In one of Selbyville’s shortest town council meetings in years, residents still learned about two major potential building projects on April 2.
First of all, Royal Farms was granted unanimous approval on preliminary site plans for a gas station and convenience store, located at the southwest corner of Route 113 and Cemetery Avenue.
The undeveloped land (tax parcel 533-16.00-42.00) is currently owned by Mumford Sheet Metal, which operates the massive workshop across the street.
A whopping 90 parking spots would accompany the proposed 5,371-square-foot building, plus eight fueling aisles and three diesel fueling aisles. There would be no car wash.
With a preliminary site plan, engineers can finish designing the site, then procure state and county permits. Finally, they’ll return to Selbyville Town Council for final site plan approvals. Developers hope for entrances from both Route 113 and Cemetery Road.
“It’s a good thing for the town. They do a nice job,” said council member Jay Murray.
Also, Selbyville is on the prowl for a new Town Hall, and they’ve set sights on the former PNC Bank building.
The Town is in negotiations to buy the PNC building, although Councilmember Clarence “Bud” Tingle Jr. wouldn’t go into pricing details because of a nondisclosure agreement.
It’s the “perfect location,” Mayor Clifton Murray said of the two-story building on Selbyville’s main downtown corner. Church Street and Main Street are already the focal point of the Halloween and Christmas parades. The current Town Hall and police station are adjacent to the water plant, but the one-story building has limited storage and space.
The PNC Bank at permanently closed the 1 West Church Street location on June 16, 2017. At the time, the company asked if Selbyville would permit a mini drive-through ATM at Town Hall parking lot. Now the tables have turned as Town Council considers using PNC’s property instead. Currently, the four lots in the PNC parcel include the building, several small parking lots and a grassy lot.
PNC Bank corporation is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. Sussex County’s mapping website lists Baltimore Trust Co. as the landowner, with a PO Box in Chicago.
In other Selbyville news:
• Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) will have a 90-day paving Route 54 project through town from April 16 to late July. The project stretches along Main Street, from Cemetery Road to Lighthouse Road (Route 54), plus another six miles on Route 54 to Sound Church Road.
Contractor Allan Myers Inc. will be constructing ADA compliant curb ramps, plus milling, overlaying and striping the pavement. Motorists should drive cautiously through the lane closures and shifts, especially as construction personnel and equipment will be operating in close proximity to the lanes.
Although the timing isn’t ideal this major summer travel route, Town Council look forward to the finished product.
• The 61st annual Old Timer’s Day festival will be June 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Church Street. Classic cars, tractors and emergency vehicles from 1988 and earlier will line Church Street in Selbyville, with a live band, door prizes, vendors and children’s activities. Admission is free, with $10 vehicle registration fee and $30 vendor fee. Details are online at http://business.bethany-fenwick.org/events.
• There has been no progress in fixing the deterioration of Railroad Avenue, which first showed signs of collapse in May of 2015. Nestled between the railroad tracks and Mountaire poultry plant, the road crosses the Sandy Branch tax ditch, which flows west to east in a galvanized metal pipe that has begun to rust out. The Town temporarily reinforced the crumbling soil and asphalt, but now, barricades are once more blocking the road to through traffic.
There was a repair plan, but it was never bid out. Initial cost estimates were hundreds of thousands of dollars, and no one knew exactly who is responsible for paying.
• There will be a Comprehensive Plan workshop on Thursday, April 5, at 4 p.m. to continue discussion among the Mayor, town council, Planning and Zoning Commission and Comprehensive Land Use team.
• Housing developments are filling the town with people — and sewage. Although things are operating well now, pump stations at Poly Branch Road and Route 54 will be overwhelmed when the town is built out. Town council will discuss upgrades at a future workshop meeting.
• Selbyville Police Department’s newest officer, Megan Loulou, has completed initial training and is now patrolling solo.
The police will crack down on distracted driving enforcement this month, especially cell phone use, as Chief W. Scott Collins noticed car collision numbers have reached an eight-year high.
• At Phillip C. Showell Elementary, the massive “OurTown” mural fills the hallways, painted by the students and artist John Donato.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before, and I had four galleries,” complimented Mountaire’s Roger Marino.
Selbyville Town Council’s next regular meeting will be Monday, May 7, at 7 p.m.