Will Council Buck Planning Board Recommendation Against The Controversial Newark Rezoning Tonight?

Newark Council thinks approving the massive rezoning plan is doing the neighborhood a "favor"? Let's hope thay actually listen to the public tonight!

Community leader Jim Hearn cites the major problems the entire community has with the rezoning for Major Subdivision at 63 W. Cleveland Ave and 60 New London Road ~

Many senior citizens, their kids, and grandchildren live in this neighborhood. Some have lived here for over 50 years and are under extreme stress that this proposed 40 foot high apartment building would tower over their homes and back yards. We're sure that you're aware that several area churches and the Arc of Delaware home for handicapped individuals would be impacted. 

The proposed apartment building of over 10000 square feet of living space and covering over 77 percent of the lot will not have enough open space and is out of scale and character for the neighborhood. To change a residential lot in the middle of a single family residential zone to business would impact the property rights of the property owners in that zone. We also question having a business driveway between and next to single family residential homes and the cut through issues that the Newark Police raised. 

Will Council consider all of these concerns and the Planning Commission decisive 5 to 1 vote to recommend against this project?. 

This is the response that I finally got from Council .

"It is currently within the owner's legal rights to build a 24 hour convenience store, liquor store, etc at this location.  We are attempting to minimize the impact of this situation on the neighborhood."

I feel is would be better to have a 5000 square foot or less store then a 15000 square foot apartment tower with 10000 of living space. I think it is important to let Council know that we know that the owner has the right to build a store. The developer is using this as a bargaining tool. 

To me the store option fits into the neighborhood in the sense that everyone was used to a more walkable neighborhood and the reason it is zoned business neighborhood is because of the Elks, the African American school, and the former Daffi Deli. 

And I remember the mom and pop liquor store called Poindexter's right next to the Elk's Lodge when I was in college in the 1970's. 

Let Council poll the neighbors on which option they'd actually prefer: the massive high density rezoning they do not want or a business that they'd welcome.

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