7/19/2008
County Land Use has found the exploratory plan for an extensive makeover of Barley Mill Plaza to be unacceptable - Delaforum.com

The county Department of Land Use has found the exploratory plan for an extensive makeover of Barley Mill Plaza to be unacceptable.

In a letter to Apex Engineering, planner Antoni Sekowski referred to objections voiced at a recent public hearing, but did not give specific reasons for the rejection. The objections included incompatibility with nearby communities, and traffic and drainage issues. The rejection does not kill the proposal. Sekowski noted that a revised plan may be submitted and, elsewhere in the letter, referred to the plan "proceed[ing] through the review process." Stoltz Realty Partners wants to rebuild the former Du Pont Co. office complex to include 1.4 million square feet of retail area, 657,000 square feet of commercial office space and 700 residential units.

County Councilman Robert Weiner made the letter public on July 18. In doing so, he said that George Haggerty, one of two acting general managers of the department, "was very complimentary ... noting that our comments were, for the most part, relevant and within the context of applicable rules and regulations." Sekowski's letter was dated July 8 but, despite extensive public interest in the project, the department did not disclose the rejection. Weiner said the Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Stoltz organization "will submit a new plan which may not be significantly distinguishable from the [rejected] plan."

Delaforum has been authoritatively advised that the Ursuline Academy athletic field adjacent to the former office complex is not included in Stoltz's proposed redevelopment.

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