GREEN DELAWARE ALERTS

Port Penn, DE. December 29, 2000. This is a quick update made necessary by an important meeting on January 2nd.

Thanks to the outpouring of objections, the New Castle County Land Use Committee tabled the big Odessa National sprawl project on December 19th for further consideration at a meeting on January 2nd. (Wilmington, 4:00, in the City-County Building.) The Dec 19th meeting was dominated by finger-pointing and excuse making, with the County blaming the State (DELDOT) and DELDOT blaming the County. The public was not allowed to speak, but Rep. Dick Cathcart made the case against the project. The reality seems to be that the state and county have worked together to  create a complicated shuffle of responsibility that baffles citizens and prevents rational planning. New Castle County Council Land Use Committee Chair Robert Weiner-one of the least trustworthy people in Delaware politics-repeatedly said "don't point the finger at us." (One person stood up and pointed a finger at him). DELDOT refused to  withdraw it's "non-objection" letter.

Delaware Department of Agriculture officials and Commissioner Brooks Banta of Kent County sent eloquent objections. County Executive Tom Gordon does not return calls from Green Delaware, but he seems to be simply ducking the Odessa National issue, and getting away with it. County officials, in our opinion, want to approve Odessa National, and will do so as soon as they perceive that opponents are worn down. The project seems to have some high-level but mysterious political support.

ACTIONS: contact County Council members and Gordon (details on Alert #81) and ask them to reject, or at least table, Odessa National on Jan 2nd. Contact Gov.-elect Minner and ask that DELDOT withdraw its non-objection. Attend the Jan 2nd meeting. Your physical presence is very important.

         Dishonor role of New Castle County Planning Board members who voted that rural areas don't have a community character to be preserved:

Victor Singer (Chair) 366-8768 (all numbers area code 302)

Sandra Anderson 652-1639

June MacArtor 834-8650

Joseph Maloney 658-6256

Robert McDowell 378-2300

Bernard Walker 762-4844

Mark Weinberg 478-5066