11/10/2008
Stoltz to host open house on its NCCo development plans - Community News

By Jesse Chadderdon and Adam Zewe
Community News
Posted Nov 10, 2008 @ 1225 PM
Last update Nov 11, 2008 @ 0843 AM

Wilmington, Del. — .A developer proposing four major plans along the Concord Pike and the S.R. 141 corridor will host an open house for residents Wednesday, Nov. 19.

The Stoltz Real Estate Partners’ largest plans call for a 2.9 million-square-foot mixed-use village at the DuPont Barley Mill Plaza site and a 364,000-square-foot town center at the southwest corner of Concord Pike and Beaver Valley Roads. The other plans include a 133,000-square-foot expansion of Greenville Center, which would include a 12-story residential tower and a 138,000-square-foot expansion of the Montchanin Corporate Center – on the former Columbia Gas site.

The proposals have caused a major outcry from residents and civic leaders who say collectively the proposals will cause gridlock in a heavily traveled corridor. In response, Stoltz has said it is willing to scale back its plans in exchange for community support.

Among the modifications, Stoltz is proposing to reduce the square footage of its Barley Mill Plaza plan, lower the building heights in its Greenville Center plan and eliminate the residential component from its Shops at Brandywine Valley plan.

In return, the community is asked to support two rezonings, a deed restriction amendment, a scenic corridor variance and petition government officials to approve the plans as quickly as possible.

STOLTZ OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5-9 p.m.
20 Montchanin Road (former Columbia Gas/MBNA offices)

Stoltz Spokesman Tom Gailey said both versions of the plans will be on display at the open house, with additional meetings also scheduled with the Kennett Pike Association (KPA) and the Council of Civic Organizations of Brandywine Hundred (CCOBH).

“We floated the initial concepts and then talked with the community and made some changes, and then additionally made this alternative proposal to the KPA,” Gailey said. “It’s all part of the dialogue of trying to bring sound projects and economic development to the county.”

CCOBH President Charles Landry said he looked forward to continuing the dialogue with Stoltz, but said no decisions on whether to support the alternative proposals were forthcoming any time soon.

“Until we get the data on the impact these plans will have on traffic, we really can’t agree to anything,” he said.

Landry said the community was hopeful it could convince the state to undertake a regional traffic study, although initial requests to the Department of Transportation have not been approved. Traffic studies on individual proposals generally happen later in the Land Use Department review process

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