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EXHIBIT 1
COUNCIL MINUTES 12/08/04
PETITION TO AMEND ZONING DISTRICT
Before The Dover City Council
December 8, 2003
Applicants/Owners Carl Moore
144 Old Leipsic Road
Dover, DE 19901
Location: Southeasterly corner of Old Leipsic Road and Plaza Lane
Property Address 190 Old Leipsic Road
Size: 0.25 acres +/-
Present Zoning: R-10 (One Family Residence)
Proposed Zoning: C-1A (Limited Commercial Office Zone) All uses permitted in the
Neighborhood Commercial C-1 Zone (including convenience retail stores
such as drug stores, grocery stores, luncheonettes, variety stores or
combinations thereof; personal service stores such as, but not limited to,
barber shops, beauty parlors, and tailors, provided that where steam
pressure is used in clothes pressing it shall not exceed 60 pounds per square
inch. Service establishments furnishings services other than of a personal
nature, but excluding gasoline filling stations and motor vehicle storage,
repair, or service.), with no limitation on size of establishments; residences
conforming to the regulations set forth in Article 3, Section 2 (RG-2).
banks or businesses, professional or governmental offices; other retail and
service establishments but excluding: Gasoline filling stations and motor
vehicle storage, repair, or service, except that gasoline pumps shall be
permitted as an accessory use subject to conditional use approval by the
planning commission pursuant to Article 10, Section 1; wholesaling,
warehousing or storage; the manufacturing, printing, assembling,
converting, altering, finishing, cleaning or any other processing of goods
on the premises except as permitted in the C-1 Zone; and excessive traffic
generating uses, such as theaters, "drive-ins," bowling alleys and other
commercial, recreation, restaurants, etc.
Present Use: Residential (Manufactured Home)
Proposed Use: Same with Race week vendors
File Number: Z-03-06
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Z-03-06 Lands of Carl Moore
Planning Commission Report to City Council
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Findings and Recommendations of the Dover Planning Commission
This petition was considered at the November 17, 2003 meeting of the Planning Commission.
The following members were present: Chairman Friedman, Mr. Nichols, Mrs. Horsey, Mr.
Sadusky, Mr. Holt, Mr. Winsley, Mr. DiMondi, Col. Welsh, and Mr. Von Reider.
The Planning Commission recommends that this request for rezoning from R-10 to C-1A
be approved. The motion for approval of the rezoning passed 6-3 of those members present
(Sadusky, Welsh, and Friedman in opposition). It is noted that a prior motion to deny the
rezoning failed to achieve a majority with a vote of 3-6 (Sadusky, Welsh, and Friedman voting in
favor of denial).
The Planning Commission also recommended looking at this area comprehensively for
potential rezoning from residential uses to a commercial use. This motion passed 9-0 of the
members present. Staff notes that this will involve analysis of the area to propose an
amendment to the Land Development Plan of the Comprehensive Plan Update 2003 for review
and approval followed by the process for comprehensive rezoning of the area.
The procedure for rezoning (amendment to the zoning map) is outlined in the Zoning Ordinance
Article 10 §5.
In taking this position, the Commission considered the following points:
Surrounding Land Uses:
The area of petition consists of 0.2495acre +/- parcel of land located on the east side of Old
Leipsic Road at its intersection with Plaza Drive. To the west of this site and across Old Leipsic
Road are the lands of Dover Downs, zoned RC (Recreational Commercial). This area is the
principal location of the Dover Downs facility. To the north and south along the easterly side of
Old Leipsic Road are residentially zoned with single family residences. Some of these, parcels
include non-conforming manufactured homes. To the east of this site are lands owned by Dover
Downs and other individuals which serve biannually as campgrounds associated with the races.
Except for during race weekends, this area is a small residential community. The following
pictures depict the immediate neighborhood.
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Z-03-06 Lands of Carl Moore
Planning Commission Report to City Council
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View North View South
Adjacent property to the west
Comprehensive Plan:
In the 2003 Comprehensive Plan Update, the Land Development Plan recommends that this
property be used for low density residential purposes. The 1996 Comprehensive Plan
recommended the same use for this area. See the attached Land Development Map.
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Z-03-06 Lands of Carl Moore
Planning Commission Report to City Council
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Other Considerations:
This rezoning application is an exact duplication of application Z-98-03. On May 18, 1998 the
Planning Commission recommended denial of the request to rezone the property to C-1A. On
June 8, 1998 the City Council, acting on the Planning Commission’s recommendation denied the
request. After its decision Council stated that they had carefully considered the applicants
dilemma and testimony at the public hearing and requested the Legislative and Finance
Committee to draft an amendment specifically for race weekend parking of vehicles and campers
on residential properties. The Committee forwarded an ordinance amendment which made
specific provisions for the parking of vehicles on residential properties during race events. This
ordinance passed yet prohibited commercial vendors from operating on residentially zoned
properties specifically:
5.5 Race Weekend Parking. During any ten-day period prior to or two-day period following a
Saturday or Sunday during which auto racing is occurring, property within a residential zone may
be used for the commercial parking (for a fee) of motor vehicles including recreation vehicles with
self contained units for sanitary facilities. Commercial parking does not include the parking of
commercial vehicles for use by commercial vendors and sales representatives.
(Ord. of 10-12-98)
This application attempts to once again rezone the property to allow for the parking of vendors
during racing events.
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Z-03-06 Lands of Carl Moore
Planning Commission Report to City Council
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Recommendation of the Planning Staff:
Although staff understands the applicant’s rationale for the rezoning it cannot support the
rezoning of the property to C-1A. Based on the 2003 Comprehensive Plan Update and the Land
Development Plan Map recommendation for this area, the Planning Staff recommends that the
rezoning from R-10 to C-1A be denied. Rezoning of this property to C-1A, would allow for any
of the permitted uses given in Article3§12 of the Zoning Ordinance. The expansion of
commercial zoning to this property would signify an expansion of business and commercial
ventures in the area year round. In accordance with sound planning practice a property should
not be rezoned with specific conditions that apply only to the owner or a specific property
owners desires or a temporary situation. Suggesting that specific conditions applying only to
this property for race vendors during race events as a condition of rezoning is considered, in
staffs opinion, akin to “Contract” or “Conditional” zoning.
Public Comments:
The application was represented by Mr. Carl L. Moore, 144 Leipsic Road and Mr. Steve DeBarr
of Earl D. Smith, Inc.
The following appeared and spoke in regards to the rezoning application:
• Roger Murray – 126 Old Leipsic Road: He spoke in support of the rezoning application.
• Denis McGlynn – 1131 N. DuPont Highway, President of Dover Downs: His statement
noted information regarding the ordinance (parking of vehicles on residential properties),
safety, and procedures for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in this area during race events.
Agency Comments from DAC Report:
• Department of Public Works has no objections to the rezoning.
• DelDOT has no objections to the rezoning.
Advisory Comments to the Applicant:
1) The applicant shall be aware that approval of any rezoning application does not represent
Site Plan approval. A separate application process for Site Plan approval is required for the
development of property.
2) Finally, the exhibit submitted for this application reveals several nonconforming situations.
The applicant should be aware that any changes to the use or structures on this property
would require permits.
Attachments to the Report:
• Development Advisory Committee Application Review Commentary (comment sheets) from
the following:
Department of Public Works
Delaware Department of Transportation
• Exhibit Location Map
• Minutes (Draft copy) of the Planning Commission Meeting of November 17, 2003 in regards
to Z-03-06
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EXHIBIT 2
COUNCIL MINUTES 12/08/04
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EXHIBIT 3
COUNCIL MINUTES 12/08/04
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EXHIBIT 4
COUNCIL MINUTES 12/08/04
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EXHIBIT 5
COUNCIL MINUTES 12/08/04
TO: Dover City Council
Mayor James L. Hutchison
SUBJECT: Petition to Amend Zoning District, re: 190 Old Leipsic Road
DATE: December 4, 2003
Honorable Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen of City Council,
As a member of the City of Dover Planning Commission, I was instrumental in supporting the
application by Mr. Carl Moore to rezone the property at 190 Old Leipsic Road from R-10 (One
Family Residence) to C-1A (Limited Commercial Zone). My reasons for supporting this action
are presented below, and I pray that you will give them due consideration prior to your meeting
on Monday, December 8th, 2003.
I plan to be present during City Council meeting on December 8th, and will be glad to discuss
this matter further in the public forum.
I fully support this application for rezoning for the following reasons:
1. The Planning Staff's recommendation to deny this as being a "Contract" or "Conditional"
zoning ignores the reality that these few properties have become, through attrition, an
incongruous island of residential zoning surrounded by one of the largest public entertainment
and commercial enterprises in the entire State of Delaware.
2. The Comprehensive Plan Update shows this strip as being retained for residential use, but
there is no point. Zoned residential, this property has extremely narrow marketability. And if
you believe that there is any future potential for residential re-development, just ask any local
realtor. I did, and I haven’t found one yet that would consider this as an area for future
residential improvement. Therefore, to try and retain it as residential zoning goes against the
desires of the owners and all good common sense.
3. This is an obvious example of passive spot-zoning. We often justify denying rezoning when
it would create "spot-zoning", yet here we are denying a rezoning in order to retain spot-zoning.
And why would the Comprehensive Plan show the properties along the north side of Leipsic
Road, from behind Home Depot, eastward, as desirable for rezoning to Commercial, when these
are some of the nicer-looking frame homes in this area, but not consider the same for this patch
of Old Leipsic Road?
4. There is no attempt to contain race-week vendors to the grounds of Dover Downs, and many
of them are spread out 1000's of yards beyond Dover Downs' property borders. So why are we
trying to restrict Mr. Moore’s property from also providing space for vendors, particularly when
they are in the closest proximity to Dover Downs, as well as fronting two of the roads upon
which a huge majority of pedestrian traffic flows to and from the race track?
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5. The City's own actions recognize that these are commercially viable properties. In a previous
concession, City Council has allowed these properties to be used for automobile parking during
race weeks and, as well, allows Old Leipsic Road to be completely turned over to Dover Downs
and closed off for their use as a pedestrian walkway, and for their “golf-cart” traffic, which
eliminates the possibility that the residents on this road can come or go from their properties at
will. The residents become virtual prisoners at the expense of the Race Track events and their
properties are forced to become part of the commercial enterprise every time Dover Downs hosts
a racing event. It is time to codify this recognition in a permanent rezoning action that reflects
the reality of the situation, not some fantasy that these will be renewable residential properties.
The City of Dover, along with the State of Delaware's Rt 1 project, has contributed to the
residents’ current dilemma, but the City is failing to help rectify the situation by their refusal to
appropriately rezone these properties.
I believe the property owners have struggled long enough to try and maintain this area as
residential, but I also see that they are finally recognizing the futility of their situation. If they
can recognize this, I believe it is time that we, the governing Commissions and Councils of the
City of Dover also recognize it, and allow the inevitable conversion to commercial use to begin.
Sincerely,
Michael von Reider
Planning Commissioner, 3rd District
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