DELAWARE — Delaware’s Planning Commission approved a zoning amendment for 37.4 acres of the Coughlin’s Crossing development during its Wednesday meeting.
Delaware City Council previously rezoned the area back in 2016-2017, but with the acreage not seeing any big-box development due to the pandemic, Delaware Development Plan Ltd. asked for another rezoning.
The zoning request seeks to change four subareas from community commercial with a planned mixed-use overlay to mixed-use planned unit development.
This means the change would allow for a broader mix of uses — including residential and smaller-scale commercial development — instead of focusing primarily on large, big-box retail.
The proposed changes do not affect already developed portions of the site, like the highly-anticipated LongHorn Steakhouse area, or designated open space and ponds.
Council will hold the request’s first reading at its April 27 meeting.
The proposed changes along Stratford Road
Subarea A-1, closest to Stratford Road, currently has a historic house and barn. Delaware Development Plan Ltd. plans to dedicate this area to the Delaware County Historical Society.
“[The historical society] would either keep the land and lease it or sell it in the future,” Planning and Zoning Administrator Anna Kelsey said.
“It would be dedicated for low-impact commercial and office uses — something like a coffee shop or a bookstore or an art gallery or a music studio, things like that.”
Kelsey added the historical society plans to put protective covenants on the property to preserve its historic character.
Switching from big-box commercial to housing
Delaware Development Plan Ltd. plans to pivot the remainder of Subarea A from big-box commercial to multi-family residential zoning.
“In order to provide for the needs of our community, housing is what the applicant is looking towards,” Kelsey said.
The developers wanted to put 500 units in the space; the commission countered with 400 units, and the two sides agreed on 450 units.
Potential medical users near Mill 23 apartments
The plan for Subarea B is to keep the zoning similar to what it is now.
“[This area] would be reserved for commercial and office, very similar to what it is currently zoned as,” Kelsey said. “The applicant is looking to find some medical users, potentially, to go into that area.”
Subarea C, the land closest to U.S. Route 23, and Subarea D will also be commercial, office and retail spaces.
“[Subarea C] would be a continuation of the existing development pattern that you already see in the buildings that are already constructed on that strip,” Kelsey said.
“Subarea D, which is just a small remainder piece by the Longhorn Steakhouse and Bojangles, would be commercial and retail again.”
