By Benjamin Rothstein

DOVER — In a break from their summer break, Kent County Levy Court convened Tuesday night to cover a multitude of small ordinances and applications. One of those was a rezoning request for land behind the Felton Drive-In, which would be used to expand the scope of the warehouse project that the Drive-In land is slated for.

“So essentially the goal is to extend the Felton Drive-In (project),” said Mike Riemann of Becker Morgan Group, representing applicant Felton Drive In. “It’s not intended to be large retail or anything like that. The area we believe is compatible with surrounding uses.”

The rezoning request covered around 18 acres of a 90-acre plot, to change it from AR (Agricultural) to BG (General Business/Highway Commercial). According to the county, the land in question is located north of Peach Basket Road, east of Turkey Point Road, approximately 420 feet west of South Dupont Highway, north of Felton.

Currently, the land is owned by neighboring business Pizzadili Vineyard and Winery, but the Drive-In would purchase the land to expand the project. This is something that Pizzadili owner Wendy Pizzadili said would be beneficial to all parties.

“It allows us to do something that’s far more important to us and that’s to help do what my father always wanted to do and unfortunately wasn’t able to complete,” said Ms. Pizzadili. “He wanted to do more, (to) allow the community to have walks to have more events ... this sale would help us tremendously because it’s something that we need to be able to expand on some of those projects.”

Ms. Pizzadili also noted that an opaque tree line exists between the property being purchased and the vineyard proper, meaning the warehouse complex would have no negative effect on her business.

Support came from outside the two parties as well.

“Through our office, we received numerous requests for manufacturing space that we simply cannot accommodate for due to lack of inventory,” said Zach Prebula, Business Developer at the Kent Economic Partnership. “So, this project here directly helps (that issue) and also helps us locate businesses, support local businesses looking to expand and continue their operations, but also most importantly, create jobs here in Kent County.”

Some Levy Court commissioners had concerns regarding the county staff recommendation of denial of the application, though Kent County Planning Office Director Sarah Kiefer noted that this was because the comprehensive plan did not support the rezoning. The planning office, however, recommended approval.

“I normally weigh very heavily upon what the staff recommends, but in this case, I think this common sense needs to take over here,” said President and Commissioner at Large Terry Pepper.

Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the application despite the staff recommendation.