DOVER PLANNING COMMISSION
Monthly Meeting
January 14, 1964
MINUTES
Meeting called to order at 8:10 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Chairman David McCue, Carleton Walls, E. W. Buchanan, Francis Turner, and Mr. H. V. Holloway.
Also present were G. P. Ward, City Manager; James Somerville Assist City Manager; City of Dover Superintendent of Public Works, City of Dover Building Inspector, Jack T. Roe; A. W. Joseph, City Engineer; Mr. Pert Willey, and Mr. Walter Ellis.
A motion was made by Mr. Buchanan seconded by Mr. Walls to accept the minutes of last month’s meeting.
BILL FROM MR. HESSLER RE: WOODCREST
Chairman McCue presented an invoice from Mr. Bernard Hessler, Attorney, in the amount of $200.00 for services rendered concerning research and subsequent presentation to Council of arguments opposing proposed zoning of Woodcrest development. A motion was made by Mr. Buchanan, seconded by Mr. Holmes to approve said invoice.
DOVER HOUSING AUTHORITY
Chairman McCue announced that the meeting with Mr. Homsey and the Dover Housing Authority was canceled due to the weather. Mr. Moore of the University of Delaware was also unable to make this meeting. The Commission will hold a special meeting on the 20th of January to attempt to approve the site plans for the Dover Housing Authority Mifflin Tract.
DOVER BUS CENTER
The site plan for the dover Travel Center was discussed. The plan was reviewed by several agencies including University of Delaware Consultants, the city Administration and the Planning Section of the State Highway Department.
Review comments are outlined below with the request to the developer that an attempt be made to adjust the plans to these considerations:
1. Inadvisable location - should be a U. S. Rt. 13.
2. Building and driveways designed to make maximum use of State of Town highways. Terminal should have its own driveways directly off highway
3. No buses should travel on light residential streets.
4. No proposal for extending Water Street or constructing Water Street bridge in effect at this time, although the bridge has been approved.
5. If frontage road is build, there must be no entry from U.S. Rt. 113 southbound at the intersection of Court Street to Miller Road, and the fully curbed and constructed to specifications at developers expense.
7. Bay Road will cease to be a through highway upon completion of other highways. Within a few years its major function then will be that of communications to the Air Base.
8. The Start of a commercial strip on U.S. Rt. 113 southward should be avoided. It is off center of city locations. No development to support it.
9. Parking Lot:
a. No internal circulation.
b. Only one entrance via bus driveway through taxi and car unloading and pickup area.
c. Parking spaces fouled by taxi and car unloading and pickup area.
d. Taxis and cars bound for pickup and unloading must exit through parking lot.
10. DRIVEWAYS:
Entrance on radius against police. 160 foot entrance is 90' to long. Policy states no entrances on radius, 50' maximum driveway openings.
11. Drawing shows curbs within three feet of right of way line.
12. The City requires 60' right of way and 38 feet pavement width on Martin Street, Cowgill Street, and Miller Road, Streets would have to be paved at once and designed to accommodate heavy traffic. Who would undertake this cost?
13. Traffic to and from the Air Base uses Cowgill and Miller Road as a short cut to avoid the intersection of U.S. Rt. 113 and court Street, and the intersection of U. S. !3 and Court Street.
14. Without even considering the props=osed new greyhound bus, which is wider and longer, the present suggested traffic pattern may not permit sufficient turning radii for the buses.
Following are comments from the City Manager and city Engineer:
Sewer and water for this project present no problem as both these utilities are available and of sufficient size and/or depth to be adequate. However, it should be pointed out that Gordy has recapture rights of this water line.
The glaring problem is this plan is one of traffic control. The center is very close to two of the busiest and most dangerous intersections in the Dover vicinity. All departments and agencies of the city will have to cooperate with the Traffic Division of the Highway Department to avoid all possible future headaches. In any case all streets shown on this plan should be a minimum of sixty foot right of way with thirty-eight foot curb to curb paving.
Every consideration should be given to the development of the proposed extension of Water Street as shown on this plan. This right of way to be eighty feet. The Highway Department at present is thinking of this extension with a new bridge across the St. Jones River. This development could eliminate further congestion of existing intersections and should make ingress and egress to the bus center easier and safer.
The Commission pointed out that it knew very little of what was to be put in the building itself. In reply to this Mr. Willey, the Greyhound Agent, informed the Commission that the building will have two floors 100' X 140' long. The bus terminal will be in the rear of the first floor with 10,000 square feet cafeteria space adjoining it. On the second floor will be three offices, a dining room and a large room to be used by private clubs for their meetings. Mr. Willey promised to submit complete plans for the interior of the building and informed the Commission that the Greyhound Company has purchased much of the land near the bus terminal
By motion of Mr. Brchanan, seconded by Mr. Holmes the Commission disapproved the site plan as presented and asked that a plan be resubmitted to them incorporating the comments outlined.
TOWNSEND BROS. BUILDING
Mr. Walter Ellis presented plans for the renovation of the old Townsend Bros. Building on South Governors Avenue into several stores. The property is no in a C3 zone which does not allow for business, professional and government offices. If the building is used for offices the zoning would have to be changed to C2.
REQUEST OF MID DEL REALTY COMPANY FOR C1 ZONING
The Commission considered a request for zoning change to C1 for property fronting on White Oak Road. A recommendation concerning this request was referred to the Commission by City Council. C1 zoning allows for convenience retail stores and personal service stores. By motion of Mr. Walls the Commission recommended that Council withhold decision and submit a request to the developer to grant sufficient right of way for possible future extension of Spruance Street. If the right of way is granted then the Commission recommends approval of the C1 zoning.
HOLIDAY INN
Mr. James Hughes, Attorney, and Mr. Bastian, of the Holiday Inn presented plans for the Holiday Inn to be erected on the West side of the Dual Highway, near the Texico Station. This plan includes 84 motel units in a two-story structure. Mr. McCue asked that floor plans of the building be brought and distributed to City authorities and Commission members.
Mr. McCue stated that further study was needed on this plan and that the matter would be brought before the special meeting of the Commission so that a recommendation to Council could be drawn up for the next Council meeting. The recommendation to Council should be conditioned upon the requirement that the Developer take into consideration that an 18 foot storm sewer pipe crosses the proposed site and has an outlet into Silver Lake. Prior to construction of any structures the developer should ascertain the exact location of this storm sewer pipe. The Commission would require the storm pipe to be relocated at the developers expense if the present line passed under any proposed structure.
TOWNE POINT BOND
As required by the Land Subdivision Regulations, an estimate was submitted to the Commission in the amount of $56,040 for preparation of a performance bond for homes to be built in Towne Point. A bond form to be approved by the City Solicitor has been developed. The bond form then will be sent to the developer who will return the executed bond as required by the Land Subdivision Regulations.
By motion of Mr. Buchanan, seconded by Mr. Turner the Commission approved permitting the developer to bond a portion of the development with the stipulation that construction follow a cohesive and orderly pattern and that no certificate of occupancy be issued for any dwelling that is not fronted with a finished street and does not have uninterrupted means of ingress and egress to and from the development.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45
Respectfully submitted,
Arline Paulson
Recording Secretary