INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION         

"Truly comprehensive planning requires intergovernmental coordination and cooperation. This Plan will demonstrate consideration of the particular effects of the Plan, when adopted, upon the development of municipalities within the County, as well as all applicable State and federal regulations."  One of the Kent County Levy Court's Goals for the 1996 Comprehensive Plan Update, which is still valid for this 2002 Update. 

One of the intentions of the Quality of Life Act of 1988 was "to encourage and assure cooperation between and among municipalities, counties and the State and to encourage and assure coordination of planning and development activities of units of county government, municipalities, regional agencies, and state government....” When the Comprehensive Plan Update process began in 2000, staff sent letters to all 20 incorporated areas (August 30, 2000) alerting them that work on the update was underway and requesting their participation in any of the 12 workshops to exchange information.  Coordination also included meetings in August 2000 with state agencies such as the Governor's Office, DNREC, DelDOT, the seven (7) School Districts and School Boards (April 11, 2001 meeting); and the Department of Agriculture (August 2000).   

Kent County advertised the public workshop dates in Delaware State News and radio advertisements; a February 27, 2001 letter to the Delaware League of Local Governments to inform them of our Comprehensive Plan Web site; a January 13, 2001 briefing to the Metropolitan Planning Organization Council; and several briefings (October 23, 2001 and February 22, 2001) to the State Planners Technical Advisory Committee. 

As described in the introduction chapter, Kent County developed a Comprehensive Plan Update Internet website, which allowed viewers to read each chapter as it was being modified.  This technique was on the Internet from February 2001 to May 2001 to allow other governmental agencies (federal, state and local) a chance to make comments as the plan was being updated.  During this February to May timeframe, comments regarding the chapters were received from the general public and State agencies. 

The Municipalities   

Of the twenty (20) municipalities contacted initially, two (2) provided a copy of their Comprehensive Plan(s): Camden (1992), and Dover (1986, 1989, 1991, and 1996).  On May 15, 2001 Kent County staff met with Ms. Joan Denny, Town of Camden Administrator to discuss the long-range goals of Camden.  On May 23, 2001, Kent County staff met with Mr. Tony DePrima, Dover City Planner to discuss long-range goals.  On May 30, 2001, Kent County staff met with Ms. Karen Brittingham, City of Milford Planner to discuss long-range goals. 

The County plans to send each municipality a copy of the County's 2002 Comprehensive Plan Update for their review and comment.  Although there is a process for notifying municipalities of pending land use applications adjacent to their boundaries, there are several issues requiring additional coordination.  These issues include County zoning classifications surrounding municipalities and annexations.     

The Counties 

All three Delaware counties are required by the Shaping Delaware's Future Act of 1995 to adopt updated Comprehensive Plans by March 2002.  There has been an exchange of current plans with New Castle County (October 24, 2001 with Mr. Shawn Tucker) and there will be coordination with Sussex County.  These two counties will also be sent a copy of the 2002 Kent County Comprehensive Plan Update for their review and comment.  Additional coordination on various land use issues can occur directly between the counties or through a forum such as the Office of State Planning Coordination’s technical work group.    

The Region  

There are a number of planning issues of a regional nature.  In response to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) was established.  The Dover/Kent County MPO has formulated a Long-Range Transportation Plan addressing how the County's transportation resources should be managed.  This plan serves as the framework for transportation investment decisions. The MPO's Long-Range Transportation Plan is the basis for the transportation element of this Comprehensive Plan.   

One final example of a regional planning issue is the Delaware Estuary Program.  The implementation of the Delaware Estuary Management Plan will affect Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and all three Delaware counties and will require a great deal of intergovernmental coordination.   

In September 2000, Kent County, Maryland and Queen Anne’s County, Maryland sent their Comprehensive Plans to Kent County, Delaware for review.  These adjacent Maryland counties are required by Maryland Law Article 66B Maryland Law that requires Maryland Comprehensive Plans be forwarded to all adjacent planning jurisdictions for review and comment. 

The State   

The Shaping Delaware's Future Act of 1995 requires the State, through the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues, to "provide to the County for use in the comprehensive planning process: state land use and development goals and policies, state regulatory requirements, estimates of future state financial capabilities, the State Capital Improvements Budget and Plan, State facility location plans, estimates of existing quantity of natural resources, economic development strategies, and any other information which might reasonably influence the County's future land use decisions."  In return, the County is required to develop certain elements in consultation with their respective state agency (e.g., transportation with DelDOT, conservation with DNREC and Agriculture, etc.)  The elements must then be reviewed by their respective State agencies.  The County is also required to submit their completed Plan to the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues for review, and provide the Cabinet Committee with an annual report on their implementation of the Plan.     

Recommendations   

§         Currently, only the counties are required to adopt and update Comprehensive Land Use Plans.  It would be helpful to require all state agencies whose mission(s) has (have) land use implications to adopt and update long-range or comprehensive land use plans on a schedule similar to the counties'. 

§         Explore the use of current technology (e.g. the Internet and Geographic Information Systems) to coordinate land use activities among state, county, and municipal governments. 

§         Continue to foster coordination with the State and local governments as outlined in the Shaping Delaware's Future Act, the Land Use Protection Act and the Livable Delaware initiatives.  Utilize new technology mechanisms such as the Internet, GIS and electronic mail as a platform to exchange land use information.   

§         Consider infrastructure impact to municipal services (i.e. fire and police) when reviewing subdivision development within the intergovernmental zone.