NCCo bets $4 million on sewer extension

• New Castle County has budgeted $4 million for a sewer extension project.
• The land is north of Delaware City.
• Officials seek to attract business and new development to the area.

New Castle County has set aside $4 million to extend sewer service to unincorporated land north of Delaware City in an effort to attract industrial jobs.

The project was included in the county capital budget, which was approved last week and outlines more than $55 million in spending on sewer, building and park projects for the coming fiscal year that begins in July.

County officials said about 3,000 acres along River Road to the southern and western borders of the Delaware City refinery needs sewer service to be a viable home to industrial tenants.

Wayne Merritt, director of the county Special Services Department that handles sewer projects, said companies have expressed interest to state and local officials about the land. At this time, there is no specific project the sewer is being designed for, he said.

"Various companies have expressed interest about it," Merritt said. "We want to be a position in the future, if a viable manufacturing operation wants to come in, we are teed up to move dirt at the time."

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The land is zoned for industrial use, which officials said is a rare commodity compared to properties fit for residential or commercial development. Residents have complained about the county's shrinking industrial footprint at public meetings on commercial and residential developments.

Last year, some residents were critical of the rezoning of the former Avon Products distribution facility near Newark. The 42-acre property was rezoned from industrial to make way for a large, commercial and apartment project.

County officials said the sewer is necessary to make use of this land for industry.

"The county is committed to this area," said Tracy N. Surles, special services senior manager. "If it is going to bring in growth and jobs. We don’t want a lack of sewer capacity."

Delaware City Refinery owns the bulk of the land that could benefit from sewer service. Merritt said he is not aware of any plans refinery management have for the land.

Councilman Bill Bell, who represents the area, did not return a phone call seeking comment on the project.

County officials are beginning the initial design phase on where the sewer service will run. One option is tying in sewer service to existing infrastructure in Delaware City, Merritt said.

The $4 million allocated to the project is an estimate of its potential cost, said Jason Zern, operations engineer for New Castle County. He said the project's cost will deviate based on design and engineering.

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The county may apply for federal grants to help offset the cost, Merritt said. The capital budget is paid for primarily through borrowed money, and outlines about $1 billion in projects over the next five years.

Land around Delaware City has received new attention in the past year. Last month, Delaware City residents voted to annex land around the deteriorating Fort DuPont to the south of the municipality in anticipation for a 325-acre residential and retail development.

Another new project included in next year's budget is a $2 million extension of sewer service south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to a new development known as Whispering Woods. The development will be limited to those 55 years old or older and consist of 178 total residences on the south side of Boyds Corner Road about a half mile east of Summit Bridge Road.

The area is part of the county's sewer service area and the sewer will be built large enough to accommodate anticipated future developments in the area, Surles said.

"We anticipate as the market moves forward to see more in that area," Surles said.

Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com. Follow @Ber_Xerxes on Twitter.