Groups again split over plans by Stoltz - News Journal

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Groups again split over plans by Stoltz

Familiar territory for Pa. developer

Jan. 18, 2012 Written by ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal

New Castle County Council heard two starkly different views from community groups Tuesday about a developer's plan to build a bank at Del. 141 and Del. 100 in Greenville.

In order to build the bank at 20 Montchanin Road, Stoltz Real Estate Partners needs a 43-year-old set of deed restrictions that forbid any new construction on the property to be removed. In exchange, Stoltz has proposed a new set of deed restrictions that offer other protections.

The project is Stoltz's fourth in the G

Brandywine Country Club sold to real estate developer - News Journal

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Brandywine Country Club sold to real estate developer

Maureen Milford and Jeff Montgomery The News Journal 1/18/12

Real estate developer Louis Capano has signed an agreement to buy the 111-acre Brandywine Country Club property, one of the last large open spaces remaining in northern Delaware's Brandywine Hundred.

Louis Capano III said his company, which signed the agreement with the club's board on Friday, has no immediate plans for the property located between Concord Pike (U.S. 202) and Shipley Road, just south of Concord Mall. The club, which has faced significant financial difficulties in recent years, will lease back the property for $1 a year for three years, Capano said. He

Possible Democrat & Republican challengers for Clark are on the horizon; Weiner: Clark has high negatives - News Journal

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Republican Councilman Bob Weiner said it would be difficult for a Republican to beat Clark, but it's not impossible.

"It would help if there was a tough Democratic primary for Paul Clark," Weiner said. "But he has some negatives due to the perception that he tends to side with developers over the civic community."

Observers and Weiner said Kovach's victory over Sheldon was a clear referendum on which candidate would be the better watchdog over Clark and potential conflicts with land developers represented by Scott.

NCCo executive remains without primary challenger

County Administration planning no tax hike: Weiner: Clark policies weighted too heavily in favor of developers - News Journal

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

"Never in my 20 years on council has a county executive seeking election asked to address the council twice," said Bob Weiner, one of three Republicans on the 13-member council. "This speech was an obvious election-year ploy that no one in recent memory has ever employed."

Clark also said "a more efficient development review process" is coming, a notion that made Weiner cringe. Weiner thinks the Clark administration's policies are weighted too heavily toward developers already.

"I'm sure applicants will get through the new approval process even more quickly than they do now," Weiner said.

NCCo growth plan review extended after objections that the public needs more details - News Journal

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NCCo growth plan review extended
Land-use map complaints lead to longer public comment period
Jan. 9, 2012
Written by MELISSA NANN BURKE

The community has about three more weeks to comment on the proposed update to New Castle County’s Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint that would guide land-use decisions in the county for years to come.

At a hearing on the draft document last week, county planners voted to extend the period for public comment by 30 days after complaints that GIS maps affiliated with the plan arrived too late in the process to allow for sufficient review. The new deadline is 4 p.m. Feb. 2.&nb

Public must be part of discussions on Glasgow skate park - by Councilman Bob Weiner - News Journal Op

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Public must be part of discussions on Glasgow skate park

Jan. 1, 2012 Written by ROBERT S. WEINER OP ED News Journal

The Delaware Freedom of Information Act protects the public's right to participate in New Castle County Council's deliberations regarding skate park liability and fiscal concerns. The Clark Administration appears to want to preclude the public from discussion of the ramifications of this $750,000 public expenditure.

When the concept of a county-owned skateboard park was proposed in 2002, I joined other county officials in expressing concern that careful research and planning was needed before a skateboard park ope

Group sues county over Barley Mill vote; Councilman Bob Weiner said the group's case is "legally correct." - News Journal

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Councilman Bob Weiner said the group's case is "legally correct."

Councilman Bob Weiner, who was one of seven members who voted to rezone the property, said the group has a good case.

"They are legally correct. It's not a novel position; it's an argument that I made early on myself," Weiner said. "But the county attorney and the Paul Clark administration gave the council legal advice that said the position had no validity, so I was forced into making a decision based on the lesser of two evils, which was the compromise plan."

Group sues county over Barley Mill vote
Save Our Count

NCCo upgrades online proposed comp plan maps; Councilman, residents still concerned over lack of time - News Journal

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

"The new maps are hardly user-friendly for the average citizen who is trying to check for zoning designations that could be changing for the next 10 years," Weiner said. "There should be a very careful explanation of what all the changes mean as well."

NCCo upgrades online maps

Dec. 27, 2011 Written by ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal

The county has added more detailed maps to its website of proposed changes to the 2012 Comprehensive Development Plan update, but some residents and a council member say its not enough to inform people about the new plan.

Earlier this month, Councilman Bob Weiner and a few civic lead

Skate Park: Clark Administration fails to consider costs of defending against potential million dollar lawsuits; guards posted after Weiner expressed concerns - News Journal

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Skaters must wait a little longer to use park
Guards now posted until official opening

Dec. 24, 2011 + 7 Comments Written by ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal

The fencing around the nearly completed Glasgow Skatepark is adorned with "no trespassing" signs.

But the concrete bowls, steps and ramps have been too inviting for the impatient skateboarders, BMX bicycle riders and people on scooters to resist.

For nearly a month, they have torn down the signs, scaled the fences and used the park. On Thursday, 150 people were there, according to Jon Husband, a manager in New Castle

News Journal supports Councilman Weiner's complaint that Clark Administration is not providing public with readable Comp Plan Zoning Maps.

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

New planning maps leave residents squinting
Dec. 12, 2011 News Journal “Our View”

As GPS technology is to drivers in new territories, so, too, are clearly demarcated zoning maps for New Castle County landowners.

On the heels of the divisive Barley Mill Plaza rezoning controversy, it's unfortunate that the NCCo Land Use Department missed this point.

Once approved, the maps will provide communities with a sense of the impact of new roads, lights and the economic development balance between industrial parks and pure green acreage as they affect future property values.

But residents have trouble reading them, includin

Councilman Bob Weiner: County Comp Plan maps are so small that potential zoning changes in specific neighborhoods are indetectible - News Journal

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Updated growth map fails to satisfy
Criticism stands with zoom feature
Dec. 11, 2011 Written by ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal

New Castle County has added more precise online maps of proposed changes to the 2012 Comprehensive Development Plan update, but some residents and a council member aren't satisfied.

The Comprehensive Development Plan will guide the county government's land-use decisions during the next 10 years. It was last updated in 2007. A public hearing on the changes proposed for the 2012 plan is scheduled for Jan. 3 before the county Planning Board.

Councilman Bob Weiner and several residents complained that the maps th

Councilman Weiner's 1998 & 2002 'light pollution' legislation not being enforced by County Land Use Dept - News Journal

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Councilman Bob Weiner said the language about the property line was part of a light-pollution addition to the code made a decade ago designed to keep lights from athletic fields from bothering nearby homeowners. He thinks Culver and Danner are not interpreting the code correctly.

"It's my recollection that the intent of the legislation is that the property line was supposed to be applied vertically, not just along the property line on the ground," Weiner says. "Otherwise it would not have accomplished the purpose we intended if there was something blocking the light from hitting the ground."

Blinded by Red Lion Christian's football lights
For

NCCo planners back deed change for Stoltz; Developer intends to build bank on Greenville property - News Journal

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

NCCo planners back deed change for Stoltz
Developer intends to build bank on Greenville property

ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal Nov. 16, 2011

Already on the 20-acre property at 20 Montchanin Road is this 135,000-square-foot office building, which was originally the headquarters of the Columbia Gas Co. More recently, it was an MBNA office building. / NEWS JOURNAL FILE

The New Castle County Planning Board and Land Use Department will recommend that County Council remove a 42-year-old deed restriction from a Greenville property so Stoltz Real Estate Partners can build a bank there, officials said Tuesday.

PAL Board director & chairman fired; Weiner to new board: Make good on promises before you get any more bailout tax dollars

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

PAL's top leaders to be replaced after audit
NCCo Council approves $200,000 for two centers
Nov. 9, 2011 Written by ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal

The executive director and chairman of the board of the Police Athletic League of Delaware no longer hold those positions and their replacements will be installed at a special meeting next week, PAL officials said Tuesday.

The departures of Executive Director Jim Riggs and board Chairman Vince D'Anna came sometime after a News Journal story Saturday detailed a blistering report of the agency by the New Castle County auditor, and before Tuesday night's vote by County Council to gi

PAL center funds up for vote;Cash-strapped facilities come under fire after critical audit - News Journal

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

PAL center funds up for vote
Cash-strapped facilities come under fire after critical audit

New Castle County Council will vote on a proposal to give two Police Athletic League centers, including the one in Hockessin, more than $200,000.
Councilman Bob Weiner thinks NCCo should take over until a new board is installed.

The New Castle County Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal by County Executive Paul Clark's administration to give two strapped Police Athletic League centers more than $200,000 during a two-year period beginning in July.

The vote was complicated this week when county auditor Bob Wasserbach relea

Claymont library design unveiled - www.delaforum.com

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Claymont library design unveiled

Claymont will get a new public library described as elegant but not extravagant.

Marcus Henry, general manager of the county Department of Community Services, said the facility is expected to open in the spring of 2013.

He told a County Council committee that the final cost has not been determined, but that it should come in less than the $9.5 million authorization. That amount, which includes equipping the library, will be a combination of county and state capital appropriations and donations from the community and other private sources. Construction cost, he added, will be in the range of $6.5 million to $7 million.

The 1

Barley Mill plan tabled; Residents pack meeting on proposed shopping complex - News Journal

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Barley Mill plan tabled
Residents pack meeting on proposed shopping complex

Oct. 12, 2011 News Journal - Adam Taylor

New Castle County Council voted early this morning to table a plan to redevelop the Barley Mill Plaza office complex into a new office and commercial center that would include a 450,000-square-foot shopping center.

The vote lengthens a three-year effort by Pennsylvania-based Stoltz Real Estate Partners to move forward with its plans, which were scaled back by 1.2 million square feet along the way in an effort to gain the community's support.

The vote came after an unusual attempt to amend the r

Divisive Barley Mill rezoning up for vote; If request is denied, developer may build initial, bigger complex - News Journal

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Councilman Bob Weiner, who represents most of the neighborhoods around Barley Mill, said it's the most divisive issue he's seen in his 15 years in office.

"I've heard from dozens of people on both sides, and I've never received so many emails split between the two divergent points of view," Weiner said.

Weiner would not say how he intends to vote tonight.

Divisive Barley Mill rezoning up for vote

Oct. 11, 2011 ADAM TAYLOR The News Journal

New Castle County Council is scheduled to decide tonight whether to rezone 40 percent of

Stoltz building plan will tarnish heritage; Developer wants restriction lifted - News Journal

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Stoltz building plan will tarnish heritage
Developer wants restriction lifted
Sep. 5, 2011 Written by CHAD LIVENGOOD The News Journal

IF YOU GO
WHAT: New Castle Planning Board meeting
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Multipurpose Room, Gilliam Building, 77 Reads Way, New Castle Corporate Commons

Construction of a 6,000-square-foot, one-story building typically doesn't draw a lot of criticism from residents in New Castle County.

But that's likely to happen Tuesday during a county Planning Board hearing on Stoltz Real Estate Partners' plan to construct a

Councilman Weiner organizes community meeting with Nemours Foundation to save the historic Murphy House - News Journal

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

$50K offered to move 1840s building
A move would cost more than that; renovations estimated at $885K-$1.2M

Aug. 29, 2011 Written by ROBIN BROWN The News Journal

The Nemours Foundation, which bought the Murphy House for $10 in 2008 from the state, last year proposed razing it.

In what community members are calling a "stay of execution," the Nemours Foundation has delayed its plan to raze the Murphy House , an 1840s farmhouse across Rockland Road from the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

The foundation now is offering $50,000 toward the building's move to another location, with an application deadline of Oc