The Wilmington Design Adjustment Committee met on December 13, 2023 at 1:33 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The committee considered two design adjustment requests: a continuation for a non-standard right-of-way at 4201 Maple Avenue and a new request for a parking expansion at 1011 Ashes Drive (MegaCorp Logistics). The meeting adjourned at 3:08 p.m.
Call the meeting of the design adjustment committee to order. Before we get started, I have to read a brief introduction. The design adjustment committee's purpose is to establish clear and measurable review criteria for the consideration of major deviations from the city's technical standards and specification manual, building and design material standards and subdivision standards. The committee does not consider the housing type, cost of the proposed unit, occupants, building material, unit size, number of bedrooms, or the architectural design of the structures. These hearings are quasi-judicial evidentiary hearings. That means it's like a court hearing, and the committee's decisions are constrained by the standards in the ordinance and based on the facts presented. All variance requests require four fifths vote of the committee to grant the variance. Appeals of committee decisions are to superior court. The parties of these cases are entitled to an impartial board. If a board member has a fixed opinion on the matter, a financial interest in the outcome, a close relationship with an affected person, or has had any ex parte communication about the matter, please disclose that information to determine if a recusal is necessary. City staff will introduce the proposed project to the committee, and committee members may ask questions. The applicant may present additional information about the project and members may ask questions. If anyone wishes to provide evidence at today's hearing, witnesses must sign in on the clipboard at the back of the room and be sworn in. Because witnesses are to provide sworn testimony. Please focus on the facts and standards, not personal preference or opinion. When a witness comes forward to give testimony, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record, and speak clearly. At this time, staff will administer the oath for all individuals who intend to provide witness testimony. If I can have all staff applicants and anyone in the audience that wishes to speak this afternoon, to please stand up and raise your right hand. Please note that if you're not sworn in, you must be sworn in prior to speaking. Thank you. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give us the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. First item on the agenda is approval of the minutes from November. Any comments on the minutes? I I guess I only I did have one minor comment. I think the applicant for the Maple Avenue Luke Meanis is spelled M I N. I think it's supposed to be M E N various spots. Minor change. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Posed? Motion carries. First item today is uh 4201 Maple Avenue. Continued from the last meeting. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the uh committee. Um yes, this is a continuation from the November 15th DAC meeting. Um, 4201 Maple Avenue is the uh case in question here. Just a refresher here is the subject property with the undeveloped portion of Maple Avenue. Um the applicant has revised their plans based on discussions at the last meeting, um, and they are requesting for uh a design adjustment from the minimum standards for a minor street and a minimum quarter radius of a roadway. Um your case summary has been updated uh to reflect these changes. Um there were uh originally four uh separate adjustments requested, and that's been narrowed down to two. Um the relief uh from the minimum tangent length for a roadway has been removed along with the um the standards for the residential driveways. Um, that waiver request has been removed as well. Um your screen is the revised plan uh submitted by the applicant showing the proposed uh Maple Avenue right-of-way now showing uh 20 foot and total pavement width. Um I also have uh for your reference some detailed uh plans of the cross sections, uh, the proposed tree removal, which was discussed at the last meeting. Um, and here is the previous site plan with the uh requested adjustments that was uh provided at the last meeting as well. Um just to back up a little bit, just um again wanted to hit on the fact that um this is a non-standard minor street cross section, um, and they are providing access uh to 4201 Maple Avenue from 43rd Street. The applicant again is proposing that 20-foot uh radius at the roadway edge rather than 35 feet.