Town considers new residential complex

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Residents and council in Georgetown will soon decide on the details of a new residential area on the west side of town.

Wednesday night, the plans were laid out for a new 70-acre complex, including 288 apartment units and 121 single family homes.

The commission pumped the brakes on recommending the project, instead deferring it to town council next month.

“Just defer and pass it on to the town council for their decision,” said town planning commission chair Gary Tonge.

The size and scale of the project gave pause to the towns planning commission.

“What you’ve presented, I don’t have a problem with. I do have a concern about the size of the project,” said Tonge.

The man with the plan, Doug Liberman, says the density of housing units falls below the density that’s allowed.

“It is a large project, but it’s concentrated in an area where we do have commercial development that’s planned for it with proposed road improvements, traffic signals and roads to support that type of facility.”

Liberman contests with the amount of Del Tech students, full time residents and people that make their way inland during the summer, he says this housing is needed for the town.

“I think it’s going to provide options for housing. We’re going to have both single family and apartment housing. So it’s going to have options for people to place roots and also to serve the community through the apartments.”

Another argument made for the project is the walkability of the location, for residents to shops and stores along Route 113 within walking distance.

“You’ll be able to walk to the Walmart, walk to the Redner’s, walk to the other stores that are there along College Park Ln and 113,” said Liberman.

There will be a public hearing at Georgetown’s council meeting next month. that’s Wednesday, January 23, so if you’re in the area and you have an opinion you can make your voice heard.

We reached out to Mayor Bill West who says he will reserve comment on the project for that meeting.