3/18/2009
Two Stoltz plans fail to clear next hurdle; receive conditional approval - Community News

Two Stoltz plans clear first hurdle [incorrect headline]

By Jesse Chadderdon
Community News
Posted Mar 18, 2009 @ 10:33 AM
Last update Mar 18, 2009 @ 12:14 PM

Wilmington, Del. —
Two Stoltz plans proposed for Greenville have a green light to move into the next phase of New Castle County's land use development review process, where they will face more scrutiny before shovels hit the dirt. [Factually incorrect]

The county sent letters to the Bala Cynwyd, Pa. based developer Tuesday saying the exploratory plans for Barley Mill Plaza and Greenville Center meet technical aspects of the county's Unified Development Code. Next, Stoltz must submit detailed engineering plans, a storm water management plan, and address traffic issues with the state and county.

The Barley Mill plan calls for a 2.9-million-square-foot mixed-use center along Rt. 141 with residential, office space and retail shops. The Greenville Center plan would include a 12-story tower with residential, office and retail.

"We are very pleased that both the Barley Mill Plaza and Greenville Center plans have been approved," said Brad Coburn, chief operating officer for Stoltz. "We recognize we have a good deal of work ahead of us before these projects are complete, and expect to continue to work with New Castle County and the community to build the best projects possible."

Stoltz will still have to convince land use officials that the plans fit within the character of the surrounding community and prove that area roads can handle whatever additional traffic the projects will generate, according to Dave Culver, general manager of the county's Department of Land Use.

Coburn said Stoltz would continue its dialogue with Citizens of Responsible Growth, a coalition of civic leaders formed last year to pursue scaled back versions of the proposed plans. Traffic and community character are the two issues that have highlighted CRG's opposition to the projects in their current forms, said founding member Mark Chura.

"We look for clarity as to how the local road system could ever hope to handle a regional commercial and office hub that lies in the midst of single family developments and a nationally recognized scenic corridor," he said in a statement. "We believe that the out of state traffic that will be generated by these projects as approved will diminish if not destroy the community character."

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