permanent easements (PE) established
for the State of Delaware are not defined by the plan I advise the applicant that the
State of Delaware will not allow any signage, structures, or fencing to be located
within the PE or ROW. If any of you proposed features fall into one of these
dedications than the proposed feature will need to be relocated. If all features are
located outside of the dedications than you can disregard this comment.
If you have any questions or need to discuss any of the above comments, please call the
above contact person and the planning department as soon as possible.
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CITY OF DOVER
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY
October 2016
APPLICATION: Creekstone – Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan
FILE #: US-16-04
REVIEWING AGENCY: Kent Conservation District
CONTACT PERSON: David C. Cahill PHONE #: 741-2600 ext.3
THE SUBJECT PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOR CODE COMPLIANCE, PLAN CONFORMITY AND
COMPLETENESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS AGENCY’S AUTHORITY AND AREA OF EXPERTISE. THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ELEMENTS WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE
APPLICANT:
Source:
2014 Delaware Sediment and Stormwater Regulations
CITY AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Kent Conservation District has no objection to the signage plan for the above referenced site.
ADVISORY COMMENTS TO THE APPLICANT:
The Following comments are advisory and apply to the development of a detailed site plan for this project.
The proposed disturbance is less than 5000 square feet and is therefore exempt from Stormwater
regulations and will not require permitting from the Conservation District.
A detailed Sediment and Stormwater Management Plan must be reviewed and approved if ay anytime the
disturbance exceeds 5000 square feet.