Community Planning Committee

The Arden Community Planning Committee plans the “physical and cultural future of the community.” It works to plan long- and short-term projects for the village in conjunction with other committees, the Trustees and residents. The committee also has a few non-planning responsibilities, including overseeing the Memorial Garden (cemetery), the G-Ardeners Community Garden (motion: 3/23/15) and implementing the Vacant Dwelling Ordinance 15.

Community Planning Committee’s Guidance Policy and Committee Description

This Policy document gives details about what the Committee does. The policy was established January 2021 by the Town Assembly:

Community Planning Committee Guidance Policy

The Committee Description was established by the Town Assembly in January 1968:

Community Planning Committee Description

Revising Ordinance 14 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

(click here to see proposed Ordinance 14)

What is the purpose of revising Ordinance 14? The Planning Committee has revised this ordinance to update it and have it conform with the new County ordinance.

The County made significant changes to its ADU ordinance in 2024. It now allows detached ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) to be built on lots 1/2 acre in size or larger. Arden already has about 49 ADUs that were “grandfathered in” according to the current Ordinance 14 (2008). And now there are at least 35 leaseholds of 1/2 acre or more that might qualify for a detached ADU.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are in alignment with two important goals of the Planning Committee’s Guidance Policy– 1. to encourage cultural, racial, ethnic and economic diversity; 2. to foster a sense of community.

ADUs can provide housing options to our seniors and make our neighborhood more accessible to lower-income households by providing smaller living spaces. They can potentially broaden the range and number of people here to keep the community going.

Also check out the Information Sheet for Arden Ordinance #14 -ADUs that accompanies new Ordinance 14 to help guide leaseholders in the process of creating or decertifying ADUs in Arden.

Ordinance 15 Vacant Dwellings

The Community Planning Committee made some changes to our Vacant Dwelling Ordinance. We read the revised ordinance prior to the vote approving the revisions at the Town Meeting in June 2024. Read about why it needed to be revised: Why Change Arden Ordinance 15? Plus, check out the official new Ordinance 15 here. To find out about how the Town can use the vacant dwellings funds it has collected click here.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Projects

2026 is the final year to expend all monies granted to the Town for these projects. They are on track to be accomplished by the end of the year.

For more information about ARPA check out this link.

WILMAPCO 3-Ardens Transportation Plan Progress

WILMAPCO and the Ardens Transportation Monitoring Committee have prioritized a mid-block pedestrian crossing on Harvey Road at the Clubhouse Path. A pair of new pathways would also be placed on either side of Harvey Road to connect this pedestrian crossing to the existing Clubhouse and Milky Way Paths. These projects would improve walking and connectivity and safety within the Ardens while also supporting traffic calming along Harvey Road. A vote at the January Town Meeting confirmed that the Committee should go forward with seeking funding for this project. We are waiting to see if DelDot funding is approved for this project. Go to wilmapco.org/ardens/ to find out more about the work the Monitoring Committee is doing or contact the Community Planning Committee at planning@arden.delaware.gov.

Results of the 2023 Advisory Retreat– “What Does Arden Look Like in 20 Years?”

The Arden Advisory Committee hosted a retreat, on February 4, 2023, at the Buzz Ware Village Center titled, “What Does Arden Look Like in Twenty Years?” The goal for the retreat was “To begin to map out a path for the future for the Town on each of four topics discussed and gain insight into our collective goals”. It was facilitated with by Tricia Arndt, from the DE State Office of Planning.

The Community Planning Committee is now tasked with compiling and communicating the results of the retreat and working with other committees to further the list of prioritized goal(s) that came out of the retreat. This will be a focus for the CPC for this coming year.

The four topics chosen by a survey of the participants were:

1. Community Involvement/Increasing Volunteerism & Social Engagement
2. Environmental Stewardship and Climate Impact Management
3. Aging in Place – Accommodating an Aging Population
4. Historical preservation/awareness/how to assure Arden’s heritage in passed down.

Here is a Summary Retreat Report on the results of the retreat. Here are the full Advisory Retreat Minutes 2-4-23.

Community Planning Committee Meetings

We hold regular Committee meetings at the Buzz Ware Village Center and/or via Zoom until further notice. A link to the meetings can be found below. The Committee usually holds their meetings on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. No meeting is held in July or December.

Call-in number and link for visitors who want to join meetings is below. Call (302) 379-0234 for problems with connections. Thank you for your patience.

Meeting Schedule:

The Planning Committee meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month except July and December at 7:30 p.m. at the Buzz Ware Village Center and/or over Zoom. Here is the Zoom link:

Meeting ID: 846 2220 7663

Password: 130214

Other Informational Items

CPC Guidance Policy

The Community Planning Committee Guidance Policy was approved by Town Assembly on January 25, 2021. This document is intended to help clarify the Committee’s duties. Email planning@arden.delaware.gov to comment.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Click here to see the Conflict of Interest Policy adopted by the Town Assembly on September 22, 2014.

Freedom of Information Act Guidelines

The Community Planning Committee created guidelines on Arden’s responsibilities regarding the Freedom of Information Act presented at the September 22, 2014 meeting of the Town Assembly.

National Flood Insurance Program

Resolution for the National Flood Insurance Program was voted on at the January 27, 2014 town meeting.

Vacant Dwellings Ordinance

Click here to learn about the Vacant Dwelling Ordinance.

Long Range Planning for Communal Grounds

Long Range Plan for the Communal Grounds of the Ardens April 29, 1997

A dedicated group from the Community Planning Committee worked on this plan to make the best use of our environment, to address all land use needs, and to honor Arden’s Natural Heritage.

Additional documents pertaining to the green spaces of Arden:

Forest Stewardship Policy March 2008
Trust Tree Policy Permit forms and information available on the Trustees page.
Sherwood Green Master Plan 1998
Tree Policy Draft: Guidelines for tree care
Arden Green Plan 2017 EHR

Minutes

Meeting minutes are posted after revisions and the approval by a quorum of the Committee.

2017
January | February | September | November | December

2008
April, 2008 | May, 2008 | June, 2008 | July, 2008

Contact us!

Email the Committee directly at Planning@arden.delaware.gov or use the Contact Page of the Village of Arden, Delaware website.