By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO – Excitement continues to “build” in the town of Millsboro.

According to the state Office of State Planning Coordination, Millsboro led the way in 2019 in the number of residential building permits issued Downstate, the best among 44 towns and cities in Kent and Sussex counties.

Annexation past, present and future, ongoing buildout of residential communities and a pro-development municipal government have the town flashing its “We’re No. 1 sign.”

“It’s exciting,” says Millsboro Town Manager Sheldon Hudson.

The Office of State Planning Coordination began collecting comprehensive development information from across the state in 2008.

That data, obtained from 60 local jurisdictions in all three counties in Delaware, assists in the tracking of development status and trends in the state.

“Historically, at least the last couple years, we’ve been 200-plus for building permits. We had 244 in 2019, which is last year the Office of State Planning Coordination is reporting out,” said Mr. Hudson.

Last year, Millsboro had an estimated 250 building permits.

Millsboro prides itself as being “pro-business and pro-family,” offering a “Convenience of a City with the Charm of a Town” motto.

“We have done surveys and polls with the residents to see what exactly they are needing – a little commonsense approach here,” said Millsboro Mayor Michelle Truitt.

“I certainly believe in my career that we will see Millsboro be the next Salisbury or Dover on the Delmarva Peninsula,” said Mr. Hudson. “I know that’s a pretty bold statement, but I absolutely see that becoming a reality, which is pretty exciting.”

This scenario, Mr. Hudson said, allows residents to remain closer at home, reducing the need for frequent trips to larger areas such as Salisbury, Maryland; Dover; and the coastal beach area.

“The ironic thing — the counter-intuitive thing — is it can actually help with the traffic situation, which sometimes at first makes people scratch their heads. If you get people staying in Millsboro instead of going Route 24 to Rehoboth, it will help,” said Mr. Hudson.

Millsboro’s current population, based on the town’s planning consultant AECOM and building permit data, is estimated at or just above 7,000 residents. In a conservative estimate, Mr. Hudson says the town is probably averaging about 500 new residents a year.

That estimate, using 2.5 people per household, is expected to continue. Using the U.S. Census tabulation of an average of 2.9 persons per household, the town’s residential growth could be even greater.

“I would say next year we are at 7,500, then 8,000 ... I think once you go out beyond a few years, it gets quite a bit fuzzier, because there can be changes in the national economy, the local economy,” Mr. Hudson said.

In comparison, the U.S. Census lists Millsboro’s population at 1,073 in 1970, 1,643 in 1990 and 3,877 in 2010. Millsboro’s listed square miles is 6.08, which does not include recent annexations.

Millsboro and Sussex County are well positioned for growth, Mr. Hudson said.

“I’m not aware of any storm clouds relative to changing the way we handle our property taxes and things of that nature. I don’t see any clouds that would disrupt this general growth trend and trajectory. I think we’ve got a solid council, a solid staff that are pro-growth, pro economic development,” Mr. Hudson said. “I think growth begets growth. Now that we are attracting more retail, that in turn attracts more residential growth, especially with more work from home becoming more the norm or more accepted.”

According to Office of State Planning Coordination, over the six-year period spanning 2014-19, the most residential building permit activity was in Middletown (1,485) and Wilmington (1,845) in New Castle County, Smyrna (749) and Dover (1,173) in Kent County, and Millsboro (1,111) and Millville (856) in Sussex County.

Technically, Dover had more building permits in the timeframe than Millsboro, but in recent years Millsboro has had far more. Millsboro had nearly 400 permits in 2018-19 while Dover was around 250.

“Statewide, for the most recent year available we were second out of the 57,” Mr. Hudson said. “Middletown was the only one ahead of us. Their population is over 20,000. So if you take out cities over 20,000, we’re clearly in first.”

For planning and engineering services, Millsboro utilizes the services of AECOM and Duffield Associates.

AECOM has worked with the town in compiling its two most recent comprehensive plans.

“We’ve been working closely with Millsboro. We’re almost staff, if you will,” said Kyle Gulbronson, AECOM branch manager. “Millsboro just seems to be a great location. It’s close enough to the beach; you can run over there, and it’s far enough away that home prices are reasonable.”

Elbow room for growth

Millsboro corporate limits are a work in progress. Annexation has extended the boundaries in basically all directions.

Growth is reflected in the town’s new comprehensive plan. “We expanded our projected growth area and future growth area. Also, we added a secondary annexation area, which goes beyond - a second ring,” Mr. Hudson said. “It’s quite a bit more expansive, especially to north and west.”

Southerly annexation along U.S. 113 several years ago brought the new Ashley HomeStore into town limits.

Delmarva Power & Light, while not yet contiguous to the town border, is hoping to be annexed at some point, and is already seeking town sewer and water service through pre-annexation.

To the far north, Patriots Bluff, approximately 39-plus acres annexed off southbound U.S. 113, is earmarked for a medical complex in TidalHealth’s health care network.

Mr. Hudson said several other potential annexations are in the pipeline, most in the vicinity of Betts Pond.

And there are others “informally” expressing interest, Mr. Hudson said.

Future growth looms along Hardscrabble Road from US 113. The town owns substantial lands there, including property known locally as the White Farm. That area is the site for a new water tower under construction. A new water plant is proposed there, and it’s “likely where we’re going to put a new sewer plant,” Mr. Hudson said.

More than Plantation Lakes

On Millsboro’s western and north side is Plantation Lakes, a golfing/residential community that has been growing since its inception in 2006.

Planation Lakes by Lennar is approved for 2,500 units and the current estimated buildout is 1,100 homes, said Mr. Hudson, who is among the Plantation Lakes homeowners.

While not rivaling Plantation Lakes in numbers, there are many existing residential developments and several others in the works. That includes, among others:

• Ryan Homes at Westtown Village,

• Site work is underway for Alderleaf Meadows, a new development behind Food Lion earmarked for 150 single-family homes,

• St. Helen’s Crossing, a townhouse development on Monroe Street in its final stages.

• Foster Commons, a residential community planned on Old Landing Road.

“We’re trying to make sure that we cater to all kinds of families and not just on a particular demographic,” said Mayor Truitt. “We have been looking at making sure we have different kinds of housing.”

“It’s important for the town that we have our eggs in multiple baskets. It’s important to have growth on both sides of US 113,” said Mr. Hudson. “When one entity holds most or all of the cards, it puts the municipality in a defensive position versus allowing it to be in the driver’s seat.”

Business, commercial development

As Millsboro’s residential numbers grow, so has commercial and business development.

The DuPont Boulevard highway commercial district is bustling. On deck to join the list in the coming weeks or months is a new Grotto Pizza sports bar and Texas Roadhouse, side by side along US 113 in Peninsula Crossing. Not far away is an Avid Hotel nearing competition.

“We have been lucky that businesses want to locate in Millsboro,” Mayor Truitt said. “We have tried to work with businesses and streamline our process.”

Patriots Bluff development, with TidalHealth’s ambulatory component, is expected to bolster the local economy and employment picture – and potentially enhance the town’s residential growth.

“We can reasonably assume hundreds of jobs, many of which are high-skilled jobs, and there will be people that want to live where they work,” said Mr. Hudson.

“We’re looking at bringing in a lot of new jobs with TidalHealth coming to Millsboro. I know health care is a big plus,” said Mayor Truitt. “I think that will be a big win for Millsboro as well.”

In tune with infrastructure

With growth, comes infrastructure needs.

Town staff includes Public Works Director Kenny Niblett and Town Engineer Carrie Kruger, who previously worked with the town as a project manager with Duffield Associates.

“We’re realistic that staying ahead of the curve when you are growing the way we are is the challenge. But we certainly we want to stay on the ball and make sure we are at least maintaining pace with the growth,” said Mr. Hudson. “The town has made and plans on making more substantial infrastructure investments, especially on the wastewater as well as water side — millions of dollars’ worth of investments.”

A new water tower is expected to be in operation this summer. The town is enhancing its water plant at Plantation Lakes.

“We do have a strategic plan,” said Mayor Truitt. “We’re looking at a wastewater treatment plant so that we can handle the needs that the residents and businesses alike would have. I also want to use a commonsense approach. We have to look at how much more we can grow and if we need to expand our infrastructure.”

“They’ve been keeping up with things,” Mr. Gulbronson said. “So far, we’ve been able to stay ahead. It is a balancing game.”

“Thankfully the growth that we have been seeing is allowing us to make those investments,” Mr. Hudson. “Sometimes folks have to step back and see the big picture from the standpoint that growth can actually help to fund the investments you need to address not only future challenges but current challenges. It’s not about putting money in the coffers. It is about taking revenue and reinvesting it. They just want to know the money is used efficiently and effectively, and most are willing to contribute fair share.”

The town is proactive in addressing aging infrastructure through routine replacement, so the town is “not reacting or dealing with things on an emergency basis,” Mr. Hudson said.

“My philosophy has been is ‘if you are not growing, you are dying.’ There are no guarantees in life but tomorrow let’s ensure that will have the funds we need to make these strategic investments,” Mr. Hudson said.

The crystal ball

Looming several years down the road is the North Millsboro Bypass, a major Delaware Department of Transportation project is designed to reduce traffic congestion. More immediate DelDOT projects are geared to address other traffic flow and backup issues mostly at U.S. 113 and Del. 24.

Downtown, Millsboro has undertaken the Main Street Project, which includes new sidewalks, decorative pavers over several blocks that were preceded by infrastructure upgrades. DelDOT is slated to resurface Main Street and Washington Street, the two downtown Del. 24 arteries ,this year once the town’s Main Street Project is completed.

The town also is undertaking an enhancement project on State Street.

Recruiting trail

As the town grows, local leaders are looking for more commercial opportunities, requests that have stemmed from survey polls.

“I talk to lots of people and I want them to tell me what services and amenities they are looking for in the town,” said Mayor Truitt.

Recruitment does not include Walmart.

“With regard to Walmart specifically, there are a variety of opinions on Walmart. The town has not actively recruited them based on mixed feedback,” Mr. Hudson said.

There have been efforts to recruit Target. However, feedback the town has received is that Millsboro’s small urban status is not aligned with Target’s larger urban/college area preference model.

“We kind of have shifted focus to smaller department stores,” Mr. Hudson said.

Additional grocery options, such as Safeway, ACME and natural vendors like Trader Joe’s are requests, as is family entertainment.

“We have several that are keeping their eye on us. We just have to grow a little bit more for them to put us on their direct radar,” Mayor Truitt said. “We have several that we have contacted. I talk to a lot of people … to see what we can bring to town.”

Mr. Hudson says the town’s monthly council agenda reflects growth and the associated governmental decisions.

“Even when you look at our agenda compared to other towns – it’s a five-page agenda. Now granted, we have one meeting a month, so we have to squeeze a lot in,” Mr. Hudson said. “But there is just a lot going on. It’s good.”