Kent County Levy Court Workshop – September 15, 2026

The Kent County Levy Court held a workshop on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM in Caucus Room 230, 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE. Six commissioners were present, including Commissioner Scott participating by WebEx, and the acting president presided because the county president was home ill. The agenda focused on the ORPT grant resolution for a pickleball facility at Big Oak Park and the Economic Development Industrial Land Needs Assessment. There were no public commenters, and the workshop adjourned to the regular Levy Court meeting in the chambers.

ORPT Grant Resolution – Big Oak Pickleball Facility

• Staff introduced Resolution 4176, authorizing the county to apply for Outdoor Recreation Parks and Trails (ORPT) grant funding for a pickleball facility at Big Oak Park. The application was submitted the day before the workshop, and the grantor indicated it would accept the signed resolution after the fact; awards are expected around November.
• The resolution confirms the project is moving forward, documents the county's intended 50% match, and designates the staff lead for the project.
• Commissioner Sweeney asked why Big Oak was selected. Staff responded that northern Kent County had no outdoor pickleball facilities, while an earlier West Dover opportunity was not pursued due to financial concerns and the burden it would place on the recreation program.
• Commissioner Sweeney voiced strong support, saying the facility is needed and county parks are excellent.
• In response to commissioner questions, staff clarified that Levy Court had already voted 7-0 to fund the project, so the grant would defray up to 50% of the cost if funds are available. The resolution is a grant requirement demonstrating the full Levy Court's backing, similar to previous ORPT grant requests and sewer fund grant requests.
• Commissioners voted 6-0 to move the resolution forward to the regular meeting agenda later that evening.

Economic Development Industrial Land Needs Assessment

• Staff presented findings from a professional consulting study of future industrial land needs in Kent County. The study began at the request of a municipality; six other municipalities collaborated, each contributing $1,000. The county and its economic development partners absorbed the remaining cost after a federal grant application for half of the cost was unsuccessful.
• The study found strong demand and low vacancy, but limited infrastructure-ready large-format sites; most near-term sites are small. Rail-adjacent sites need protection, and meeting future demand requires balancing housing and industry. The core issue is site readiness, zoning, size, and location, not total acreage.
• The study estimates approximately 1,700 acres are needed to support industrial development through 2041.
• Industrial growth since 2020 has been concentrated in Dover and Milford, with new flex space in Smyrna's Duck Creek area leasing rapidly. National and local trends show high demand for distribution/warehousing, flex space, and data centers; medical offices are moderate nationally but likely strong locally; general industrial is more limited.
• Two new industrial parks are expected online in Harrington and Milford; Harrington has rail access. Long-term sites are unevenly distributed, with many in unincorporated rail-available areas.

Municipal snapshots:

• Smyrna: strong industrial base and large distribution presence because of Walmart; 7% vacancy; future sites identified for possible annexation, including east of Route 1, though long-term sites would require annexation and growth changes.
• Dover: 1.6% vacancy; identified sites east of Route 1, including the roughly 700-acre Dover Motorsports parcel and nearby mall property that could support future industrial development.
• Wyoming: high availability but very small parcels, making large job-creating projects unlikely; opportunities are redevelopment/infill such as reworking the VEPCO industrial park.
• Camden: limited manufacturing in the VEPCO park; about 75% of industrial space was built before 2000 and is Class B/C; rail-adjacent parcels were identified but need preservation and planning.
• Harrington: a new industrial park with good rail-adjacent parcels is the main future opportunity; a 221,000-square-foot facility proposed for a data center did not go forward, and the existing, aging industrial inventory is difficult to reuse.
• Milford: a new industrial park will provide future sites; existing food processing is landlocked with little room to grow.

Commissioner discussion and next steps:

• Staff recommended advancing the next generation of high-opportunity sites, raising municipal awareness, preserving rail-adjacent land, and creating a funding mechanism for future land acquisition. Staff noted that industrial land, once lost, is rarely regained.
• A commissioner said the assessment deserves more in-depth review because industrial land has been discussed frequently; staff agreed to return for a deeper presentation after meeting with municipalities.
• A commissioner noted that municipalities' identified annexation lands are not currently zoned industrial and would be annexed away from the county, and cautioned that this should not be framed as the county expanding its industrial footprint or inviting more data centers. Staff clarified the study's purpose is to help municipalities identify and preserve sites, not to expand the county's own industrial inventory.
• A commissioner also requested a future update on the Garrison Lake project; staff responded that the project is moving and he would return when there is enough progress to report.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 4176 for the ORPT grant application was advanced by a 6-0 vote to the September 15 regular meeting agenda.
• No formal action was taken on the Industrial Land Needs Assessment; it was an informational workshop presentation.
• Staff will come back with a deeper review of the land needs study after completing municipal outreach and will provide an update on the Garrison Lake project when appropriate.
• The workshop adjourned to the regular Levy Court meeting in the chambers.