Milton Village Apartments get approval

The 296-unit Milton Village Apartments has received approval of its final site plan.

At its June 5 meeting, the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved the plan, which is the first phase of a development that includes another 400 residential units and a commercial/office complex on a 138-acre parcel near the intersection of Gravel Hill Road (Route 30) and Route 16 just west of Milton.

The property is zoned HR-1, high-density residential. Any road work could be subject to recommendations proposed in the Delaware Department of Transportation Coastal Corridors study. At buildout, the development would generate an average of more than 18,000 daily vehicle trips.

In all, the overall plan includes 696 residential units, including 277 single-family home lots, 296 apartments and 123 townhomes.

First-phase plans include 10 apartment buildings totaling 130,300 square feet with a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse and pool, parking, sidewalks, 20 acres of open space, bike paths, landscaping, 60 garages and connection to a multimodal path along Gravel Hill Road.

Three bus stops have also been proposed.

The plan shows the removal of 14 acres of an existing 26 acres of woodlands.

Although the plan indicates 20 acres of open space, or 10% of total acreage, the county has recommended the total be closer to 25%.

The apartment complex – with access from Gravel Hill Road – will be located in the middle of the parcel, with commercial and office space planned along Route 16, and a mixture of additional housing units south of the apartments. Connection to Route 16 would eventually be provided with a central street and roundabout.

Central water and sewer will be provided by Artesian Utilities.

Developer 1630 Ventures LLC of Wilmington will have to file additional site plans and/or applications for the remainder of the project, which has been reviewed by the Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination.

At the time of application, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control officials said the developer must comply with federal and state regulations to protect an active bald eagle nest on the property. Among the regulations is a buffer from at least 330 feet up to 660 feet around the tree with the nest.