Milford City Council Meeting – November 24, 2025

The Milford City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on November 24, 2025. No written agenda or minutes were provided, so this summary is based entirely on the meeting transcript. The meeting included a 15-minute public comment period, three final-determination public hearings, votes on subdivisions and an annexation, and several operational approvals.

Consent Calendar / Routine Approvals

• The agenda was approved by voice vote.
• The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by voice vote.
• No separate consent-calendar items were identified in the transcript.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Julie Morris, 210 E Street, criticized the Board of Adjustment, saying it rubber-stamps requests, fails to apply variance standards, and does not understand its quasi-judicial role. She cited a board member who moved to grant a variance but then voted against it.
• A resident said gas service had never been extended to their neighborhood despite a previous promise, leaving residents with high heating costs, and agreed that development approvals seemed too rushed.
• Jennifer Snelly Miller, 715 New Street, said the city grants variances without sufficient reason, called for smaller houses and a moratorium, and argued that a pause is not a regulatory taking.
• Trish Marvel, 6525 Shawnee Road, speaking via Zoom, said she was disillusioned after two years, saw progress mainly in the police department, and questioned the city’s long-term plans for parks and other services.

Public Hearing: Ordinance 2025-14 – Carlisle Lane LLC Preliminary Major Subdivision

Planning Director Rob Pierce summarized a proposal for 39 townhouses and one single-family detached home on R3-zoned land west of Truett Avenue. The Planning Commission had recommended denial by 5-0 and separately recommended approval of a pavement-width waiver (36 to 30 feet) and a shade-tree spacing waiver, and denial of a right-of-way width waiver (60 to 43.34 feet), a floodplain lot waiver, a wetland setback waiver, and cash in lieu of open space.

Applicant engineer Ed Ide said the site’s wetlands, floodplain, and irregular shape created practical difficulties. He said the project used 8.7 units per acre versus 12 permitted, requested no density or parking increases, and provided 114 parking spaces versus a 100-space requirement. He noted the cash-in-lieu payment would be $55,008.75 and warned that the owner could instead pursue a 72-unit garden apartment plan. Council and staff discussion covered parking ratios, emergency vehicle turning radii, snow removal, trash truck access, and wetland-maintenance rules. Rob Pierce confirmed that garden apartments are a by-right use in R3 and that a 72-unit layout appeared feasible, subject to site-plan review.

Public comment included:

• Jennifer McSorley, 208 Truett Avenue, supported the project as well-planned and preferred it over 72 apartments, while asking for inspection and enforcement.
• Daniel Bond, 105 North Street, supported the project as an affordable-homeownership opportunity, saying a family of four earning $80,000 a year cannot afford a home above about $275,000.
• Maura Cleary, 510 Truett Avenue, opposed the density and parking plan, recalled a prior $345,000 unit-price statement, and asked for fewer units.
• Jennifer Snelly Miller, 715 New Street, said she supports density and affordable housing but found no affordability documentation and raised fire truck, school bus, snow plow, and flooding concerns.
• Heidi Barnhart, 513 Truett Avenue, said she was not opposed but wanted usable open space and safe park access for families.
• Jason Lewis, a Truett Avenue resident, said work had already started on the site and that the developer appeared to expect approval.
• Mike Boyle, 43 Meadowlark Drive, said the proposal required excessive waivers, argued the minimum parking was 120 rather than the applicant’s 100, and urged council to uphold the Planning Commission.
• Julie Morris, 210 E Street, said the project was not genuinely affordable, cited the flood history of Mullett Run, and called the apartment alternative a scare tactic.
• Kim Wills of Sunset Lane, via Zoom, said citywide traffic is already difficult and that the 100-year floodplain is not the only risk.

Council then voted:

• Pavement width waiver: approved 5-3.
• Right-of-way waiver: denial sustained 7-1.
• Floodplain lot waiver: denial sustained 6-2.
• Wetland setback waiver: denial sustained 6-2.
• Shade tree spacing waiver: approved 8-0.
• Cash-in-lieu of open space: denial sustained 6-2.
• The preliminary major subdivision ordinance was denied 6-2, sustaining the Planning Commission’s denial.

Public Hearing: Ordinance 2025-18 – Annexation of 2 North Brandywine Road

Rob Pierce presented a voluntary annexation petition for the Pamela Davis Thompson Revocable Trust. The property is improved with a single-family house, has a failed septic system, and would become R1 in the city. The annexation committee and the Planning Commission (6-0) recommended approval, and the state planning office concurred.

Public comment included:

• Nora Master Simone, 24 West Saratoga Road, worried that piecemeal annexation could force the rest of Shawnee Acres in without a community vote.
• Julie Morris, 210 E Street, said Denrec never denied a septic permit because no application was filed, and said the alleged 2003 annexation agreement had not been produced.
• Mary Anchandler, 7 Lexington Drive, identified herself as Shawnee Acres HOA secretary and said the community had consistently voted against annexation for 50 years; she asked council to consider the wider community.

Council discussion noted the annexation was the property owner’s voluntary written request, that no HOA approval was required, and that current city policy generally requires annexation when outside properties connect to city utilities. Rob Pierce said the 2003 document was an offer to connect at reduced cost, not a full annexation agreement, but warned that future septic failure could lead to annexation. A motion to table failed on a 4-4 tie; the mayor voted no. The council then approved the annexation by 5-3.

Public Hearing: Ordinance 2025-19 – 609 Walnut LLC Preliminary Major Subdivision

Rob Pierce described a proposal to subdivide 1.44 acres on the east side of North Walnut Street into eight lots: two single-family detached homes and six semi-detached duplexes. The existing 1950s house would remain. The Board of Adjustment had already approved a lot-width variance for Lot 10 from 80 feet to 56.45 feet, and the Planning Commission recommended approval by 4-2.

Applicant planner Mark Davidson said the lots meet applicable standards, proposed lot coverage for the semi-detached units was 21.43 percent against a 40 percent maximum, all lots are outside the 500-year floodplain, and DelDOT, the conservation district, and the fire marshal had approved the plans.

Public comment included:

• Susan Callan, 602 North Walnut, said the variance lacked objective criteria and would negatively affect the neighboring property.
• An opposition speaker said the Board of Adjustment used no real criteria and that alternatives existed, such as fewer lots or shifted lot lines.
• Greg Kelly, 602 North Walnut, said the proposed house was too large for the lot and would reduce an existing neighbor’s property value.
• A written statement from Karen and James Duffy, 607 North Walnut, opposed Lot 10, citing construction nuisance, traffic safety, and concerns that the build benefited the builder and the city more than the neighborhood.

Council members raised concerns about the size of the Lot 10 dwelling and neighborhood character. The council voted 6-2 to send the application back to the Planning Commission, contingent on the applicant’s agreement, to consider a smaller dwelling on Lot 10. No final approval was granted.

Other Business and Approvals

• 2026 Holiday Trash Collection Schedule: Council approved eliminating holiday collection and moving holiday yard waste/trash/recycling routes to the next business day. Staff said the change would save at least $15,000 per year, though some Saturday collections would still require overtime, and the schedule would be publicized in utility mailings and social media.
• Carlisle Fire Company Funding: Council approved a $200,000 request from the Public Safety Enhancement Fund for $75,000 for a manpower-mover vehicle, $75,000 for station gear, and $50,000 for EMS quarters, supporting the planned Cedar Beach Road substation. One council member recused and one was absent.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave Act Backup Plan: Council approved a backup plan to pay covered employees if the state’s PFML portal is not available on January 1, 2026.
• IQ Fiber Pole Attachment Agreement: Council authorized a pole attachment agreement with IQ Fiber. Company representatives said residential service would start at $65 per month for 250 Mbps symmetrical and $125 for 5-gig, with no installation fee or contract; business service would be $150 for 1-gig and $250 for 5-gig. The vote was seven in favor with one absent.
• Community announcements included the theater’s Coney Island Christmas opening, the DMAC year-end dinner on December 2, the Milford Community Thanksgiving Outreach delivering more than 500 dinners, and a socks drive.

Key Outcomes

• Denied the Carlisle Lane preliminary major subdivision (6-2).
• Approved the voluntary annexation of 2 North Brandywine Road (5-3).
• Sent the 609 Walnut preliminary major subdivision back to the Planning Commission (6-2).
• Approved the 2026 holiday trash collection schedule, Carlisle Fire funding, the PFML backup plan, and the IQ Fiber pole attachment agreement.