The developer of Belle Mead Farm is seeking to rezone a Route 24 property from AR-1 to C-4 to build a commercial space and 300-plus apartments to rent for $1,675 to $2,600 monthly. The developer put on a pretty good show at a recent public hearing. A handful of times he mentioned how there would be a coffee shop where people could go get coffee. There was only one speaker in favor of the rezoning of what is currently a 39-acre horse farm – Dr. David Tam from Beebe Healthcare. Tam stated that apartments are needed for medical support staff. Tam stated doctors can afford the $600,000 to $800,000 homes but support staff need apartments. When a commissioner asked, “Why not build an AR-1 development on this parcel?” the presenter stated it wouldn’t be feasible for the developer, meaning it’s not a cash cow for somebody.
Next, there were more than a dozen in opposition, mostly about the traffic. Others spoke about the detriment to wildlife and the increased standing water on their properties since DelDOT has widened Route 24. An environmental sustainability director gave science-based testimony about possible contaminants in the soil from the farmland leaking into wells. She asked for specific studies to be done.
One resident of Bookhammer Estates asked for a 100-foot tree-lined buffer, utilizing existing mature trees, as currently there is no buffer zone for a C-4 development. One has to wonder how this could have been overlooked in the comp plan. The same resident also asked for a privacy fence along the parcel connecting to residential property lines to eliminate trespassers. Another resident stated a stub road on the plot plan connected his private driveway to this development.
Toward the end of the hearing, a resident who works in human resources placing physicians spoke about how physicians aren’t moving to the area because they are looking for culture – theater, arts, parks and upscale shopping. She mentioned how medical staff and even school staff can’t afford $1,675 to $2,600 per apartment.
Rich Borrasso posed the question, “When the county developed the C-4 plan, is this the type of location the county had in mind?” This location is horrible for C-4. I hope planning & zoning does the right thing and denies this zone change.
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