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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Milford Planning Commission Meeting - June 16, 2026

Planning Commission — Tuesday, June 16, 2026

BodyMilford, Delaware

SessionPlanning Commission

DateTuesday, June 16, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 32:17

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

All right, at this time we will begin the planning commission meeting for June 2026.

0:06

First up will be the public comment period.

0:09

Just check the list.

0:12

Any other one signed

Unassigned speaker

0:14

up?

Unassigned speaker

0:15

And

Speaker 2

0:15

there's nobody online.

Speaker 1

0:18

Okay.

0:19

We'll move past that.

0:21

Call the meeting to order.

0:22

Everyone please stand for pledge of allegiance.

0:44

Thank you.

0:45

Roll call showing all commissioners in attendance.

0:53

Next item approval of minutes for August 2025.

0:59

Is that

Unassigned speaker

0:59

right?

Speaker 3

1:00

Motion to approve.

Speaker 1

1:01

Do I hear a second?

Unassigned speaker

1:06

I

Speaker 1

1:07

second.

1:08

All in favor.

1:10

All right.

1:10

All opposed.

1:14

Passes.

1:16

70.

1:19

Next on the agenda will be public hearings.

1:23

Turn it over to solicitor Morris for the procedures.

Speaker 4

1:30

Thank you,

Unassigned speaker

1:31

sir.

Speaker 4

1:31

Tonight there is one application for a public hearing.

1:34

I'm going to review the procedure to be filed for each of for the hearing.

1:38

When the planning commission holds a public hearing on a zoning application, they act as a fact-finding body in the legislative process to assist the city council in making this decision.

1:48

The planning commission will make a recommendation to city council to approve or deny the application.

1:53

City Council will hold its own hearing, but will consider the planning commission's recommendation.

1:58

For these applications, the city council will hold hearings later in the month.

2:03

Council will make its own independent decision.

2:06

Millford in its zoning and land use decisions does not discriminate against persons based on race, color, religion, and national origin, disability, family status, sex creed, marital status, age, or sexual orientation.

2:19

Public comments made on the basis of bias and stereotype concerning people within these protected classes will not be taken in consideration

Unassigned speaker

2:27

by

Speaker 4

2:27

the planning commission in its deliberations.

2:30

After each application has been announced, Planning Director Rob Pierce will review with the commission the pending application.

2:38

The applicant and any witnesses it may have will then be called upon to present and explain the application with the reasons supporting its approval.

2:46

The commission members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant or witnesses regarding the facts and merits.

2:52

We ask the applicant to limit the presentation to 15 minutes, though leeway will be given if it is a detailed and complicated matter.

3:00

After the applicant's presentation, persons who oppose the application will be given an opportunity to speak, filed by anyone who may have comments in general.

3:09

We ask anyone speaking at these times to limit comments to three minutes.

3:13

Again, commission members may ask questions regarding the facts and merits supporting the comments.

3:18

There will be no rebuttal by the applicant, and the public hearing will be closed unless the commission wants answers from any speaker on a question that arises during the hearing.

3:28

Further, the applicant will not be allowed to question persons who speak in opposition, and persons who speak in opposition will not be allowed to question the applicant or its witnesses.

3:38

All questions will be well withal will be directed to me or the chairman who will be conducting the public hearing.

3:45

If you intend to speak, please come to the front and stand at the podium.

3:48

State your name, home, address before you make your statement.

3:51

Because of the number of people in attendance, please use the microphone, which can be adjusted to allow everyone to hear you.

3:57

If you represent or speak for a group or organization, please identify whom you represent.

4:02

When you make your statement, please be concise and do not repeat yourself.

4:06

If there is more than one witness for the applicant or more than one person in opposition, please do not repeat points that the prior speaker has already stated.

4:14

However, you may make a statement to support another speaker's comment.

4:18

Have your thoughts organized because you will only be permitted to speak one time unless being asked to answer a question.

4:24

All persons in attendance should conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.

4:28

No applause, no cheers, no jeers, or other other disruptive behavior that will prolong the hearing or negatively affect the record being made.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████50%

Procedural██████████████████20%

Public Engagement██████████████████20%

Land Use Regulation█████████10%

Summary of Proceedings

Milford Planning Commission Meeting - June 16, 2026

The Milford Planning Commission met on June 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, a public hearing for a conditional use application, and an update on upcoming workshops. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use application for an electronic message center sign at a daycare facility, finding it functionally equivalent to a private school under the zoning code.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (August 2025): Motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public signed up to speak at the start of the meeting, and none joined remotely.
During the public hearing for CU 313-2026, no comments were made in favor, opposition, or general.

Discussion Items

Conditional Use Application CU 313-2026 – Beach Babies: An application by Beach Babies (6251 Radian Circle) for a freestanding sign with an electronic message center (EMC) on property zoned R3 (Garden Apartment and Townhouse District). The daycare sought approval under the category "public and private schools" in Chapter 230-24.11, which permits EMC signs for schools, churches, and civic organizations via conditional use.
- Applicant Presentation: Eric Wall and Mark Davidson (Pannoni Associates) argued the daycare serves a preschool curriculum, making it functionally equivalent to a private school. They cited American Planning Association definitions and noted the sign would comply with all dimensional, dimming, and operational standards. They emphasized the request did not change the use or intensity.
- Commission Questions: Commissioners questioned whether the daycare qualifies as a private school. Planning Director Rob Pierce noted the zoning code lacks a definition of "school" and staff interpreted it broadly in favor of the applicant. Commissioners explored licensing under Delaware Department of Education and the curriculum’s educational nature. Concerns about future residential impacts were addressed by noting existing illumination standards and the conditional use process.
Future Workshop Update: Planning Director Pierce announced that starting next month, the commission will hold workshops to review feedback from city council and community on the comprehensive plan update. Presentations from Carlisle Fire Company (July) and the school district (August) are anticipated.

Key Outcomes

Motion to Recommend Approval of CU 313-2026: The motion stated satisfaction that the daycare qualifies as a private school under Chapter 230-24.11 and meets the criteria of Chapter 230-48.
- Vote: 7-0 in favor. Commissioners Di Costanza, Sylvester, Hammond, Redden, Solz, Purcell, and Wright each cited the applicable code sections and the applicant’s justification.
Next Steps: The application will be reviewed by city council on July 13, 2026. The commission’s recommendation is advisory.

Meeting Transcript

All right, at this time we will begin the planning commission meeting for June 2026. First up will be the public comment period. Just check the list. Any other one signed up? And there's nobody online. Okay. We'll move past that. Call the meeting to order. Everyone please stand for pledge of allegiance. Thank you. Roll call showing all commissioners in attendance. Next item approval of minutes for August 2025. Is that right? Motion to approve. Do I hear a second? I second. All in favor. All right. All opposed. Passes. 70. Next on the agenda will be public hearings. Turn it over to solicitor Morris for the procedures. Thank you, sir. Tonight there is one application for a public hearing. I'm going to review the procedure to be filed for each of for the hearing. When the planning commission holds a public hearing on a zoning application, they act as a fact-finding body in the legislative process to assist the city council in making this decision. The planning commission will make a recommendation to city council to approve or deny the application. City Council will hold its own hearing, but will consider the planning commission's recommendation. For these applications, the city council will hold hearings later in the month. Council will make its own independent decision. Millford in its zoning and land use decisions does not discriminate against persons based on race, color, religion, and national origin, disability, family status, sex creed, marital status, age, or sexual orientation. Public comments made on the basis of bias and stereotype concerning people within these protected classes will not be taken in consideration by the planning commission in its deliberations. After each application has been announced, Planning Director Rob Pierce will review with the commission the pending application. The applicant and any witnesses it may have will then be called upon to present and explain the application with the reasons supporting its approval. The commission members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant or witnesses regarding the facts and merits. We ask the applicant to limit the presentation to 15 minutes, though leeway will be given if it is a detailed and complicated matter. After the applicant's presentation, persons who oppose the application will be given an opportunity to speak, filed by anyone who may have comments in general. We ask anyone speaking at these times to limit comments to three minutes. Again, commission members may ask questions regarding the facts and merits supporting the comments. There will be no rebuttal by the applicant, and the public hearing will be closed unless the commission wants answers from any speaker on a question that arises during the hearing. Further, the applicant will not be allowed to question persons who speak in opposition, and persons who speak in opposition will not be allowed to question the applicant or its witnesses. All questions will be well withal will be directed to me or the chairman who will be conducting the public hearing.

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