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Page 1
CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION
AGENDA
Monday, December 18, 2017 – 7:00 P.M.
City Hall, City Council Chambers
15 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, Delaware
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
1) Conditional Use Application C-17-06 Pride of Dover Elks Lodge at 217 North Kirkwood
Street will not be heard by the Planning Commission on December 18, 2017 at the request of
the applicant to defer consideration. This Application and Public Hearing will be rescheduled
for a future Planning Commission meeting and will be subject to Public Notice requirements.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING of November 20, 2017
COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS
1) Reminder: The next Planning Commission regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for
TUESDAY, January 19, 2018 at 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers.
2) Update on City Council Actions
3) Update from Planning Office
OPENING REMARKS CONCERNING APPLICATIONS
OLD BUSINESS
1) Requests for Extensions of Planning Commission Approval: None submitted
2) Revisions to Applications:
A. S-16-24 Advantech at 151 Garrison Oak Drive, Garrison Oak Technical Park Lot #13 –
Revised Plan & Architecture – Update on Revisions to Site Plan and Building
Architecture associated with the Site Development Plan application for Advantech
approved by the Planning Commission on November 21, 2016 with Final Plan approval
granted June 16, 2017. The size and configuration of the building has been reduced in
size to 14,700 SF from a 15,989 S.F. office building and light manufacturing facility.
Associated revisions are also proposed for the outdoor loading and parking areas and
other site improvements. The Performance Standards Review Application was previously
approved indicating the project as conforming to the applicable performance standards as
outlined in Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §8 Performance Standards. The subject property
consists of 10.06 acres and is located on the east side of Garrison Oak Drive north of
White Oak Road; also known as Lot 13 of the Garrison Oak Technical Park. The property
is zoned IPM-2 (Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone - Technology Center). The owner of
record is Protective Properties, LLC. Property Address: 151 Garrison Oak Drive. Tax
Parcel: LC-05-068.00-02-13.00-000. Council District 3.
Page 2
City of Dover Planning Commission Agenda
Public Hearing: December 18, 2017
Page 2 of 2
NEW APPLICATIONS
1) US-17-02 Chesapeake Utilities Dover Campus Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan – Public
Hearing and Review of a Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan for the campus of Chesapeake
Utilities and Eastern Shore Natural Gas consisting of a series of freestanding signs, wall signs,
and canopy signs to identify the various aspects of the campus. The campus consists of an
office building, warehouse building, vehicle and material storage areas, compressed natural gas
dispensers and associated site improvements of parking and landscaping. The property consists
of 20.57 +/- acres and is located on the south side of Krisko Circle between Bay Road and
State Route 1. The property is zoned IPM (Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone) and is partially
subject to the SWPOZ (Source Water Protection Overlay Zone). The owner of record is
Eastern Shore Natural Gas. Property Addresses: 500 and 600 Krisko Circle. Tax Parcel: ED05-
077.00-03-06.00-000. Council District 2. The campus is currently under development as per
Site Plan S-16-11. Also under review is a Request for a Street Name Change (MI-17-07) which
seeks to have the name of Krisko Circle changed to Energy Lane.
NEW BUSINESS
1) Nomination and Election of Officers (Chairman and Vice-Chairman)
2) Appointment of the Architectural Review Oversight Subcommittee of Planning Commission
(in accordance with Zoning Ordinance, Article 10 §2.28)
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: December 8, 2017
Page 3
CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 20, 2017
The Regular Meeting of the City of Dover Planning Commission was held on Monday,
November 20, 2017 at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers with Chairman Mr. Tolbert
presiding. Members present were Mr. Holden, Mr. Roach, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Holt, Mr. Baldwin,
Dr. Jones, Mrs. Welsh, Ms. Maucher and Mr. Tolbert.
Staff members present were Mr. Dave Hugg, Mrs. Dawn Melson-Williams, Mr. Eddie Diaz, Mr.
Jason Lyon, Mr. Julian Swierczek and Mrs. Kristen Mullaney. Also present were Mr. Todd
Stonesifer, Ms. Ann Camper, Mr. Mark Strickland, Mr. Gregg Moore and Mr. J.D. Bartlett.
Speaking from the public was Mr. Wyatt Waters.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mrs. Welsh moved to approve the agenda as submitted, seconded by Dr. Jones and the motion
was unanimously carried 9-0.
APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF
OCTOBER 16, 2017
Mr. Holt moved to approve the Planning Commission Meeting minutes of October 16, 2017,
seconded by Ms. Maucher and the motion was unanimously carried 9-0.
COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS
Mr. Hugg stated the Annual Meeting of the Planning Commission which would normally be held
in July that would have included the election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman will be
rescheduled for a future meeting upon completion of the appointment process. We are still
waiting for Council’s action he believes.
Mr. Hugg stated that the next Planning Commission regular meeting is scheduled for Monday,
December 18, 2017 at 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers.
Mr. Hugg stated that the Planning Commission Quarterly Workshop scheduled in November
2017 has been canceled. They do not have a date for another meeting at this time.
Mr. Hugg provided an update on the regular City Council and various Committee meetings held
on October 23 & 24, 2017 and November 13 & 14, 2017.
Mr. Hugg stated that Staff has been extremely busy with all of the projects that you have seen
come before the Commission. They participated in the Save the Capital Theater Initiative
Charette last week to come up with some plans for the Schwartz Center. They continue to work
on various ordinance amendments and hopefully in the next week they will be meeting to
examine possible changes and upgrades to the Planning Department’s website.
OPENING REMARKS CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
Mrs. Melson-Williams presented the audience information on policies and procedures for the
meeting.
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 20, 2017
OLD BUSINESS
1) Requests for Extensions of Planning Commission Approval: None
NEW BUSINESS
1) C-17-05 Loockerman Coffee Shop at 14 Loockerman Plaza – Public Hearing and Review of
Application for Conditional Use to permit conversion of an existing 820 SF 1 1/2-story
structure into a restaurant (coffee shop). The subject site consists of two parcels totaling an
15,191.66 S.F. +/- (0.139 +/- acres). The property is zoned RGO (General Residence and
Office Zone) and is within the H (Historic District Zone). The property is located on the
south side of Loockerman Plaza and east of South State Street. The owner of record is The
New Parsonage, LLC and the lessee is Kristin Stonesifer. Location Address: 14 Loockerman
Plaza. Property Addresses: 203 and 205 South State Street. Tax Parcels: ED-05-077.09-05-
01.00-000 and ED-05-077.09-05-01.01-000. Council District 4.
Representative: Mr. Todd Stonesifer, representing lessee; Ms. Ann Camper, Becker Morgan
Group
Mr. Swierczek stated that is an application for a Conditional Use Review to permit conversion of
an 820 SF portion of an existing structure into a restaurant/coffee shop. The structure is one and
a half stories in height. The project site consists of two parcels and is addressed as 14
Loockerman Plaza. The property is zoned RGO (General Residence and Office Zone) and is
within the H (Historic District Zone). Access to the site will be for pedestrian traffic from the
Loockerman Plaza frontage only. The Planning Office has determined the nature of the
application to be similar to a retail use as no permanent sitting or wait staff is planned. In the H
(Historic District Zone), this eliminates the requirement for any parking. The applicant; however,
has indicated their intention for patrons to utilize nearby on-street parking. Furthermore, in an
effort to harmonize with the immediate neighborhood and serve the wider community, the
applicant has also communicated their willingness to install a bicycle parking element and their
intention to work with the Planning Office to do so. No major exterior alterations are planned
except for fresh paint. The applicant has however indicated their desire to add a pervious brick
patio along the Loockerman Plaza frontage. That would be in keeping with the already existing
brick sidewalk along Loockerman Plaza and furthermore, be in keeping with the historic
character of the area. The applicant has further indicated their desire to incorporate a fence to
delineate the patio area from the sidewalk and has shown their willingness to work with the
Planning Office in this.
No major trees or landscaping elements were planned to be added. Code requires a tree density
of one tree for every three thousand square feet of lot area. The two sites in question contain four
trees but with the size of the site at approximately 15,200 SF, Code would typically require six
trees. However, in this regard the Planning Office determined that with Article 5, Section 16.2
there is the possibility for the applicant to define a specific development area with in the overall
site for the purpose of tree planting calculations. For that, the applicant is showing their intent to
define the purposed development area from a line along the western edge of the coffee shop that
would fully encompass the scope of the work within the overall Site Plan. The newly defined site
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CITY OF DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 20, 2017
area would be approximately 3,343 SF bringing the current number of trees in that area to two
and that would therefore make the site compliant with the landscaping and tree parts of the Code.
Other agencies have reviewed the plans and have not voiced any significant objections or
concerns beyond that.
Mr. Holt questioned what kind of signage that the applicant was planning to have? Responding
to Mr. Holt, Mr. Swierczek stated that they have not yet received any specific outlines from the
applicant about signage.
Mr. Tolbert stated that relative to signage in that area, that is the Historic District. Will the issue
of signage come back before this committee? Responding to Mr. Tolbert, Mrs. Melson-Williams
stated that the applicant, in order to place permanent exterior signage on the property, will have
to submit a Sign Permit application. It would not come to the Planning Commission. It is
something that Staff can review as part of the permit application process. If there is any question
about whether it is in compliance with the Design Standards and Guidelines for the Historic
District, the permit could be referred to the Historic District Commission for their consultation.
Ms. Ann Camper stated that they would just like to say that the coffee shop, as Mr. Swierczek
advised, is an allowed use in the RGO (General Residence and Office Zone) and they feel that
it’s definitely something that Downtown Dover has been looking forward to.
Mr. Tolbert questioned if the applicant was in complete agreement with the overview of their
application? Responding to Mr. Tolbert, Ms. Camper stated yes.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing and after seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public
hearing.
Mr. Holt stated that he thinks that it’s a good fit for the area. He agrees with where it’s going to
go and he thinks that it should go well with the business community there. There was a shop
years ago for dinner and stuff down that way. It was a similar shop like this and it went very well
for a number of years.
Ms. Maucher questioned how high the proposed fence will be? Responding to Ms. Maucher, Ms.
Camper stated that the fence has not been designed as of yet. It is something that was brought up
recently as a desire of the lessee of the space and after speaking with Mrs. Melson-Williams,
they would bring that design into the Building Permit process and have the fence reviewed at that
time. They would definitely be keeping within the character of the area and doing something
with maybe some brick piers or some wrought iron and of course bring that to the Building
Permit process. If at that time Staff feels that it needs to be reviewed by the Historic District,
then they will move forward at that time.
Mr. Tolbert questioned how many people will the facility hold at one time? Responding to Mr.
Tolbert, Ms. Camper stated that Mrs. Stonesifer, who will be the lessee of the space has advised
that her business plan is not to be a fast-moving coffee shop. Not like a Starbucks or Dunkin
Donuts where you are getting people in and out quickly, but more of a community coffee shop.
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It’s not going to be heavy traffic. As far as square footage wise, they are only looking at about
800 SF or so. The bulk of the square footage is going to be taken up by the coffee service bar so
there is not going to be a lot of room for patrons to gather on the inside. She thinks that their
occupancy is less than fifty people per the Building Code for occupancy.
Mr. Holt moved to approve C-17-05 Loockerman Coffee Shop at 14 Loockerman Plaza,
seconded by Ms. Maucher and the motion was carried 9-0 by roll call vote. Mr. Holden voting
yes; he thinks that the addition is great for Downtown and he thinks that it is in harmony with the
location and size of other businesses. Mr. Roach voting yes; for the reasons previously stated.
Ms. Edwards voting yes; based on the fact that the intended use is definitely appropriate for the
area and Downtown Dover can certainly use a good coffee shop. Mr. Holt voting yes; he thinks
that it is a really good fit for Downtown Dover. He thinks that it will be an asset to the City and
the business community. Mr. Baldwin voting yes; he thinks that it is a perfect fit for Downtown.
Dr. Jones voting yes; she thinks that it is going to be a welcomed addition for those who are
Downtown and for those who may be traveling through. Mrs. Welsh voting yes; for the reasons
previously stated. Ms. Maucher voting yes; for the reasons previously stated. Mr. Tolbert voting
yes; he doesn’t think that there is another coffee shop close to it and they just might wind up with
a crowd in there that they may have difficulty handling.
2) S-17-28 Multiplex at 299 College Road – Public Hearing and Review of a Site
Development Plan application to permit construction of a three (3) unit multiplex
residential building (multi-family dwelling) with adjoining parking spaces. The property
consists of a 18,244 S.F. +/- parcel (0.42 +/- acres) and is zoned RM-2 (Medium Density
Residence Zone). The property is located on the northwest side of College Road and
adjacent to Conwell Street. The owner of record is Stephen E. Lumor (Enyam, LLC).
Property Address: 299 College Road. Tax Parcel: ED-05-067.00-02-26.00-000. Council
District 4.
Representative: Mr. Mark Strickland, Century Engineering
Mr. Diaz stated that this is an application to develop a three unit multiplex building at 299
College Road. The project is located on the north side of College Road west of Mishoe Street
and it’s adjacent to the right-of-way known as Conwell Street. The site is zoned RM-2
(Medium Density Residence Zone). The purposed design of the site is, on the surface, pretty
simple. There is one building with three two story units in it, a six space parking area and they
will be using existing trees on the site for landscaping. They have been working with the
applicant; however, to get some behind the scene issues resolved. There is some uncertainty
over the classification of this building in the Building and Fire Codes because the designation
of a multiplex is unique to the Zoning Code. It would have to be defined as either townhouses
or apartments in the Building Code. That would affect a number of the site design elements like
the provisions of ADA parking and how much fire access would be provided. He believes that
the current consensus is that the building would be classified as apartments. Second, there is
some uncertainty over the status of Conwell Street as to whether it’s a right-of-way owned by
the City or by the Delaware Department of Transportation. They still don’t have an answer to
that but regardless, DelDOT is going to let the project take access from College Road as
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opposed to asking for access from Conwell Street. Third, the cumulative effects of the City and
State Code requirements are such that the project is going to be pushed over its lot coverage
limit. The applicant has filed an application with the Board of Adjustment seeking relief from
the lot coverage maximum and a hearing for that variance is scheduled for December 20, 2017.
If they don’t get a variance then they will need to redesign the site so that it comes under the
coverage limit.
The architecture is currently only architectural templates so it will need to be adjusted from the
four units currently shown down to three units. There are two specific items that the Planning
Commission needs to act on with this project. One is a waiver request for bicycle parking. The
applicant is seeking relief from this requirement on the grounds that if the tenants own bicycles
they will simply store them inside the building; however, Staff is recommending denial of this
waiver request because there is still a possibility that the tenants would prefer exterior bike
parking to interior so they can avoid the difficulties of getting a bike out the door and down the
steps. The second item is a waiver request from what they are now calling pathway location
requirements due to recent ordinance updates. There are two components to this particular
waiver request. The first is with regard to sidewalk along Conwell Street. This would ordinarily
be required under the Zoning Ordinance; however, the applicant has requested a waiver from
constructing sidewalk there and Staff is recommending approval of that portion of the waiver
because Conwell Street is an unimproved right-of-way. If sidewalk were to be constructed now
then if that right-of-way were to be improved in the future, the sidewalk would just need to be
reconstructed at that point. The second component is the sidewalk along College Road. The
Code now requires that even if there is existing sidewalk that it needs to be upgraded to City
street standards. That means a five foot wide sidewalk and also a five foot gap between the
sidewalk and the curb. Right now, there is only a five foot wide sidewalk that is right up
against the curb. The applicant requested a waiver from the requirement to upgrade the
sidewalk but Staff is recommending denial of this component of the waiver because they
believe that a sidewalk that meets City street standards in this area would be a safer way of
having a sidewalk and it would be more appropriate to the residential use. While the rest of the
sidewalk is right up against the curb, they would hope to see this redeveloped over time to meet
the City streets standards. To summarize the waivers, Staff recommends denial of the bicycle
parking waiver and partial approval of the pathway waiver to release the applicant from the
requirement to provide sidewalk along Conwell Street.
Ms. Edwards questioned if the Board of Adjustment does not grant the waiver for the
impervious area, how does that affect the decisions that the Planning Commission has to make
this evening? Responding to Ms. Edwards, Mr. Tolbert stated that the motion should reflect
what your desires are regarding this application.
Mr. Strickland stated that this project stems from Mr. Stephen Lumor who is a former professor
at Delaware State University. Mr. Lumor is out of town so he is here on his behalf. Mr. Lumor
has since retired from teaching and was purchasing this parcel because he saw the need to
provide student housing in the area near the university. Mr. Lumor’s desire is to provide
affordable off-campus housing for these students. He chose this parcel because of the location
and the proximity to the university as well as the proximity to the Route 13 corridor for
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shopping, restaurants and opportunities that it would offer for any of the residents of the
building. The building itself is typical of the area in that it would be a residential structure
similar to all of the parcels along College Road there. Across the street from College Road on
the south side of College Road, there is a university owned apartment complex and then to the
north of our parcel there is also an additional apartment complex and down the road there are
the Delaware State University dorms less than a half of a mile away. It’s pretty typical to the
area where it’s going to be providing the student housing in an apartment style format but it
will have that residential character from the street and will look like a townhouse. To provide
some clarification, the building will be classified as a multiplex through the Planning
Commission but for the Fire Codes it will be treated as an apartment building. All of the other
comments that Mr. Diaz mentioned, they completely agree with and they will be addressing
those comments except for the two waiver requests and the variance; they are going to seek
approval for those.
The first waiver request is for the placement of the bike rack. They are looking to remove that
requirement. The primary reason of why we are going to request the removal of that
requirement is if you look at the picture of the view of College Road from this parcel and most
of College Road has a decent shoulder where you would be able to get a bike down the road.
But right in front of their parcel that shoulder goes away. One reason is that they didn’t think
that it would be a good idea to encourage bicycle traffic down that corridor where it’s unsafe. If
they are to provide the requirement, they expect that the people who would be cycling to the
building would be the tenants. They would be able to store the bicycles either inside or more
likely, there is a long covered porch there also. They have talked to the owner and he is willing
to install some type of locking device along that porch area where it would be covered and
would be out of the way of the parking area and they would have a safe place to store their
bikes there as well. Personally from his experience with living near a campus, it was never a
good idea to leave my bike outside anyway. He had multiple bikes stolen in college while they
were locked up and that’s his own personal experience. He thinks that it would be safer to store
a bike inside and if he lived there he would do that. The other issue is that the Code mandates
one bicycle parking space. There are three buildings there. If they are actually going to go that
route, he thinks that each one would need its own bike rack. Having one bike rack there is not
really going to help three buildings. They either need to go one way or the other if they are
going to go with that route. They feel that the best solution would be to provide some kind of
way to lock it up attached to the building instead of providing a bike rack outside on the site.
The other waiver request that they are looking for is to remove the requirement to place
sidewalk along Conwell Street. They are not going to seek to get a waiver along College Road.
They are going to improve that sidewalk there, provide the off-set and bring everything up to
ADA requirements. It’s going to come in about four or five feet off of the roadway to meet the
City’s requirements. Along Conwell Street, you can see from the pictures how unimproved
Conwell Street is and for some of the reasons mentioned by Mr. Diaz, it just doesn’t make
sense to put sidewalk there. There is nowhere that it is really leading to so it wouldn’t really be
interconnected at all, it would just be heading to the edge of Conwell Street. If that road was
ever improved, they would have to demolish the sidewalk and re-construct it so it seems like
we are kind of fighting an uphill battle there. Also, the ownership of Conwell Street is still
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unknown to his knowledge. He has gone back and forth from hearing whether it’s City owned
or State owned and nobody seems to know with complete certainty. They would be hesitant to
build anything in that right-of-way not knowing who owns it. It doesn’t really make sense in
their eyes to place a sidewalk along Conwell Street. They will be seeking a variance to get
additional impervious coverage on the site. They had the site designed to be under 35%
impervious which is the requirement and they have adjusted the site to meet some of the
comments that Mr. Diaz mentioned for some fire lane access requirements and some of
DelDOT’s entrance requirements. Because of those revisions, they are a little bit over the 35%
coverage so they are going to seek a variance from the Board of Adjustment for that item.
Mr. Roach questioned if Staff knew who owns Conwell Street? Responding to Mr. Roach, Mr.
Diaz stated that they do not know who owns Conwell Street. They believe that the City does
not own it but they also have no word that DelDOT does own it. They also do know that it is
right-of-way of some sort and that it is not private property. The specific public entity that
owns it is not known at this point.
Ms. Maucher questioned if the sidewalk along College Road as you go west has that five foot
buffer further up? Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Strickland stated that for their site, it’s
going to take it four to five feet in. All along College Road it is right along the curb there;
nowhere does it provide that off-set. They were initially looking to see if they could just wave
that so it would be continuous but they are going to adhere to that Code requirement and bring
that sidewalk five feet in towards their site to provide a five foot grass strip behind the back of
the curb and the sidewalk that will be located on their site.
Ms. Maucher questioned if they intend any kind of visual buffer along Conwell Street?
Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Strickland stated that there will be a couple of large trees
towards the rear of the building that are existing trees that will provide a little bit of a
landscaping buffer but other than that because it’s not a frontage street, there is no requirement
to provide the landscaping along there. It’s something that they could consider if it was
required though.
Mr. Holt questioned if they were planning to install sprinklers or if not, what other fire
protection device would they be using? Responding to Mr. Holt, Mr. Strickland stated that they
have had a couple of meetings with the Fire Marshal and they have decided that the building
will be sprinklered and they have widened the entrance as well as the drive aisle to enhance
Fire Marshal access to it and providing fire access to the rear of the building as well.
Mr. Roach stated that he knows that Mr. Strickland spoke earlier in regards to the patio as far
as having a locking mechanism. Is that in stone or are you waiting for the result of this
evening’s waiver request? Responding to Mr. Roach, Mr. Strickland stated that it was kind of
waiting on the result of this to see what way they need to go with it but the owner is willing to
do what it takes to make this work in terms of the bicycle parking.
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Mr. Tolbert stated that the applicant has some concerns about the pathway and the bicycle
requirements. Are you willing to work with Staff on those issues? Responding to Mr. Tolbert,
Mr. Strickland stated yes.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing.
Mr. Wyatt Waters – 281 College Road Dover DE 19904
Mr. Waters stated that he has been a resident of College Road for a number of years and this
particular parcel has been vacant for a number of years. He thinks that this would be a good fit
if they get all of the bugs worked out. He would welcome this multiplex for the college
students.
Mr. Tolbert closed the public hearing.
Mr. Roach stated that if they do require a sidewalk to be along the frontage of Conwell Street
and they find out that it’s owned by somebody else and they don’t want it there. He is just
trying to understand how they can require somebody to put something there if we don’t even
know who owns the street? Could that become an issue when we do find out who owns it?
Responding to Mr. Roach, Mr. Diaz stated that if the Commission did not grant the waiver
request for the sidewalk tonight then the word would be that if it’s City owned they would be
required to put it in. If it was owned by DelDOT instead, if they told us that they did not want it
then at that point that would supersede the City requirement.
Mr. Lyon stated that he would like to provide a little more background on Conwell Street. Mr.
Hugg did mention that at the Council Meeting in October there was more discussion about it.
Historically speaking, this area was originally laid out in 1899; well before it was in City limits.
As the City grew, it started grabbing up these parcels around Conwell Street but the formal
dedication of those annexations did not include any of the right-of-way. Conwell Street actually
has four properties that front it; two of which have never been annexed into the City and two
that are. In 1899, DelDOT was known as State Highway Administration. That is where the
confusion lies. There are two properties that are County owned and two that are owned in the
City. When the annexation happened, it did not incorporate the road. The road is not to City
standards of course.
Mr. Holden moved to approve S-17-28 Multiplex at 299 College Road, including the
elimination of the bicycle parking requirement and the relaxation of pathway relocation
requirements specifically along Conwell Street because we are unsure of ownership. He takes
the applicant’s statement that they are going to work with Planning to amend the sidewalk
along College Road and include that as part of their requirement, seconded by Ms. Maucher
and the motion was carried 9-0 by roll call vote. Mr. Holden voting yes; he believes that
additional student housing in that area would be a good fit and it looks like a nice Site Plan.
Mr. Roach voting yes; he knows for a fact that additional housing for Delaware State
University is welcomed. Also, due to community support for that road and upgrades for that
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area and also for their willingness to fix the College Road area and because they don’t know
who owns Conwell Street. He has had a bike stolen before too so he definitely feels as though
the bike parking needs to be inside the building. Ms. Edwards voting yes; based on the reasons
previously stated. Mr. Holt voting yes; he thinks that it’s a good fit for the area and the college
can certainly use the extra space for residents in the area. Mr. Baldwin voting yes; for all
reasons previously stated. Dr. Jones voting yes; she is confident that the owner will work
cooperatively with Planning Staff to make sure that all of the requirements and concerns have
been addressed appropriately. Mrs. Welsh voting yes; she thinks that the housing units will be
a welcomed addition in that vacant area. Ms. Maucher voting yes; for reasons previously
stated. Mr. Tolbert voting yes; he agrees with the statements that have been made so far
regarding this application. He is also impressed with the applicant’s willingness to work
cooperatively and collaboratively with Staff.
3) S-17-29 Delaware State University Residence Hall at 1200 N. DuPont Highway: Master
Plan – Public Hearing and Review of a Site Development Master Plan to permit phased
construction of a new 190,000 S.F. five-story Student Residence Hall. The project phases
consist of the following: Phase 1- Relocation of Utilities, Phase 2 - Construction of
Residence Hall (600 Beds) and Demolition of Laws Hall, and Phase 3 - Demolition of
Tubman Hall. The subject project area consists of 209,088 +/- S.F. (4.80 +/- acres) internal
to the Delaware State University Campus of 287.32 +/- acres. The property is zoned IO
(Institutional and Office Zone) and subject to the SWPOZ (Source Water Protection Overlay
Zone) – Tier 3: Excellent Recharge Area. The campus is location west of North DuPont
Highway and north of College Road. The owner of record is State of Delaware c/o
Delaware State University. Property Address: 1200 North DuPont Highway. Tax Parcels:
ED-05-057.00-01-19.00-000, ED-05-057.00-01-20.00-000, and ED-05-057.00-01-21.00-
000. Council District 4.
Representatives: Mr. Gregg Moore, Becker Morgan Group; Mr. J.D. Bartlett, Delaware
State University
Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that this is a Site Development Master Plan application for
Delaware State University; it’s a Residence Hall. The Master Plan itself focuses on a specific
area that is internal to the university campus. It’s a project area of about 4.8 acres. The image on
the screen shows the U-shaped form of the new Residence Hall building that also includes a
dining facility. It’s located to the north of College Road. This building project area is just to the
north of Warren Franklin Hall. In part of the phases of development, two of the existing
dormitories in this area, Laws Hall and Tubman Hall will be demolished as part of the project
activities.
With a Site Development Master Plan, the overall concept comes to the Planning Commission
and then each phase of development is then subject to an Administrative Site Plan review
process with Staff and the regulatory agencies. Tonight, we are looking at a proposal that will
ultimately be a building of 190,000 SF on the campus. It’s intended to be a five-story building
that would have 600 residential beds. Specifically for this project, it is considered to be a three-
phase project. The first phase is relocation of utilities within the project area. That’s number of
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water, sewer, stormwater, gas lines, etc. that need to be relocated in order to have a clean spot for
the building. Phase 2 is actually the construction of the Residence Hall and towards the end of
that would include the demolition of Laws Hall which is kind of in the center of the U-shape.
Phase 3 would be the demolition of the adjacent Harriet Tubman Hall which is located to the
left-hand side of the building.
The property is zoned IO (Institutional and Office Zone) and obviously a university is a
permitted use there. Residence Halls and dining facilities are types of expected buildings on a
university campus. The university campus is also subject to the SWPOZ (Source Water
Protection Overlay Zone) which sets limitations on the amount of lot coverage and impervious
surface coverage for the property. With this project as it will be increasing that level of
imperviousness on the campus, they will be looking to make use of infiltration practices for
stormwater management in order to construct this building. They will be working with DNREC
because this is a State owned property for their stormwater management plan review and
approvals.
Moving on to the expected things that they normally have with Site Plans. First, is a look at the
building. It is a five-story building, basically masonry construction. There is a little bit more
glass on the first floor and then a series of windows that you see for the upper floors. Some of the
detailing of the building shows other cast pieces at the tops of windows and then the fifth floor is
a change in material to more of a panel system rather than the brick masonry of the items below.
There is a parking lot of thirty-one spaces that will be displaced by the construction of this
building. Parking on the university campus is a little confusing and unique perhaps. Back in
2009, the Board of Adjustment had the authority to set what would be the required number of
parking spaces for the university campus and then did so by setting the required number of
parking spaces at 1,650 spaces. The university campus has well over 2,000 parking spaces
existing on the campus. With this new Residence Hall, dormitories have a parking requirement
that’s based on a number of beds. With this building, they are required to provide two hundred
parking spaces. Given what their required parking that was established by the Board of
Adjustment and what they call excess parking that is available on the campus, they will be in
compliance without having to build any additional parking spaces as part of this project. Related
to loading spaces, they were required to justify the loading space needs of this building and they
provided that in written format that is part of the packet. Planning Staff concurs that the building
can be easily served by the two designated loading spaces that are kind of in the service area
location of the dining facility and then the university also has a kind of centralized receiving and
processing facility to handle all of their buildings as well. Also related to parking are bicycle
parking requirements. Based on the parking needs specific to this building, the facility is required
to provide ten bicycle parking spaces. Planning Staff has recommended that they not put them all
in one place but that they scatter them near the various entrances to this building because of the
various fronts that it presents to the remaining portions of the campus.
There are new changes to the access points to the university campus. The main entrance off of
DuPont Highway remains and the series of entrance points from College Road also remain with
no changes with this project. There is a waiver request to be considered this evening related to
pathways or sidewalks requirements for the university. There is a segment of College Road that
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is to the east of this western most entrance of the university that does not currently have the street
frontage sidewalk that is required by our Code. They have submitted a request to consider for
elimination of the sidewalk in that area. Planning Staff is recommending that the waiver be
granted finding that there is physical characteristics of the frontage in that specific area related to
drainage swales, existing trees, and grades in general that would make it very difficult to
implement sidewalks in that area. It is also not likely to be traveled over by pedestrians. If you
are coming east along College Road, the westernmost entrance to the university clearly makes
the opportunity to come into the campus and then you can circulate on the interior rather than out
along the public street frontage of College Road.
The tree planting requirements will be a project that makes use of the ability to identify a
development area for the purpose of tree planting calculations. That is a new provision of our
Code. With the 4.8 acres, there is the requirement for seventy trees. They have shown tree
plantings in concept. That will be something that will be detailed out further during the
Administrative Site Plan review process. They are reserving an area for dumpsters but they do
have a centralized trash management for the campus overall.
For the Commission’s consideration tonight, was the demonstration of their loading space needs
and the one waiver for consideration of the partial elimination of sidewalk pathway along the
remaining segment of College Road. The DAC Report also includes the comments from the
various other agencies, including the City’s Public Works Office, the Fire Marshal’s Office,
DelDOT and DNREC.
Mr. Moore stated that they are actually tearing down two older dorms and building one new
larger one back. The long-term plan is actually to bring students that are not on campus; there are
some students that are in hotels and some who are in the former Sheraton Building. It’s the plan
to bring those students back so that they are on the campus and it becomes a better walking
campus. You can see that they have a lot of walking trails around the building. The overall
strategy of Delaware State University is to emphasize an internal walking campus and try to
eliminate some of the cars which is why they are building this building. The other reason for the
larger building at six hundred units is that there are other dormitories on the campus that need to
be renovated and they will need to be shut down. They are actually going to have some moving
around to do because one of the current dorms is going to be torn down while they are building
this one and that’s going to take some dorm rooms out of use. In the future, they want to
eliminate the need to eliminate dorms and actually be able to renovate them by moving students
to this dorm to better renovate some of the older dorms on campus.
They have no problems with the DAC Report. Their only request is the sidewalk waiver in the
back. Mrs. Melson-Williams was correct in saying that there is a swale there that’s steep. There
is an embankment on one side of the swale and that area has a very mature growth of pines that
surround the President’s House. Delaware State University would like to keep that as is. They
don’t think that they can actually meet ADA requirements in that area with a sidewalk. In
addition to that, there is a sidewalk down College Road that surrounds and then comes back into
the College at the point where the University Villages area is and that gives the students the
ability to walk back into the campus internally. They are trying to de-emphasize the back
entrance off of College Road because that is becoming more of a service entrance and that is the
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long term use that Delaware State University would like to see for it.
Ms. Maucher questioned why it is one singly connected building? If you are in this building and
need to get to get to another side of the campus can you go through or do you have to go around
the building? Responding to Ms. Maucher, Mr. Moore stated that there is actually a through walk
on the area on the right-hand side of the graphic. You can walk through the building and it’s
open so you are not walking into the building to get through. That allows you to get back to the
rest of the campus. There are also a number of areas on the first floor that aren’t dorms. Some of
them are administrative people who are going to be in this building to help service this building
and others. The cafeteria is actually connected to the building and it’s at the end on the back side.
At one point during their planning stages, they had two buildings and it was brought in to be one
building. All of that allows the external use of the sidewalks for kids to walk to and use this
building from other dorms.
Mr. Holden questioned if the swale along College Road is that one stormwater feature that
couldn’t be piped to resolve the conflict of putting a sidewalk along there? Responding to Mr.
Holden, Mr. Moore stated that he wouldn’t say that is couldn’t be but it would be a pretty big
engineering project to pipe it. He is not sure that the grades would actually work. There was a
stormwater plan that was done years ago that has remained and that swale was part of it. He
would think that it would be a struggle to change that now. They are actually infiltrating all of
their stormwater here because the new regulations of the Excellent Recharge Area so they have
significant underground facilities to recharge.
Mr. Holden stated that sidewalks are certainly of use to site developments that are occurring.
They are also a great use to pedestrians that live or surround the area. Does the college look to
route public through the internal of the site or does the college take the stance that there aren’t
any public that utilize College Road? Responding to Mr. Holden, Mr. Moore stated that it’s a
little bit of both. The public could actually walk through the campus and get around if they
wanted to. But there is not a lot of in that section because the grade is not an area where people
walk. Most of the students are walking out towards Route 13 to cross the highway and not
walking in the back. There is a walkway from the back entrance that allows you to get to the
other facilities. In fact, the building that you saw tonight, there is a sidewalk from that entrance
so that kids could get back there if they wanted to and Delaware State does own an apartment
complex back there. This is that middle ground that no one is really using. It’s also on a curve
and there are some safety issues on a curve so it’s not a great spot to be along the edge of the
road.
Mr. Holden stated that he recognizes the college’s view on placing the sidewalk there and he
recognizes that it’s a challenging curve. He would encourage the college to look for an
alternative here in the future to allow for pedestrians to travel on College Road. He travels that
road a lot and sees mostly students and some parents that walk their kids to North Dover
Elementary. He is not sure where they come from but they are walking along this path so he
would certainly support them to seek a solution to provide pedestrian access along there but there
are some complications and he does understand that.
Mr. Tolbert stated that it was said that this facility would eliminate the use of the old Sheraton
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Hotel. Responding to Mr. Tolbert, Mr. Moore stated that he didn’t say eliminate, he said trying
to bring as many students back to the campus. The point that he was trying to make that he didn’t
make was, that this is not about a major expansion of Delaware State University. This is about
accommodating the students who are already there; many of which aren’t on the campus so they
are trying to bring as many of them back to the campus as possible. At some point in time when
the other dorms that have been on the campus for a while, need to be upgraded then there is some
opportunity to perhaps bring all of those students back. That won’t be happening in the near
future because there is a lot of work to do on a number of other dormitories. For their students at
other hotels that are not in the Sheraton Hotel (Building) that are actually leasing hotel rooms,
they plan to stop that so that those students are accommodated with housing from Delaware State
University.
Dr. Jones questioned if Mr. Moore could talk just a little bit about the dining facility in this
complex? For example, what is the capacity? Responding to Dr. Jones, Mr. Moore stated that the
dining facility is actually shown at the top of the page at the very end of the building. It’s used
for the entire campus so students in the building will actually use it but other students will be
using it as well. They are not trying to be the only facility. They are trying to diversify what
product Delaware State University is offering so there is a little bit of variation at different
locations because many of the competitors to Delaware State University are doing this and
Delaware State University is trying to up its game to provide as good of a food service as it can.
The exact number they don’t have yet. They are actually working with that on a vendor from
Delaware State University as to exactly how many students are going to be there and that is a
cost driven thing. This program is actually budget driven and there is a developer who is actually
putting the building up so they are finalizing the details of exactly how many seats. A lot of it is
to improve the food offerings at the university.
Mr. Bartlett stated that related to the dining facility, they are in the process of going through an
exercise to engage the students, interview the students and survey the students to determine what
the student’s desires are with dining options. The goal here is to supplement existing on campus
dining options. They do have a dining facility that is nearby but the goal here is to provide
alternative dining solutions. There have been discussions about retail style dining as opposed to
the all you can eat style that they currently have on campus. The intent is to target around two
hundred seats but again, that is going to depend upon all of the research that is done and
interviews of students to really evaluate what the desires are on campus. Ultimately, they are
there to serve the customer and the student.
Mr. Roach stated that in regards to the residents of this actual facility, who will it be open? He
knows that a lot of times with dormitories, they have certain requirements as far as incoming
freshmen can’t live in certain dormitories. Will there be these types of restrictions for this
dormitory or will it open as a first come first serve or for just out of state students? Responding
to Mr. Roach, Mr. Bartlett stated that they are currently researching what the intent is going to be
and he thinks that the goal is to make sure that they are hitting the students that are forced off
campus or to other universities. The goal is for Delaware State University to be most competitive
and be able to accommodate all of the students that are interested in living on campus without
turning some of them away. They are trying to determine what that demographic looks like so
they can hit the right class that ends up getting forced off campus. Often times now, it ends up
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being their sophomore class because freshmen are required to live on campus and then the
juniors they have obviously been in a place already with some of the apartment complexes that
they have. The sophomore year ends up being their biggest weakness in providing housing. They
are very much in the process of evaluating what is going to be best based on what the students’
thoughts are. That’s big on this project, is them engaging the students.
Mr. Roach stated that he knows that Laws Hall and Tubman Hall is going to be torn down. Are
there going to be any type of wings designated in memory of those various entities on the
campus? Will anything be displayed in the halls to commenerate to former dorm rooms that were
there for people who may want to come back and see at some point in time. Responding to Mr.
Roach, Mr. Bartlett stated that are two pieces to this that he wants to hit on. Obviously, Harriet
Tubman has a very big significance for their national history and that is very much important to
them. Also, just as much important is Lydia Laws who was way ahead of her time when she was
on campus as a professor and administrator. They very much have the intent to have them tied
into the building. Their institutional advancement group is in the process of trying to evaluate the
naming of the building and what steps they are going to take to make that happen. Obviously, the
alumni, current students, faculty, staff and administration are going to work together to identify
how the building should be named. But the goal is to really bring Lydia Laws and Harriet
Tubman justice with the new facility. The other piece of this is that there are a lot of individuals
that spend a lot of time in their college years in these buildings so he has challenged the design
team to try to implement any materials that they can pull from the buildings during demolition so
that they are tied into the construction and to mimic some of the experience whether it be a
lobby, an entrance or those sort of things into the new building. They have been given that
directive to make sure that it’s an emphasis.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing and after seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public
hearing.
Mr. Holden questioned if Staff could describe the waiver requests for demonstrational loading
space? Responding to Mr. Holden, Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that the loading space needs for
a building that exceeds 150,000 SF is not specifically outlined in the Code. It says that it should
be sufficient for the use and function of the building. They asked that they demonstrate that in
writing to us and Staff accepted their written description as to how loading actually occurs by
two new loading spaces specifically for this building and then also the function of loading for the
centralized receiving that occurs with the campus in general.
Mr. Holden moved to approve S-17-29 Delaware State University Residence Hall at 1200 N
DuPont Highway: Master Plan as presented, to include the waiver request for the partial
elimination of sidewalk along the segment of College Road, seconded by Mrs. Welsh and the
motion was carried 9-0 by roll call vote. Mr. Holden voting yes; due to compliance with Code
and due to the fact that the university has been a great partner in the City of Dover and he looks
forward to their expansion. Mr. Roach voting yes; he thinks that bringing the students back on
campus is well needed. He also loves the way the building looks aesthetically. Ms. Edwards
voting yes; she thinks that it’s very important to bring these students who are off campus,
particularly in hotels, back onto the campus. She thinks that is very important and she really like
the fact that they are maintaining the integrity and the history of the Lydia Laws and Harriet
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Tubman buildings to bring that history into the new structure. Mr. Holt voting yes; he thinks that
it’s going to be a real asset to the college and to bring students to the college campus. Mr.
Baldwin voting yes; for all of the reasons previously stated. Dr. Jones voting yes; for all of the
reasons mentioned. Mrs. Welsh voting yes; for all reasons previously stated and she would like
to add that she is always impressed at what a professional job Becker Morgan Group does as far
as presentation for their projects. Ms. Maucher voting yes; for the reasons previously mentioned.
Mr. Tolbert voting yes; for all of the reasons previously stated and we can’t overlook the fact
that a well-endowed university in this town is an asset to this town for many reasons that he
can’t begin to state them all.
4) MI-17-03 Text Amendments: Adult Day Care Facilities – Public Hearing and Review for
recommendation to City Council on a series of Text Amendments to the Appendix B:
Zoning Ordinance, Article 3 – District Regulations, Article 5 – Supplementary Regulations,
and Article 12 - Definitions. The proposed Ordinance establishes provisions for Adult Day
Care facilities allowing them to be permitted in any zoning district provided that state
licensing and city code requirements have been met. Other amendments update references
and definitions to make the distinction between Child Day Care facilities and Adult Day
Care facilities. Ordinance #2017-13.
A copy of the Proposed Ordinance #2017-13 is available on the City’s website
www.cityofdover.com under the Government Heading: Ordinances, Resolutions &
Tributes. https://www.cityofdover.com/ordinances-and-resolutions
The Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee reviewed the proposed Text
Amendments on September 25, 2017 and the First Reading before City Council
occurred on October 9, 2017. The Public Hearing before the Planning Commission is
set for November 20, 2017 and Public Hearing and Final Reading before City
Council is on December 11, 2017.
Representatives: None
Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that this is a proposal for a series of text amendments to the Zoning
Ordinance. Just a reminder, the Planning Commission in this case is a recommending body. This
will actually have to move on to City Council for their own public hearing and adoption of the
Ordinance. This began with an inquiry related to if they allowed adult day care facilities. Staff
found that basically the Zoning Ordinance is silent on that type of use. The provisions for child
day care facilities are pretty much established in the Code but they are very specific to children
in how they are defined. With this set of ordinance provisions, they are establishing provisions
for adult day care facilities basically allowing them to be permitted in any zoning district. There
are actually some State Regulations related to adult day care facilities. The key provisions of the
Code are first to clearly make the distinction between “child” day care facilities and “adult” day
care facilities so there are some changes in Article 3 and then in Article 5 Section 14 to make
those very clearly related to children. With this Ordinance, there is a proposed new section and
that would be Article 5 Section 22 which discusses the adult day care facilities and it defines
them. There is the ability to have a small adult day care or a large adult day care. Again, that is
predicated on the number of adult participants being served. It outlines the type of review
processes for establishing such facilities. There are provisions included related to parking and
signage as well as the licensing procedures that would be required. In Article 12, they go in and
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make sure that they are picking up those specific definitions.
The other agencies really had no objection to the proposed text amendments. Just for clarity
purposes, in our residential districts, child care facilities are basically allowed. The process is
actually defined related to the number of children being served. They have added adult day care
facilities as something that would require conditional use approvals in the residential zones but in
the IO (Institutional and Office Zone), adult day care facilities would be a permitted use. As
mentioned, in Article 5 Section 14 they make the distinction for child care facilities. The other
minor change that we have done is for family day care homes and large family day care homes
serving children. They have added the provisions that in addition to the full-time care number of
children you have, they are allowing the maximum of three additional children for after-school
care type facilities. A family day care home is one that serves six or fewer children with the
additional allowance of three under after-school care. That brings it in line with some of the
provisions that the State Child Care Licensing has for those types of facilities.
The main jist of this is the addition of Article 5 Section 22 which is the adult day care facilities
where it goes through the definitions. Adult day care facilities are “programs that provide health,
social and related support services for four or more functionally impaired adults who require
supervision due to cognitive or physical impairment and who cannot independently perform one
or more activities of daily living.” These services are intended to be provided to adults for a
period of less than twelve hours a day and are provided in a setting other than the participant’s
home or the residence of the facility operator. An adult day care facility is very distinctive from
an assisted living or nursing home. It’s not a full time residential component. Dividing it into
small and large facilities, a small facility is anywhere from four participants up to sixteen. It
becomes a large adult day care facility for places that are serving more than sixteen adult
participants. The review process is also established. They clearly understand that there may be
existing facilities that already are servicing adult participants in some way so if it meets the
definition that they are proposing for the Code, then in that instance it would be permitted as an
accessory use.
In the residential zones, a Conditional Use Site Plan will be required to establish an adult day
care facility. In the non-residential zones, if it is the small adult day care facility then it will be a
Site Development Plan process. Most of those likely if it’s an existing building, will be able to be
reviewed administratively for compliance. If someone is wishing to do the large adult day care
facility is a non-residential zone then it is a Conditional Use Site Plan that will be subject to the
Planning Commission’s public hearing process. Parking is based on the number of adult
attendants and participants to establish that; very similar to what day care facilities have. The
definitions section is updated with those provisions as well.
Mr. Holt questioned if there were any adult day cares in operation in Dover now? Responding to
Mr. Holt, Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that they believe that there probably is some
programming offered at the Modern Maturity Center that would equate to this adult day care
facility provision. They have a day break program so there may be something similar to that in
some of the other nursing facilities as well. They clearly thought that there probably was
something of a similar nature at the Modern Maturity Center. There may also be something of
similar nature related to the services that Easter Seals provides at their location in town as well.
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Ms. Maucher questioned if “adult” and “child” were defined elsewhere in the Code? Responding
to Ms. Maucher, Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that she does not believe so. She doesn’t believe
that there is any distinction between child and adult. In that case, if it is not defined then you go
to the common dictionary which would probably lead you to believe that ages eighteen and up
would be an adult situation.
Mr. Tolbert opened a public hearing and after seeing no one wishing to speak, closed the public
hearing.
Mr. Holt questioned if there have been any requests recently for an adult day care in the City?
Responding to Mr. Holt, Mrs. Melson-Williams stated that they did receive an inquiry back in
the summer regarding the ability to utilize an existing building for such a facility which then
triggered us to really start to look at our Code and find that there really wasn’t anything that
could address that type of facility. They went to the research mode; hence, the Ordinance that is
before you tonight.
Mr. Roach questioned if it would be smart of them to try to specify the idea of “adult” versus
“child” care now or do we just wait until someone submits an application? It seems like if we
wait and we don’t specify that parameter in regards to an adult day care facility and a child day
care facility then we leave ourselves open for opportunities for wiggle room. Responding to Mr.
Roach, Mr. Hugg stated that without knowing exactly what the regulations specify, both child
day cares and adult day cares are regulated by the State and in each case, you have to meet the
State licensing requirement. If we were to address that question, he thinks that we would
probably default to whatever the State requirement is.
Mrs. Welsh moved to recommend approval to City Council for MI-17-03 Text Amendments:
Adult Day Care Facilities, seconded by Ms. Maucher and the motion was carried 9-0 by roll call
vote. Mr. Holden voting yes; it seems to be a common sense way to clear up a lack of clarity
currently. Mr. Roach voting yes; he appreciates the Planning Staff for their initiative and
proactiveness in regards to this situation to take care of it before the Commission had to sit here
confused. Ms. Edwards voting yes; it seems like it is a necessity unfortunately in the community.
Mr. Holt voting yes; he thinks that it’s going to be needed in the very near future with the way
that the City is growing. Mr. Baldwin voting yes. Dr. Jones voting yes; it’s a great option for
family members who are taking care of others who may need care during the day. Mrs. Welsh
voting yes. Ms. Maucher voting yes; for the reasons previously stated. Mr. Tolbert voting yes;
updated regulations regarding the facilities is certainly needed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.
Sincerely,
Kristen Mullaney
Secretary
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MEMORANDUM
Department of Planning & Inspections
P.O. Box 475
Dover, DE 19903
Phone: (302) 736-7196 Fax (302) 736-4217
DATE: December 8, 2017
TO: Members of the Planning Commission
FROM: Planning Office
SUBJECT: S-16-24 Advantech at 151 Garrison Oak Drive: Revised Plan & Building
Architecture
At its November 21, 2016 meeting, the Planning Commission granted conditional approval for
Site Plan Application S-16-24 Advantech at 151 Garrison Oak Drive. The project received
Final Plan approval on June 16, 2017. As part of the review process, the Performance
Standards Review Application was previously approved indicating the project as conforming to
the applicable performance standards as outlined in Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §8
Performance Standards. The subject property consists of 10.06 acres and is located on the east
side of Garrison Oak Drive north of White Oak Road; also known as Lot 13 of the Garrison
Oak Technical Park. The property is zoned IPM-2 (Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone -
Technology Center). The owner of record is Protective Properties, LLC. Property Address: 151
Garrison Oak Drive. Tax Parcel: LC-05-068.00-02-13.00-000.
However, prior to the start of construction, there have been some design revisions to the Site
Plan and Building Architecture. The configuration of the building has been reduced in size to
14,700 SF from 15,989 S.F. for the office building and light manufacturing facility. Associated
revisions are also proposed for the outdoor loading and parking areas and other site
improvements. The communication from the Applicants highlights the following changes to the
Site Plan and the Building Architecture:
1. Reduction of building footprint from 15,989 S.F. to 14,700 S.F.
2. Reduction in total impervious coverage of the site
3. Minor grading revisions in order to maintain the previously proposed stormwater
management facilities.
4. Reconfiguration of parking areas including relocation of parking spaces to alternative
locations and realignment of spaces for better accessibility.
5. Simplification of the Building Architecture including relocation of main entry,
changes to exterior finish materials, different roof form, and reduction of building
height.
Attached are the transmittal letter and a copies of the Final Site Plan, the Revised Site Plan, the
original Building Architecture and the Revised Building Architecture. The information is
presented to the Planning Commission as an update on the project. The applicant will be working
with Planning Staff and the various other agencies to seek re-approval of the Revised Final Site
Plan.
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Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
Page 24
Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
Page 25
Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
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Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
MAXIMUM FLAG SIZES FOR 25' &
30' POLE LISTED ON DISPLAY
METAL ROOF
ASPHALT SHINGLES
6'x10'
5'x8'
38' 0"
28' 6"
ALUMINUM
BRICK
STOREFRONT
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Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
METAL ROOF
ARCHITECTURAL
HORIZONTAL LOUVER
METAL SIDING
24' 0"
ASPHALT SHINGLES
BRICK
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Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
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Approved Building Architecture: 2/9/2017
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Revised Architecture
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CURB SCHEDULE Approved Site Plan
This drawing is the property of
ALIGNMENT POINT LAYOUT Century Engineeringand is prepared for
the exclusive use of its clients
at the location indicated. No
ENGINEERING
other use is authorized or intended.
CENTURY CONSULTING ENGINEERS SURVEYORS
ADDRESS:
CURB RAMP SCHEDULE
4134 NORTH DUPONT HIGHWAY
BUILDING POINT LAYOUT
DOVER, DE 19901 WEBSITE: EMAIL:
MAIN ENTRANCE
P: (302) 734-9188 F: (302) 734-4589 www.centuryeng.com cei@centuryeng.com
FENCE POINT LAYOUT
CURB CUT LOCATION
C
3
T.P. LC-05-068.00-02-13.00
LITTLE CREEK HUNDRED, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE
GENERATOR PAD LAYOUT
C
2
PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES, LLC
CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE 19901
C
3
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9
CR
ADVANTECH
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CR
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FOR
GARRISON OAK TECHNICAL PARK
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GENERAL NOTES:
CR
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CONSTRUCTION SITE PLAN
24 24 30
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30 30 30 30
GARRISON OAK DRIVE
30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
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8 60' RIGHT-OF-WAY C 18
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CITY OF DOVER
SUBMISSION
OCTOBER, 2016
DLD AES
0' 30' 60' 90'
SCALE: 1" = 30' 1" = 30'
SECTION A-A
NOT TO SCALE
C103
CITY OF DOVER SUBMISSION 165008.00
Page 32
CURB SCHEDULE Revised Site Plan
This drawing is the property of
ALIGNMENT POINT LAYOUT Century Engineeringand is prepared for
the exclusive use of its clients
at the location indicated. No
ENGINEERING
other use is authorized or intended.
CENTURY CONSULTING ENGINEERS SURVEYORS
ADDRESS:
CURB RAMP SCHEDULE
4134 NORTH DUPONT HIGHWAY
BUILDING POINT LAYOUT
DOVER, DE 19901 WEBSITE: EMAIL:
MAIN ENTRANCE
FENCE POINT LAYOUT
P: (302) 734-9188 F: (302) 734-4589 www.centuryeng.com cei@centuryeng.com
CURB CUT LOCATION
GENERATOR PAD LAYOUT
C
3
T.P. LC-05-068.00-02-13.00
LITTLE CREEK HUNDRED, KENT COUNTY, DELAWARE
C
2
PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES, LLC
CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE 19901
C
3
CR
ADVANTECH
5 C
9
FOR
GARRISON OAK TECHNICAL PARK
C
10
CR GENERAL NOTES:
CR 3
6
A
CR
4 C
C C
7
12 2
C
4
A 30
CR
C
7
5 17.09
UW
CR CR C
2 1 1 30
24 24
CONSTRUCTION SITE PLAN
24 24 30
24 24 24 24 24
24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24
30 30 30 30
GARRISON OAK DRIVE
30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30
18
CR
C 18
6
8 60' RIGHT-OF-WAY C 18
8
CITY OF DOVER
SUBMISSION
DECEMBER, 2016
DLD/MDS AES
0' 30' 60' 90'
SCALE: 1" = 30' 1" = 30'
SECTION A-A
NOT TO SCALE
C103
CITY OF DOVER SUBMISSION 165008.00
Page 33
City of Dover
DATA SHEET FOR UNIFIED COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAGE PLAN REVIEW
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF December 6, 2017
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF December 18, 2017
Plan Title: Chesapeake Utilities Comprehensive Sign Proposal (US-17-02)
Plan Type: Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan
Property Location: Located on the south side and east end of Krisko Circle, east of Bay
Road
Property Addresses: 500 and 600 Krisko Circle
Tax Parcel: ED-05-077.00-03-06.00-000
Owner: Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co
Project Professional: Kent Signs as preparer of Comprehensive Sign Plan Proposal; future
sign provider and installer presumed same
Site Area: 20.57 acres +/-
Existing Signs: None
Proposed Signs: Two (2) monument signs with sign face areas of 15.06 SF and 3.75
SF; 18.81 SF total
Three (3) building-mounted signs at 46.25 SF, 46.25 SF, and 26.37
SF; 118.87 SF total
Six (6) gas station canopy signs at 2 each 19.52 SF and 42.47 SF,
and 1 each 12.63 SF and 22.25 SF; 158.86 SF total
Zoning Classification: IPM (Industrial Park Manufacturing Zone) and partially subject to
the SWPOZ (Source Water Protection Overlay Zone – Tier 3
Excellent Recharge Area)
Roadway Classification: Krisko Circle – Local Street
(per Sign Regulations)
P. O. Box 475 Dover, DE 19903
Community Excellence Through Quality Service
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C P
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CITY OF DOVER T A
Y N
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE N
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APPLICATION REVIEW COMMENTARY F N
G
D.A.C. MEETING DATE: December 6, 2017 D
O
V
APPLICATION: Chesapeake Utilities: Comprehensive Signage Plan E
R
FILE #: US-17-02 REVIEWING AGENCY: City of Dover Planning
CONTACT PERSON: Eddie Diaz, Planner PHONE #: (302) 736-7196
I. 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 Chesapeake
Utilities and Eastern Shore Natural Gas, which are building a new campus at 500 and 600 Krisko
Circle (proposed for name change to Energy Lane). The signage is proposed to include two (2)
monument signs totaling 27.92 SF, three (3) building-mounted signs totaling 118.87 SF, and six (6)
gas station canopy signs totaling 158.86 SF. The gas station canopy signage has been revised once
since the original plan submission, with revision date of December 6, 2017.
The campus is planned to consist of two (2) buildings and two (2) canopies, which are large
enough to qualify as principal structures on the site, as well as a number of accessory structures.
The project 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, as defined in Article 5 §4.8 of the Zoning Ordinance.
The four (4) main structures planned for the site include:
A 56,000 SF office building, located in the north-central area of the site
A 36,000 SF warehouse building, located in the east part of the site
A 9,700 SF covered truck canopy, located in the south part of the site
A 1,800 SF natural gas filling station with canopy, located in the southwest part of the
site and adjacent to State Route 1
The Comprehensive Sign Plan as proposed would apply to the whole parcel and all of the
building-attached and freestanding signs on it.
Related Actions
The Chesapeake Utilities campus was reviewed as Site Development Plan S-16-11, conditionally
approved by the Planning Commission on April 18, 2016 and granted Final Plan Approval on August
26, 2017. Previous related applications include SB-05-05, which in 2007 subdivided the Stover
Professional Campus into twelve (12) lots and laid out Stover Boulevard and Krisko Circle from Bay
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Road, and MI-15-07, which in 2015 reconsolidated seven (7) of those lots into the subject parcel and
abandoned part of the right-of-way for Krisko Circle. Site Plan S-06-37 developed the Mainstay
Suites Hotel at 201 Stover Boulevard (Lot 2). Another Site Plan S-05-32 proposed an office
building on Lot 6; however, that plan has expired.
Application MI-17-07 was brought before the Planning Commission on October 16, 2017 to
petition the City to rename Krisko Circle to Energy Lane. Chesapeake Utilities initiated the
petition because Krisko Circle will no longer be a circle once the campus is constructed. The
Planning Commission recommended approval of the street name change to the Council Utility
Committee, which heard the application on November 14, 2017. Final action on the name change
application is expected at the City Council meeting on December 11, 2017.
II. SIGNAGE REGULATIONS
The subject site has frontage on Krisko Circle, classified as a Local Street. The property’s
frontage is not considered “adjacent to residential” according to the definition in Article 5 §4.3 of
the Zoning Ordinance.
Table 1 lists the requirements and limits for signs at the subject property’s location permitted
under the sign regulations of the Zoning Ordinance.
Table 1: "Sign Table"
Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.7 (excerpt)
Location Use Road Type Permitted Signs
Sign Type Number Max. Size Max. % of Total Setback Exclusion
Permitted Height Wall Area (R.O.W.) Zone
Wall & 2/frontage 32 S.F. N/A < = 15% N/A N/A
Nonresidential
Uses in Urban Local/ Monument or 1/entrance 32 S.F. 7 feet N/A 5 feet 20 feet
Nonresidential Uses
Nonresidential Collector Post and Panel
OR
Districts Post** 1/frontage 16 S.F. 7 feet N/A 5 feet 10 feet
** Post sign would be in lieu of a monument sign or post and panel sign.
In addition to the Sign Regulations related to permitted size and dimensional characteristics,
additional provisions of the Sign Regulations would apply to this property under the standard
sign regulations:
Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.4(A) design requirements for freestanding signs
Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.4(C) design requirements for wall signs
Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.9(C) supplementary sign provisions for gas station
signage
Table 1 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
for the property. 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
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permitted under the conventional sign regulations in the Zoning Ordinance.
In considering a Unified Comprehensive Signage Plan, “the number type and size of sign
proposed may not be excessive and must be in proportion to the scale of the building and the
uses on the site.” For the Unified Comprehensive Signage Plans, 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 complex and the surrounding area. All Comprehensive Signage Plans must comply with
the design guidelines found in Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.4. The design requirements focus
on freestanding signs, the material and craftsmanship of signs, wall sign placement, illumination,
and changeable signs.
III. DESIGN GUIDELINES AND OBJECTIVES FOR COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAGE PLANS
In reviewing the overall sign package, the sign locations must be reviewed individually and as a
whole. The Planning Commission must take into consideration the public health, safety and
welfare, the comfort and convenience of the public in general and of the residents, business and
property owners of the immediate neighborhood in particular, and shall ensure that the Site has
adequate, but not excessive signage.
The Sign Ordinance specifically spells out the guidelines 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.
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
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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.
IV. SUMMARY OF SIGNAGE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This project is to establish building and freestanding signage for an industrial complex. The
submitted Plan Book outlines the approximate placement for each of the two monument signs, as
well as design details of the monument signs such as their dimensions, panel text, and
architectural details. Design details of the three building-mounted signs are also provided, along
with a building rendering showing the location of two of the building-mounted signs. Finally, the
Plan Book provides design details for the gas station canopy signage, along with a canopy
signage example. The design of the canopy signs was revised once from the initial submission,
on December 6, 2017, and the revision was submitted to the Planning Office for Planning
Commission review.
Freestanding Signage: Summary of Signage and Recommendations
The applicant is requesting two monument signs, with locations specified on pages 1 and 2 of the
Plan Book. Design information for the monument signs is found on pages 3 and 4 of the Plan
Book. The two proposed monument signs are as follows:
Monument A is located along Stover Boulevard/Krisko Circle, on the east side of the
drive aisle entrance leading to the west parking lot. The overall structure for this
monument sign is 68 inches tall by 98 inches wide, or 46.28 SF. However, most of this
area is the architectural framing of the sign. The sign face for this sign is divided between
six (6) panels on the front of the sign and a 9.11 SF Chesapeake Utilities bird logo on the
back. Four (4) of the six panels are directional signs 1.89 SF in area each. Of the
remaining two (2), one states “Chesapeake Utilities” and the other states “Eastern Shore
Natural Gas;” these two panels are 3.75 SF each. This monument sign also has the
proposed site address, “500 Energy Lane,” in 6-inch tall numbers.
The total area of the graphics on this monument sign (other than the proposed address) is
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24.17 SF. However, the definitions under Zoning Ordinance Article 5 §4.3 state that “the
[sign] area of any double-sided or “V” shaped sign shall be the area of the largest single
face only.” Therefore, only one side of the sign counts toward the sign area. The front of
the sign has more graphics, totaling 15.06 SF, so this number may be considered to be the
sign area for this monument sign.
This sign is composed principally of grey brick, with what appear to be stone bases and
caps. From the front, the sign appears to be divided into multiple parts, with one smaller
slab for the two main panels and one larger slab for the site address and the four
directional panels. The four directional panels are cantilevered out from the larger slab;
they are internally illuminated and backed with Plexiglas. The two main panels are
painted aluminum mounted to an aluminum backer.
Monument B is located along Krisko Circle, on the east side of the drive aisle entrance
leading to the east parking lot. The structure for this monument sign is 52 inches by 58
inches, or 20.94 SF. Like with Monument A, most of this area is architectural framing.
Unlike Monument A, this sign has only one panel, 3.75 SF in size, to comprise the sign
face. That number may therefore be considered the sign area for this sign. The panel
states “Eastern Shore Natural Gas.” This sign has no graphics on its back.
Materials for this sign match monument A; however, this sign is a single upright slab
rather than composed of multiple parts.
The standard sign regulations of Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4 regulate permitted signage
according to the property’s frontage and proximity to residential uses. The property has frontage
on a Local Street and is not adjacent to residential. One (1) monument is permitted per entrance
on this kind of street, and each monument is limited to 32 SF of sign area. Based on the two
monument signs’ locations and their sign areas of 15.06 SF and 3.75 SF, both of the signs could
be permitted under the standard sign regulations.
Table 2 provides a summary of the characteristics of the monument signs proposed, compared to
what is permitted under the sign regulations:
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Table 2: Monument Signs Code Comparison
US-17-02; Chesapeake Utilities
Permitted Proposed Difference Between
by Code Proposed and Code
Monument A (on Local Street, not adjacent
to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 15.06 SF Complies
Height (max.) 7 ft. 5.66 SF Complies
Setback from Right-of-Way (min.) 5 ft. >5 ft. Complies
Exclusion Zone (min.) 20 ft. > 20 ft. Complies
Monument B (on Local Street, not adjacent to
residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 3.75 SF Complies
Height (max.) 7 ft. 4.33 SF Complies
Setback from Right-of-Way (min.) 5 ft. >5 ft. Compliance TBD
Exclusion Zone (min.) 20 ft. > 20 ft. Complies
All Monuments
Number Monument Signs per Entrance, all
1 1 Complies
street classifications
Design Guidelines, Art. 5 §4.8(B)(4),
2 tenants on Complies; for these monument
freestanding signs shall identify name of 3
Monument A, signs the names of the tenants may
campus/center and no more than 3 separate tenants per
1 tenant on also be considered the name of the
tenants within, unless approved by the Planning sign
Monument B campus
Commission
Staff recommends approval of the proposed monument signs for reasons as follows:
a. Based on the sign area of each monument sign, the two signs are compliant with
standard sign regulations.
b. If the overall size of each monument sign (46.28 SF for Monument A and 20.94 SF
for Monument B) was considered rather than the sign area as defined under the
Zoning Ordinance, Monument B would still comply while Monument A would be
about 14 SF larger than allowed by code (when comparing its overall size to the sign
are limitation). However, Staff believes the overall size of Monument A is
appropriate to a campus of this size.
c. The architecture and the materials of the monument signs are appropriate to the
design of the building and the site.
Building-Mounted Signage: Summary of Signage and Recommendations
The applicant is requesting two wall signs and one roof sign, with locations specified on pages 1
and 5 of the Plan Book. Design information for the signs is found on page 6 of the Plan Book.
All three signs are located on the 56,000 SF office building. The three proposed signs are as
follows:
Wall Sign C is an internally illuminated 46.25 SF bird logo. Two (2) instances of this
sign are proposed, one on the west side of “Area B” of the office building and one on the
east side of “Area A” of the office building. The rendering shows that the western sign is
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on the second story of the building. The eastern sign will match the western sign in terms
of height.
Roof Sign D consists of ¼ inch thickness, 18-inch-tall plate aluminum letters reading
“Customer Care.” With the current wording, this sign is 26.37 SF in area, but the wording
is subject to change. Changing the wording may expand or shrink the size of the sign
somewhat depending on the length of the new words. According to the applicant these
letters are sticking up from the roof over the entrance, which is what makes this sign a
Roof Sign.
As with the monument signs, the standard sign regulations of Zoning Ordinance Article 5 §4
regulate permitted building-mounted signage according to the property’s frontage and proximity
to residential uses. Based on this property’s frontage on a Local Street, and the lack of adjacent
residential uses, a maximum of two (2) Wall Signs per building would be permitted for this
property. Each wall sign would be limited to 32 SF in area, and additionally be limited to an area
15% or less of the facade it is located on.
As proposed, the office building has one more sign than would be permitted under the standard
sign regulations. Two of the signs also exceed the maximum size for the classification. Finally,
Roof Signs are not ordinarily permitted under the standard regulations. However, one may be
permitted under a Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan.
Table 3 provides a summary of the characteristics of the wall signs proposed, compared to what
is permitted under the sign regulations:
Table 3: Building-Mounted Sign Code Comparison
US-17-02; Chesapeake Utilities
Permitted Proposed Difference Between
by Code Proposed and Code
Wall Sign C instances 1 & 2 (on Local
Street, not adjacent to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 46.25 SF 14.25 SF (44.5%) over max.
Percentage of Total Wall Area (max.) ≤15% not specified Compliance TBD
Height (max.) N/A not specified Complies
Wall Sign D (on Local Street, not
adjacent to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 26.37 SF Complies
Percentage of Total Wall Area (max.) ≤15% not specified Compliance TBD
Height (max.) N/A not specified Is Roof Sign
All Wall Signs
Number Wall Signs per Frontage, all
2 3 One extra sign
street classifications
Staff recommends approval of the applicant’s proposed building-mounted signs for reasons as
follows:
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a. The wall signs are small relative to the size of the office building, and are in architectural
harmony with the building and the campus.
b. Though the exact percentage of wall area each sign takes up is unknown, all three appear
to be below 15%.
c. Sign D, though a roof sign, is not one that makes an unnecessarily eye-catching
disruption of the building’s roofline.
d. The two internally-illuminated bird logo signs are large, but will be lit up with a “halo
effect” rather than complete lighting up of the sign face. This will reduce their brightness
at night.
Gas Station Canopy Signage: Summary of Signage and Recommendations
Under Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, §4.3, Canopy Signs are considered a kind of Wall Sign.
However, they are addressed separately in this report because they are on a different structure
from the two other Wall Signs, and because the Sign Regulations contain supplemental
regulations specific to gas stations. The locations of the canopy signs are specified on pages 1
and 7 of the Plan Book, and their design information is specified on page 8. The design of the
canopy signs was revised on December 6, 2017 and submitted to the Planning Office for
Planning Commission review. The six proposed Canopy Signs as revised are as follows:
Two instances of a 19.52 SF vinyl sign reading “Chesapeake,” part of the E-1 canopy
face design (the long face design). This sign is to be located on the western end of the
south canopy face and the eastern end of the north canopy face.
Two instances of a 42.47 SF vinyl sign reading “Natural Gas for Vehicles,” part of the E-
1 canopy face design. This sign is to be located on the eastern end of the south canopy
face and the western end of the north canopy face.
One instance of a 12.63 SF vinyl sign reading “Chesapeake,” part of the E-2 canopy face
design (the short face design). This sign is to be located on the southern end of the east
canopy face.
One instance of a 22.25 SF vinyl sign reading “Natural Gas for Vehicles,” part of the E-2
canopy face design. This sign is to be located on the northern end of the east canopy face.
The total amount of signage on each of the two E-1 faces is 62 SF, and the total amount of
signage on the E-2 face is 34.88 SF, making for a grand total of 158.86 SF of signage on the
canopy. The final copy is not confirmed at this time, so the totals may increase or decrease if the
words change. All of the canopy signs are to be high performance vinyl applied directly to the
canopy surface.
For all Canopy Signs, the standard regulations applying to Wall Signs apply. However, in this
case some of these regulations are superseded by Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, §4.9(C), which
contains regulations specific to gas station signage. Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, §4.9(C) reads
as follows:
C. Gas station signage.
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1. Canopy signs.
a. Canopy height shall not exceed 30 feet.
b. Canopy sign copy shall be directed toward a public street.
c. Canopy sign area shall be limited to no greater than 20 percent of the area of the
canopy face to which the sign is applied.
2. Exempt signs.
a. State or federal required price per gallon signage shall not count toward overall sign
area for the site, unless they exceed 32 SF in size.
b. Price per gallon signs not exceeding two square feet, located on the pump itself.
For the canopy sign requirements, the canopy itself meets the first requirement, being 17 feet in
height. One E-1 face of the canopy is also oriented toward Stover Boulevard/Krisko Circle,
meeting the second requirement. The two 19.52 SF “Chesapeake” signs and the 12.63 SF
“Chesapeake” sign each meet the third requirement, taking up 10.8% and 14% of their canopy
faces respectively; the four “Natural Gas for Vehicles” signs do not meet the third requirement,
with the two larger each taking up 23.6% of their canopy faces and the two smaller each taking
up 24.7% of their canopy faces. It should also be noted that under the standard sign regulations,
the two larger “Natural Gas for Vehicles” signs do not meet the 32 SF limit for wall signs based
on the street frontage, and only two signs total would be permitted on this structure, not six.
No price-per-gallon signs are proposed at this time. Such signs, if they meet the requirements
stated above, would not count toward the total number of signs for the site. Any price-per-gallon
signs proposed may still need to meet height and setback requirements, and should be included in
the Comprehensive Sign Plan.
Table 4 provides a summary of the characteristics of the canopy signs proposed, compared to
what is permitted under the sign regulations:
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Table 4: Canopy Sign Code Comparison
US-17-02; Chesapeake Utilities
Permitted Proposed Difference Between
by Code Proposed and Code
"Chesapeake" sign, face design E-1, instances 1 & 2 (on
local street, not adjacent to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 19.52 SF Complies
Percentage of Canopy Face Area (max.) ≤20% 19.6% Complies
"Natural Gas for Vehicles" sign, face design E-1, instances
1 & 2 (on local street, not adjacent to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 42.47 10.47 SF (32%) over max.
Percentage of Canopy Face Area (max.) ≤20% 23.6% 3.6% over max.
"Chesapeake" sign, face design E-2 (on local street, not
adjacent to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 12.63 SF Complies
Percentage of Canopy Face Area (max.) ≤20% 14% Complies
"Natural Gas for Vehicles" sign, face design E-2 (on local
street, not adjacent to residential)
Sign Area (max.) 32 SF 22.25 SF Complies
Percentage of Canopy Face Area (max.) ≤20% 24.7% 4.7% over max.
All Canopy Signs
Canopy signs face public street Required Yes (north face) Complies
Canopy Height (max.) 30 ft. 17 ft. Complies
Number Canopy Signs per Frontage, all street classifications 2 6 Four extra signs
Staff recommends approval of the applicant’s proposed canopy signs, for reasons as follows:
a. The gas station (natural gas filling station) is located somewhat internal to the site with
respect to most surrounding uses, lessening the importance of the gas station conforming
to the typical gas station signage regulations.
b. The gas station is however in close proximity to State Route 1, and the potential impacts
of oversized signs must be considered with respect to this passing traffic. State Route 1 is
not considered to provide “frontage” for purposes of the Sign Regulations. The
applicant’s revised canopy signs are smaller than those in the initial submission and will
have a lesser impact on passing traffic.
Summary and Staff Recommendations for Chesapeake Utilities Unified Comprehensive Signage
Plan (US-17-02)
Staff finds overall that the proposed Unified Comprehensive Sign Plan presents a coordinated
concept for the property. The monument signs and wall signs coordinate well with the identity of
the center and its tenants, with the identity overall being much more shaped by the architecture
of the building than the signs. The signs also provide safe wayfinding to the general public. Only
the gas station canopy signs previously presented some concerns with respect to passing traffic
on State Route 1. Staff acceptance of the gas station canopy signs as reduced to the sizes above.
V. CITY AND STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS
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
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Page 12
identified as elements which need to be addressed by the applicant:
1. Please note that these changes are not required to be made prior to Planning Commission
approval.
2. Please update the final version of the Unified Comprehensive Sign to show the final copy of
all signs.
3. If possible, please find the percentage of wall area taken up by each wall sign on the office
building.
4. Please double check the locations of all freestanding signs to ensure they are at least 10 feet
from all underground utilities. Monument B in particular may need to have its position
adjusted.
VI. RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS TO MEET CODE OBJECTIVES
In accordance with the Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.8(C), the Planning Commission in
reviewing and approving Unified Comprehensive Signs shall take into consideration the public
health, safety, and welfare, the comfort and convenience of the public in general, and the
residents, businesses, and property owners of the immediate neighborhood in particular. The
objectives of Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.8(C) shall guide the Commission when reviewing
such plans. The design guidelines of Article 5 §4.8(B) must also be taken into consideration.
1) To advance §4.8(C)(1) related to warranted needs for extra signage, Staff recommends the
Commission approve the Comprehensive Sign Plan for this property, inclusive of the
property’s two proposed monument signs, the three proposed wall signs, and the six
proposed gas station canopy signs.
Other agencies may recommend additional considerations to meet code objectives in accordance
with their areas of expertise. Action on all considerations identified in this section and by other
agencies is at the discretion of the Planning Commission.
VII. 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) 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
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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.
4) Window signs are subject to regulations in Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.9(A) and
require permits.
5) Applicant is advised to consult Zoning Ordinance, Article 5 §4.6 related to prohibited
sign types.
6) 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.
7) 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.
8) Other agencies and departments which participate in the Development Advisory
Committee may provide additional comments related to their areas of expertise and code
requirements.
9) The applicant/developer shall be aware that prior to any ground disturbing activities on
the site that the appropriate site inspections and permits are required.
10) Signs should be placed in a manner that meets National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)
requirements.
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 water lines.
12) 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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Appointment of the Architectural Review Oversight Subcommittee of
Planning Commission
As part of the Annual Meeting of the Planning Commission, one of the responsibilities of the
Planning Commission is to appoint the Architectural Review Oversight Subcommittee. The
following excerpt from the Zoning Ordinance is provided.
Appendix B: Zoning Ordinance, Article 10 Section 2. Site development plan approval.
2.28 Consideration shall be given to the physical orientation and architectural characteristics
of proposed buildings, the relationship of proposed buildings to existing buildings and to
other proposed buildings, and their contributions to the overall image of the immediate
vicinity by considering the building and architectural design guidelines as set forth in article
5, section 19. Design characteristics of proposed buildings and building additions shall not
detract or devalue existing buildings in the immediate vicinity.
(A) If the planning commission determines that the proposed physical orientation and
architectural characteristics of the proposed buildings do not meet the intent and
objectives of this section, then the planning commission shall refer the proposal to
the architectural review oversight subcommittee for review and comment.
(B) The subcommittee shall meet and review the proposal with the applicant, and return
its comments to the planning commission by the next regularly scheduled meeting.
(C) The architectural review oversight subcommittee shall be appointed by the
commission at its annual meeting, and membership shall consist of two planning
commission members, and two design professionals with experience in construction,
and the mayor or the mayor's designee. Two alternate design professionals with
experience in construction shall also be appointed.
As of the Annual Meeting of the Planning Commission on July 18, 2016, the following
individuals are currently appointed to the Architectural Review Oversight Subcommittee of
Planning Commission.
o Kathleen Welsh, Planning Commission member
o Dean Holden, Planning Commission member
o Ms. Sarah Keifer, Director of Planning Services for Kent County, Design Professional
o Dr. R.G. Chandler, Director of Architecture at DelTech Community College, Design
Professional
o Mayor or Mayor’s designee
o Alternates (Design Professionals): None appointed
As part of the Annual Meeting of the Planning Commission shall appoint the
membership of the Architectural Review Oversight Subcommittee. This is an
opportunity to consider individuals to serve on this subcommittee.