10/1/2019

This is a link to the agenda (click on the blue-colored text for documents detailing the respective agenda items): 

https://newarkde.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6269

This meeting is dedicated to finances and includes fiscal year 2020 budget discussions. I plan to continue spending a lot of time preparing for these discussions in order to set the best short and long-term plans for our City. Any ideas and questions are welcome.  The remainder of our City's detailed fiscal year 2020 budgeting process is as follows:

All department budget presentations: complete by Sept. 23rd 

Financial Workshop: Oct. 7th 

Budget Hearing 1: Nov. 4th 

Budget Hearing 2: Nov. 18th 

Utility Rate Study: Dec.2nd  

You may find agenda item #2A (recommendation on activities proposed for community development block grant and 2020 revenue sharing program) informative in terms of the analysis of these recommendations and where your favorite organizations fall.  

This meeting should be livestreamed as usual through this link: https://livestream.com/newarkde. 

You can also watch this livestreamed video at your leisure from the same link after the meeting ends. 

This is a link to the agenda (click on the blue-colored text for documents detailing the respective agenda items):
https://www.newarkde.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6280 

Items 7B and 8A pertain to a redevelopment project in District 1 for 321 Hillside Rd. (former University of DE Dickinson dorms) that will be voted on. The applicant requests a major Subdivision of 8.37 Acres in Order to Demolish the Existing Nine Dormitory Buildings and Construct Four Three-Story Apartment Buildings with 45 Apartment Units and 46 Townhouse Apartments for a Total of 91 Apartment Units with 320 Bedrooms with Associated Parking and Amenities.
The following link contains the associated Planning & Development Dept. report:
https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12968/8A-Part-2 

You may also review the plans for this project in person at our City's Municipal Building in the Planning & Development Dept. between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday).

This is a public meeting. You may submit written or oral comment at the meeting for our Mayor & City Council to consider. You may also email written comment by 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14th, to  our City Secretary at the following address:
RBensley@newark.de.us

The meeting should be livestreamed as usual through this link: https://livestream.com/newarkde

A District 1 neighbor discovered that the applicant for the 321 Hillside Rd. (former UD Dickinson dorms) redevelopment requires their tenants to abide by a student handbook.  This link contains the handbook for the applicant's student housing property (The Varsity) currently in operation on Wilbur St. in Newark: https://www.collegetowncommunities.com/ud/images/documents/University-Of-Delaware-Apartments-Varsity-Resident-Handbook-01.pdf 

The handbook for Hillside Rd. is expected to be substantially similar--including the "quiet hours" from 11pm to 7am.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Additional public comments/submissions added to the record after the initial agenda posted:   https://newarkde.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12994/8A-Public-Comment 

The Steering Committee for the Newark Community Sustainability Plan invites you to "drop in" to their Community Workshop in the Council Chamber.  A children's play area will be available.

Focus areas for the Plan include "We Respond to Climate Change" (commitment to clean energy), "We Plan and Develop for All" (commitment to sustainable land development and clean transportation), "We Build Better, Waste Less" (advancement of sustainable design to promote healthy, efficient, and livable buildings) and "We Preserve Nature, Reduce Impacts" (minimizing Newark's environmental footprint by preserving its natural resources and reducing its waste generation and water usage).

Materials presented and public comments will be added to our City website for this initiative following the workshop: https://newarkde.gov/1067/Newark-Community-Sustainability-Plan

For more information, contact Michael Fortner of the Planning and Development Dept. at (302) 366-7000, ext. 2041, or email at mfortner@newark.de.us.