Smyrna officials hope a week-long study starting Monday will yield a master plan for the Route 13 corridor through town.
Dover-Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Rich Vetter says the “Design Week” study is bringing together town officials, regional planners, and other stakeholders to re-imagine the look and feel of the Route 13 through town.
“We want to try and have a master plan in place so it’s not the same look, the same feel that’s out there today. We want to make it unique and give it a sense of place,” said Vetter.
The study will focus on the portion of U.S. Route 13 between the two Smyrna interchanges on Delaware Rt. 1.
Vetter adds now is the time to develop a plan – ahead of anticipated development along the corridor.
“We feel there’s potential annexations and potential development coming along the highway and we’re trying to get ahead of that,” said Vetter.
Public input is considered crucial to the study according to Vetter and he believes this study will allow the public to have its say early in the process.
“Traditionally, planners and engineers come in with alternatives beforehand and the public reacts,” said Vetter. “This way, we’re trying to incorporate the public input into the process as early as possible so they have have a say as to what this corridor is going to look like.”
There are opportunities for public to offer its thoughts at the Smyrna Opera House Monday from 5:30 to 7:30pm and at the Smyrna Town Hall Wednesday 11:30am to 1:30pm and 4:30 to 6:30pm. Residents can also comment online.
You can learn more about Design Week here on the Town of Smyrna website.
