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Citizens group
wins land
use battle -- or has it? Even
as they were taking a figurative victory lap, residents of the
Greenville-Centreville corridor were warned not to be too sure
they had won the battle.
State senator
Michael Katz told an audience which filled the Alexis I. du Pont
High School auditorium to "remain vigilant" against the
possibility that the unprecedented deal which County Executive
Chris Coons cut with Stoltz Real Estate Partners "suddenly gets
modified or derailed." What is known publicly at this point is
that Stoltz has agreed to significantly scale back redevelopment
of the former Du Pont company office complex at Barley Mill
Plaza and expansion of Greenville Center. Although Coons, in an
open letter to "concerned citizens" released on Sept. 22,
referred to the deal as a compromise, it was vague on what the
firm will get in return for modifying its original plans. Also,
Stoltz has yet to file new plans, which will require some
rezoning and zoning adjustments.
Originally called
by Citizens for Responsible Growth in New Castle County to
update supporters on the status of its fight to block the Stoltz
projects, the meeting on Sept. 23 was mostly a celebration with
frequent and loud applause. John Danzeisen, head of the ad-hoc
organization, said the new proposal "goes a long way to address
our concerns." But he, too, said the group must continue its
advocacy role. "This battle is far from over," he said. He
spread plenty of thanks around -- to Patty Hobbs, who started
the group; to County Councilman Robert Weiner, who has mobilized
opposition for two years; to Mark Chura, of Delaware Greenways,
who has backed its efforts; to "our friends at the News Journal"
for publicity thought to have spurred Coons's involvement in the
controversy.
Underlying the proceedings was a realization that if Coons, as
now expected, wins election to the U.S. Senate in November, the
remaining two years of his term will be filled by Council
President Paul Clark. Clark's wife, Pam Scott, is Stoltz's land
use lawyer. |