220 Delaware Street
New Castle, Delaware 19720
(302) 322-9804

The City of New Castle’s Planning Commission meeting took place on April 15, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. in the City of New Castle’s Police Community Room.

Members Present:

James Steele
George Freebury
Jane B. Miller
Mary Davis
Richard Mendelsohn
Teal Petty
Tommy Wilson

Others Present:

Jackie Seneschal
Joseph DiAngelo
David E. Skupien
Debby Pullan
Carlo Viola
Dr. Genevieve Miller
Francis “Chip” Patterson
Jim Quillen
Dick Appleby
Chris Castagno
Lou Indelini
Bruce Gordon
Francis DiAscanis
Sally Monigle
Bill Hentowski
Doug Heckrotte
Ginny Appleby

Chairman James Steele called the special meeting to order.

Minutes of the special April 2004 Meeting

Introduction of Jackie Seneschal from KCI, the City’s Planning Firm. Jackie informed the group that the major focus of tonight’s meeting will be a group discussion on the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and Action Plan.

Jackie Seneschal presented a slide show on the 5-year Action Plan. After presenting the slide show, Jackie asked the group to reflect upon things that are important versus things that are urgent.

A discussion was held on the critical issues facing New Castle. An exercise was conducted in which Jackie asked the group to write down their top 5 critical issues that each person felt the Planning Commission should focus on. A list was developed based on the responses that read:

Critical Issues list
­ City is squeezed between River and highways
­ Overflow of traffic
­ Loss of open spaces
­ Stormwater management/Flood control
­ Loss of parking spaces
­ VX and pollution in river
­ Liquified gas shipping in the river
­ How to pay for the plan implementation
­ Stick with Comp Plan

Jackie then present the group with a second exercise in which she asked the group to write down the 5 most important actions that the Planning Commission should undertake based on a review of the 5-year action plan. The exercise required each person to write down the 5 most urgent actions that the Planning Commission should undertake for the next 6 months. A list was developed based on the responses that read:

Most important issues
­ Economic development - expand industrial and commercial tax base funding (5)
­ Resolve encroachment of through traffic, livability of every neighborhood
­ Transportation congestion
­ Stormwater management/prevent flooding (2)
­ Housing in non-historic areas; redevelopment and renovation; ensure long-term viability
­ Downtown parking and enforcement (2)
­ Environmental livability
­ Wires placed underground
­ Strengthen preservation effort – both in historic area and throughout the city (2)

Jim Steele thanked the group for attending and there being no further business before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned unanimously at 8:10pm.