Millsboro Comprehensive Plan Committee Five-Year Review Meeting - January 28, 2026

The Millsboro Comprehensive Development Plan Committee met on January 28, 2026, at 8:35 AM to conduct the required five-year review of the town's comprehensive plan. The committee discussed the scope of the review, potential updates, and next steps in accordance with Delaware State Code. After hearing presentations from staff and consultant AECOM, the committee agreed to review goals and implementation items before deciding on the extent of changes.

Committee Organization

• Kimberly Khan was nominated and elected as chair of the committee.
• The agenda was adopted with a correction: the item originally referencing "Convene the parks committee meeting" was amended to "Convene the comprehensive development plan committee."
• Roll call was taken: Mr. Presley, Mr. O'Neill, and Kimberly Khan were present. Staff present included Jamie Burke (town manager), Ashley Sander (assistant town manager), Simon John (IT), and Amy Mendelson (AECOM).

Discussion Items

• Amy Mendelson (AECOM) outlined the state requirements for comprehensive plan reviews: a full update every 10 years, a five-year review to determine relevance, and an annual report. Millsboro's current 10-year plan was adopted in 2021, making the five-year review technically due in February 2026. The committee can choose to: (1) make no changes, (2) make minor amendments through a comp plan amendment process, or (3) do a complete overhaul (which would reset the 10-year cycle). A full overhaul was estimated to cost over $100,000 (previous cost ~$120,000–$160,000 five years ago), and no funds were budgeted for it this year.
• The committee discussed whether major changes are needed. Consensus was that the plan is still largely relevant, but some data (demographics, population projections) and sections (e.g., climate change, transportation, housing) could use updates. The town's old motto "culture of pro-business" on the cover was noted as outdated and potentially misleading to developers; the committee expressed desire to remove it.
• A question was raised about including a mission statement in the plan, as the town lacks one and grant opportunities have been missed. The committee noted this could be addressed as part of the review.
• The committee discussed the state's population projections (Delaware Population Consortium) versus the town's own projections. The 2021 plan used a projection of 5,183 for 2030, but current estimates suggest growth is much higher. Updated figures from the consortium show 2025 projection of 8,568 and 2050 projection of 13,300 (though a separate source projected 32,000 for the zip code area). The committee acknowledged data should be refreshed.

Key Outcomes

• The committee will review the goals and implementation items compiled by AECOM (to be distributed via Ashley Sander). Members will individually assess which sections may need changes.
• The next committee meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM. After that meeting, the committee will decide whether to recommend no changes (submit a letter to the state planning office) or pursue minor amendments. A final recommendation could go to the town council as early as March 2026.
• No formal vote was taken; the path forward was agreed upon by consensus.