The Middletown Mayor and Council approved one ordinance and two resolutions regarding sewers at its Feb. 1 meeting that the Town hopes will jumpstart Middletown’s economy.
The Council adopted an ordinance to amend Chapter 136 in the town’s code that will decrease the sewage fees that developers must pay upfront when they build on a home or commercial property and connect to the Town’s sewer facility. Instead of paying 50 percent of the cost, developers are now responsible for paying 25 percent. The balance will then be due upon issuance of the certificate of occupancy from the Town.
As per a resolution that was also adopted, the Town will carry the 2009 sewer rates over to 2010 without the usual 4.5-percent increase, which would save developers approximately $540 for each single-family home that is built.
Mayor Kenny Branner said the Town will also reduce the gallons-per-day rates used to calculate the building permit fees from 300 gallons per day to 250 gallons per day for single-family homes, saving developers $2,093 on each individual permit. The gallons per day for townhouses, apartments and active adult communities will be decreased to 225 gallons per day, providing developers with $3,139 in savings for each home.
“In working with the developers and looking at other municipalities through out the state, we just thought it would be a benefit for everybody and help kick start the economy on the development side,” he said.
Middletown resident Robert Cooper asked Council whether or not the ordinance would have an effect on residents.
Branner said increasing the economy in town allows for less increases of taxes and user fees.
Resident Jerry Manley asked the Council if the ordinance would have an effect on the current budget.
“None whatsoever. We use no connection fees for operational budget. We don’t budget based on future growth,” Branner said. “We take all that we get from developers and put it in our capital development account, which we use for capital expenditures and large projects. It will just help get the capital budget back up.”
Route 299 workshop
Middletown residents gathered inside Middletown Town Chambers Jan. 28 to take a look at design plans for the future of Route 299.
Officials from the Delaware Department of Transportation and engineering firm McCormick Taylor were on hand to explain to residents about the expansion of the road.
Jon Hermes, senior highway engineer for McCormick Taylor, said the plan includes a transition from two to four lanes from Route 1 to Catherine Street in Middletown.
He said the road will feature a landscape median with trees and double left-turn lanes in some areas.
Hermes said the plan does not eliminate access to any homes or current developments.
“The main thing we’re doing is adding for capacity, making safety improvements and improving multi-mobile use, including transit and bicyclists,” he said. “All the landscape gives the road more of a town feel, rather than just a highway through the town.”
The plan also takes into the account the site for a future Christiana Care Health Services center near Dove Run, new sidewalks along the entire road and pedestrian crosswalks.
Kristen Krenzer, public information officer for Middletown, said the funding is not yet available for construction of the expansion.
She said the Town paid for the design conception, and is following the guidelines and procedures to obtain federal funding for the rest of the project. In addition, current and future developers who build along that corridor must pay a share toward the road improvements.
Middletown resident Cecily Langley and her husband Mike Parico will be largely affected by the road changes since they live in Middletown Crossing.
Langley said she was happy with the designed plan and its improvements.
“It looks like they put a lot of work into it,” she said.
Sonya Comstock, a resident of Springmill in Middletown, said she thought the plan was a major improvement to the current road.
“With all the people moving in, it shows how much the town is progressing,” she said. “I’m all for improvement and change.”
Comstock said the proposed landscape offers a more attractive look.
“It’s welcoming to anyone coming into the town,” she said. “I hope it all comes about.”
In other business
Engineer Shane Minner of Landmark Engineering presented a development plan for the expansion of the Middletown High School parking lot, which the Council approved.
Minner said 92 additional parking spaces would be added to the existing lot, including 50 spots in front of the Appoquinimink State Services Center, 14 spots near the entrance to the parking lot, and 15 spots near the school’s tennis courts.
“This is intended to alleviate the parking crunch over at the school in conjunction to students parking off site and walking [across Route 299],” he said.
Middletown, Del. —
