REHOBOTH BEACH — The city has submitted a draft of its comprehensive development plan for Preliminary Land Use Service review through the Office of State Planning Coordination.

This puts the city on schedule to adopt the state-mandated plan by the end of July.

“It was crucial that the city make the Feb. 1 filing deadline with PLUS, and this deadline was met,” said Planning Commission chair Michael Bryan. “This has really been a team effort and has required an enormous amount of work. We know that we’re not at the finish line yet, but so far, everyone is valiantly pitching in to ensure that we arrive there on time and with a viable plan for Rehoboth’s future in hand.”

While the submission of the CDP for review marks a milestone in the process, officials continue to welcome public feedback on the plan, and there remain opportunities for changes to it.

Residents, business owners and other stakeholders may address comments to the Planning Commission at a virtual meeting at 2 p.m. Feb. 17.

Those wishing to speak at the meeting must register by emailing awomack@cityofrehoboth.com at least 24 hours prior. The CDP draft, as well as comments received to date, are available here.

A comprehensive document that outlines the city’s goals and policies regarding land use, growth and management of resources, the CDP serves as a guide for decision-making.

Some of the changes in the revised CDP, an update to the adopted 2010 plan, include:

• The addition of a future land-use map.
• Expansion of visions and goals.
• Information about projects that have been completed since 2010 or are underway, including Rehoboth Avenue revitalization, streetscape plans, code revisions to manage housing scale and parking and wastewater system updates.
• Discussion on review and possible development of a mixed-use zone within existing commercial districts.
• Inclusion of information on climate change.
• The city’s extensive work on trees.

“The updated CDP reflects changes within the community, as well as how the city wants to move forward in the next 10-20 years,” said Lauren Good, project manager with Wallace Montgomery, the consultant leading the city’s CDP efforts.

The state’s review of the CDP includes a Feb. 23 virtual meeting, at which various state agencies, including the Office of State Planning, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Department of Transportation, the Delaware State Housing Authority and the State Historic Preservation Office, will provide initial verbal comments.

Official written comments from the state review, as well as comments from the governments of Sussex County and neighboring jurisdictions, will be delivered to the city in mid- to late March.

At that time, the Planning Commission will address the recommendations, revise the CDP as necessary, hold a public hearing to receive additional comment and forward the recommended draft for adoption to the Board of Commissioners, which will hold its own public hearing. It is anticipated that the board will receive the CDP in April or May.

More than 400 written comments were received from Planning Commission members, commissioners and the public prior to submission for PLUS review.

“We wanted to get comments earlier in the process, so that they could be incorporated into the draft that was submitted to PLUS,” Ms. Good said. “The Feb. 17 meeting will allow the city to receive additional comments before the PLUS meeting on Feb. 23. If any major items arise, they can be addressed at the Feb. 23 meeting. We still will be making changes to the CDP draft.”