New apartment complex near Georgetown Plaza stalled by Town Council

By Glenn Rolfe
Posted 5/26/22

GEORGETOWN — Traffic looms as a potential roadblock to a developer’s downzoning request that could bring apartments to property along East Trap Pond Road.

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New apartment complex near Georgetown Plaza stalled by Town Council

Posted

GEORGETOWN — Traffic looms as a potential roadblock to a developer’s downzoning request that could bring apartments to property along East Trap Pond Road.

Georgetown Plaza Associates II LLC is seeking to downsize zoning from neighborhood business district/professional business district to multifamily residential district for a 6-acre parcel.

However, Town Council members Sue Barlow, Angela Townsend and Penuel Barrett opposed the request at a Tuesday meeting, following presentations by attorney Peter Yingst and Angela Tsionas of Tsionas Management, owner of the nearby Georgetown Plaza shopping center.

Councilwoman Christina Diaz-Malone and Mayor Bill West favored the proposal.

The call for rezoning stemmed from Councilman Barrett’s request May 9 that a traffic study be done prior to council considering ordinance adoption for the property, named The Ponds, a proposed 72-unit apartment complex.

“My biggest issue with the traffic part, being in the fire department, during the day, there is tons of traffic out there. When Sussex Tech (High School) lets out, it’s really crazy. Everyone is moving here,” he said. “Well, guess what? The roads are staying the same. It takes you forever just to get to Millsboro now.”

After the 3-2 vote Tuesday, Mayor West’s poll of council members revealed that all would reconsider the request pending the developer’s submission for a traffic study.

Mr. Yingst said the developer would proceed down that road, noting that downsizing to multifamily residential will result in less traffic than what is presently allowed. Average daily trips for the business zone would be nearly 1,200, with 391 for multifamily residential, he said.

“Actually, a reduction in traffic from what is permitted on that site right now,” Mr. Yingst said. “Right now, (the zoning) is for business park. The comprehensive plan and future land-use map have it designated as multifamily residential. This is a downzoning to meet what the future land-use map says.”

Mayor West added, “We’re here tonight for just the zoning change. If we leave the zoning the way it is right now, they can build bigger and more than what they are asking for. … It (multifamily residential) is a zoning that has been put in the comprehensive plan. How can we sit here and say we approved the comprehensive plan and what we wanted these plots to be, commercial or residential, and now all of a sudden come in here and say, ‘We don’t like it. We’re going to turn it down’?”

Councilman Barrett replied that he’s not opposed to the complex.

“The only thing I asked (for) was a traffic study in the area,” he said. “I’m not disagreeing with the project. But enough is enough with this traffic. I just want them to have a plan (with the Department of Transportation).”

Town manager Eugene Dvornick said that, in general, the “DelDOT review is triggered once (a developer) knows what they want to do on the site, not when it is zoned.”

Furthermore, several council members said that traffic in the area has been compounded by DelDOT’s closure of a crossover, which is funneling traffic into Georgetown Plaza.

Ms. Tsionas, whose Tsionas Management oversees numerous ventures, including the Georgetown Plaza and the Milford Plaza, said the proposed multifamily community would mirror Tsionas’ housing developments in New Castle County.

“We own, operate and maintain everything,” she said. “I’ve done a lot in New Castle County. I have left a mark, so I’d like to leave a mark in Sussex County.”

Mayor West expressed disappointment in council’s rejection.

“It’s a shame because we’ve just told developers and all (that) Georgetown is closed for business,” he said.

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