Developers presented the Canal Overlook major land development plan for an 83‑acre parcel near the C&D Canal that would subdivide the site into 108 single‑family lots using the county’s open‑space subdivision option, New Castle County officials said at the Land Use Committee meeting.

Applicant representative Sean Tucker said the plan, consistent with the property’s S (suburban) zoning, would provide roughly 55% open space where the county code requires 50%. The proposal averages about 1.3 units per acre. Tucker said the application dates to 2021 and is currently scheduled for a committee vote next week.

The project team presented a landscaping and reforestation plan. Landscape architect Gary Burcham said the plan includes street trees, an extensive buffer yard using dense evergreen plant units, and reforestation areas totaling hundreds of canopy tree whips planted at 300 per acre. He described site planting totals including hundreds of street and interior trees, buffer trees, understory trees and shrubs, and dense planting around stormwater features.

Council members focused their questions on traffic safety and coordination: Councilman Carter asked whether traffic calming beyond a required crosswalk would be included. Tucker said the site passed the traffic impact study and that DelDOT required a crosswalk across Coxneck Road; following a call with the DelDOT secretary, the applicant committed to adding flashing signals at the crosswalk as part of the entrance plan to calm traffic.

Council members also asked about coordination with Southern Elementary and the school district to ensure phasing and peak‑hour impacts are considered; Tucker said the traffic study analyzed AM and PM hours and included school start times and that the traffic engineer will attend the next meeting to address remaining questions.

Members raised concerns about public access, the adjacent walking trail and potential parking at the community entrance that could be used to access the Mike Castle Trail; Tucker said roads would be dedicated but the trail passing through the community would remain private and subject to the maintenance corporation’s rules. He said the developer offered an access easement to nearby Barb’s Farm homeowners to avoid forcing them to drive elsewhere to reach the trail.

Council members also pressed the applicant to confirm environmental coordination. Councilman Carter asked whether the Division of Fish & Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been consulted about adjacent hunting lands and possible future Corps dredge‑disposal activity; Tucker said DNREC and the PLUS review would have given those agencies a chance to comment and he would follow up to provide any comment records.

Tucker said the county department reviewed and signed off on the plan’s code compliance; the applicant noted DelDOT issued a letter of no objection and the State Fire Marshal has approved the plan. There was no public comment during the committee discussion. The committee did not take a formal vote on Canal Overlook at this meeting and Tucker said traffic and technical consultants will be present next week when the item is scheduled for a vote.