Delmar Council approves business park concept plan during March meeting

The Delmar Mayor and Council of Delaware meeting was held last Monday at Delmar Town Hall. Topics discussed during the meeting included police reports, discussion about a potential roundabout or light installation, and a planning and zoning presentation. 

Mayor Tom Bauer called Rep. Tim Dukes to speak on a program being worked on regarding state route 54. According to Dukes, who has been speaking with DelDot, there are three options for the road, the first being a four way stop, the second being a traffic light, and the third option being a roundabout, which would take 5-10 years to implement. While more discussion is planned in order to decide, Dukes recommends a light be installed over the other options, which would take only a max of approximately 24 months to complete. 

During his police report, Chief Ivan Barkley informed the council that the School Resource Officer has been out for three weeks due to medical needs, but they have had officers patrol the area at least twice a day during that time. Barkley also mentioned an attempted burglary at the Delmar vape shop, though it was unsuccessful and nobody was harmed nor was property damaged.

Shown is the concept plan for the planned business park in Delmar. Photo by Carson Williamson

Councilmember Mike McClure provided a report for the Parks and Recreation Commission, which is in the process of planning for this year’s New Years celebration. A cleanup day in the town’s three parks is scheduled for April 26 starting at 1 p.m. in Star Street Park, with a rain date of April 27. The commission is also looking at bringing back a town-wide yard sale prior to the town’s annual, trash pickup in May.

During the planning and zoning portion of the meeting, a presentation given by Bret Davis and Travis Martin on behalf of Davis Strategic, who put together a concept plan for a Delmar business park. The park would cover 75 acres of space and comprises four parcels, and will be located between Sussex Highway and Old Stage Road. According to Davis, while there is a sizable portion of the plan dedicated to warehouse space, other portions of it are intended for businesses to utilize. 

Also included within the concept plan was a public transportation terminal and loading/unloading area, roads constructed to help relieve traffic issues caused by the project, and as Davis is owner of Simple Fiber LLC, there are plans to both provide fiber internet to the area, and then to the rest of Delmar over time. After some brief back and forth regarding potential safety concerns of the public transportation terminal near a potential elementary school, the presentation finished. The council approved the conceptual plan. 

The next meeting will be held on April 7. For more information and to stay up on the latest town news and events, check out the town of Delmar website at www.townofdelmar.us.