Mixed-Use Zone Report for the Town of Middletown, Delaware

Abstract

At the request of the Town of Middletown, Delaware, the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) at the University of Delaware has developed this Mixed-Use Zone Report. This report is meant to be used as an informational tool as town officials consider the creation of a new mixed-use zoning district. This report follows up on IPA’s 2017 Middletown Multifamily Housing Analysis that included a key recommendation for the town to consider creating a new mixed- use zoning district, particularly for larger tracts of land in town and areas near the new Route 301 highway. The new zone would help the town grow in a more sustainable way and respond to the increasing development pressure it has been experiencing recently in part due to the construction of the new Route 301 highway. The new mixed-use zone would facilitate the creation of new pedestrian-friendly and well-connected “town center” areas that are both attractive and accessible to a variety of age groups. Using these new areas as focal points for growth, Middletown can continue to develop in a more cohesive manner with clear central “places” around which to grow.