Milton committee to recommend new annexation; review meeting set July 23

A three-man Milton committee is preparing a report recommending the town approve annexing nearly 8 acres of property at the intersection of Route 16 and Cedar Creek Road.

Property owners Stephen and Lynn Dexter want to create a commercial development to include a gas station, 16 office spaces and a storage facility. Ring Lardner, project engineer, told the town’s Special Review Committee that a client for the facility has not yet been secured. 

The committee is set to meet at 3 p.m., Thursday, July 23.

Lardner said the intention is for the gas pumps to be located close to access from Route 16 and Union Street with the office space in the center of the property. He said the plan is for seven storage units to be built on the site. 

Lardner said there would be access to the property from Route 16 and Cedar Creek Road, although studies have not been undertaken by Delaware Department of Transportation to determine what improvements might need to be made. Water and sewer service are available at the site, he said. 

“This area is commercial. We feel this would be an added benefit to the town for the people of the town to use,” Lardner said.

The committee, consisting of Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Richard Trask and council members Michael Cote and Kevin Kelly, did express concern about access to the property from Route 16 and the effect of the development on neighboring businesses. The project sits at a busy intersection adjacent to the Food Lion shopping center. 

However, the committee agreed that the pros to the annexation outweigh the cons. The town stands to take in additional tax and fee revenues with very little downside other than the time of town staff. Annexing the property would require an update to the town’s comprehensive plan map, but it would come in as a C-1 commercial parcel, consistent with other property uses in that area. 

Once the committee votes to approve its report, the matter will head to Town Council, which will vote to accept the report and send the matter to planning and zoning for an advisory report. Town Council would then vote to accept the report and schedule a public hearing before making the ultimate yes or no vote on accepting the annexation.