Location
Most Planning Board Hearings are held in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Gilliam Building at 77 Reads Way
Directions to Reads Way

Time limitations will be imposed on speakers. Information on all applications is available for public review in the Land Use Department, New Castle County Government Center, 87 Reads Way, Corporate Commons, New Castle, DE, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday

PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING
TIME LIMITS FOR SPEAKERS &
STANDARDS FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS - CLICK HERE TO VIEW

An overview of the development process is available on the Development and Zoning Activity page on the Department of Land Use website. The booklet briefly describes the process for consideration of major and minor plans, the role of the Comprehensive Plan in the development process and other valuable information. To visit the Department of Land Use website, go to www.nccdelu.org.

When May I Direct My Comments to the Board?
The purpose of Planning Board and Land Use Department hearings is to compile a record of relevant information. Following the reading of each agenda item, the applicant and their representatives will make a presentation not to exceed a total of 15 minutes. Planning Board members may ask questions of the applicant at this time. The public will then be invited to speak in the following order: 1) those who wish to speak in favor of the application, 2) those who wish to speak in opposition, and 3) those who wish to offer general comments. So that everyone has an opportunity to be heard, all speakers are limited to 5 minutes and are encouraged to avoid repetition. Any speaker may ask the Board to hold the record open for submittal of written testimony if the time limit is not sufficient for their needs. If a request is made to keep the record open, the Board must then approve a motion to keep the record open to a specific date and time. Speakers are not permitted to debate the applicant. At the close of public comments, the applicant is given an opportunity to make rebuttal comments and may choose to address issues raised by the public.

Deed Restriction Change (D)
In order for New Castle County to consider a change to deed restrictions, the County must be a party to the original restrictions. The community deed restrictions with which most people are familiar in which limitations are placed on things such as fencing, running a home business, etc., are not restrictions to which New Castle County is a party and we cannot amend them or enforce them. For those restrictions to which we are a party, the responsibility of the Planning Board is to make a recommendation to County Council. In determining whether the deed restriction change application should be recommended for approval, the Planning Board must determine if the change is in the best interests of the parties to the restrictions and is consistent with the planning goals of the County, pursuant to Section 40.31.130 of the Unified Development Code (UDC).

The Planning Board will listen to testimony during the public hearing and make its recommendation at a separate business meeting scheduled for later in the month. The Department of Land Use also evaluates the deed restriction change request and presents its findings and recommendation to the Planning Board at the business meeting. County Council, upon receipt of the recommendations from both the Department and Planning Board will schedule a public hearing and render a decision.

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