GHADA's meetings are scheduled for

the third Monday of each month except December, July and August.

Please refer to Community News page for the agenda.

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GHADA FISCAL YEAR 2002 (2001-2002) 

ANNUAL REPORT 

GHADA celebrated its 35 th birthday this year and I am proud to say the organization is alive, doing well and improving in many directions.  GHADA has maintained a good relationship with the New Castle County Council, the County Executive and our State’s Representatives and Senators. GHADA is consulted on development and Land Use matters in the Greater Hockessin Area by developers and politicians and most recently has been very proactive in Quality of Life Issues in Hockessin. All of this was made possible by the continued community support of you - the Residents of Hockessin, AND I thank you for your contributions. 

For the fiscal year ended May 2002, a significant effort was devoted to proactive planning or preplanning for the Greater Hockessin Area. Those efforts include: 

The New Castle County Comprehensive Plan presentation in September 2001.

Charles Baker, Manager of NCC Land Use and Planning presented the County’s five-year plan. While the plan was a broad based county plan, specifics related to the Greater Hockessin Area were identifiable 

In October 2001, the planning consultants, Alberto and Associates, presented the Greater Hockessin Area Pre-Planning study. The report was the result of a three-month study conducted by the consultant and a Community Steering Group. The full report, available in the Hockessin Library, highlighted many of the Community’s Assets, Strengths and Opportunities and set the stage for a more comprehensive plan for specific areas in the Greater Hockessin Area. 

In November 2001, planning efforts concentrated on the softer side of planning - GHADA in partnership with Hockessin Community News, hosted the first Community Summit at the PAL center. The objective of GHADA’s Community Services Focus Group was to identify and strengthen Hockessin’s Social Capital. The goals of the Hockessin Summit were to

v     Showcase groups contributing to community services, and

v     Engage community leaders and citizens in a dialogue about how we can strengthen community bonds in Hockessin.

Fifty-three participants set up displays and 23 merchants in the area provided door prizes.  WaWa and Acme Supermarket provided refreshments for attendees.

 In January 2002, Lee Ann Walling, senior advisor to the Governor, highlighted Governor Miner’s Livable Delaware Program. Both Lee Ann Walling and Transportation Secretary Nathan Hayward showed continued interest in Hockessin’s planning efforts with two subsequent visits to the area in 2002 (Including a three hour tour of the area.)

Also, GHADA members reported planning activities in the Yorklyn area. Residents are working with the Red Clay Valley Assn. addressing the flooding in the Yorklyn area from the Red Clay Creek, tracing a timeline of Yorklyn history, and recognizing Yorklyn as a National Historic district.

Lastly, at the meeting, we reported on our planning initiatives with the New Garden Township Supervisors to discuss transportation and other issues with our northern neighbors. 

Then in April 2002, we heard from Ted Matley, who presented a slide program on the Goals, Objectives, Actions and Plans of WILMAPCO, the long range planning body for New Castle County, DE. and Cecil County MD. 

Planning efforts concluded in May 2002 with a report on Community Planning in New Castle County.

Mary Grace Fariello, Community Planner, displayed maps identifying development activities in the Hockessin Area. She highlighted the planning assistance now available from the New Castle Planning & Land Use department.  

In addition to planning matters, Other Program items in the fiscal year included:

• Report on Water Resource and Water Supply System Status – Piedmont Basin by John (Jack) Harrison (February 2002)

The report detailed and summarized the status of on-going work to both supply adequate quantities of public water in New Castle County and to simultaneously protect the water resource system of the Piedmont watershed. The previous historic condition of the White Clay, the Red Clay, the Brandywine, Mill Creek, and Christina streams and their tributaries and associated wetlands were described and compared to contemporary conditions.  

·         Review of Plans and Proposals of Red Clay Consolidated School District

A representative from the school district reviewed their plans and answered community questions. 

• Major Jim Hedrick, Assistant Police Chief of New Castle County, asked for support of the community for HB 411, which would put more responsibility on Home Security Companies for answering alarms.  (April 2002)
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• NCC Councilman Rich Abbott presented the proposed changes agreed to by the members of the Billboard Focus Group representing GHADA, Pike Creek, and Milltown/Limestone Rd. Civic Groups.  Copies of the changes were available at the meeting and are available from Mr. Abbott's office.
• Reviewed the Status of the July 4^th Parade and Fireworks

Jean Toman, organizer of the Hockessin Christmas Caroling and other Hockessin events, has assumed the lead role the organizing the activities for Hockessin’s July 4^th celebration. Jean highlighted the planned activities and described how we may support and get involved with the celebration.

• Hosted a State Panel Presentation and Discussion of Activities in Dover

Senator Liane Sorenson, Senator Patricia Blevins, and Representative Roger Roy highlighted and discussed the current State of Delaware issues. Topics included: The Bond Bill; Budget Projections; a report on Cancer statistics; Redistricting – changes in the Greater Hockessin Area; and other ‘Hot Issues’.

• Senator Sorenson reported the installation of a traffic light at Yorklyn Rd. and Old Wilmington Rd. This new light was a joint project of Reps. Roger Roy and Deborah Hudson and Sen. Sorenson, with Roger Roy funding it with his bond bill allowance.
• We conducted an Open Forum in March 2002 - The purpose of the open forum is to provide insight into each issue and focus group, and to give board members and those in the community an opportunity to discuss, make suggestions, and ask questions on all topics and concerns
• Councilman Abbott announced that the petition for a community septic system for the property at Rt. 7and Brackenville Rd. (Toll Brothers) was denied.
• A status report related to the Tweeds Tavern was presented – the building will be moved to a more compatible property.

 Administratively 

Pam Gouge reported on the implementation of the GHADA WEBSITE. 

The website is now up and running at www.GHADAonline.com.  Future meeting minutes will be put on the website and other information concerning meetings etc. can be visited on line.  

Approximately one-third or the GHADA Board was elected at the Annual Meeting. 

The Board Recommended safety improvement changes for the Mitchell Road and Lancaster Pike intersection.  

RE: Shields Lumber Property – We developed Deed Restriction Changes for the property. 

RE: Land Use Matters:        

• Review of New Construction and Plans for the Hockessin area included:
• The rezoning of 2.1 acres to accommodate a one-story office building of the Hockessin Community News. 
• Rezoning to ST for the construction of an Age Restricted Development – Adare Village
• Requests for rezoning on RT 7 for the property adjacent to Adare Village.
• Request to lift deed restrictions and construct a school at Brackenville and Rt7
• Request to lift deed restriction and construct a Vet Clinic on RT7 @ Little Baltimore Pike
• Construction expansion plans for the Wilmington Christian School.
• Modification of Deed restrictions related to the Shield’s Property.
• Negotiating the removal of the Billboard located on the Shield’s property.
• Minor development plan associated with the WSFS property.
• Construction of a Cell Tower now planned for the former Hercules County Club.
• Construction of Soccer fields on the Smith Park facility
• Sanford School expansion plans
• Other preliminary constructions plans that were not advanced.

Throughout the fiscal year, members of GHADA attended the following meetings: 

NCC Civic League Meetings

DART Advisory Meetings

New Garden Township Meetings

DelDot Construction on Rt. 7 meetings

Brackenville Road improvements

NCC Land Use Planning Meetings

NCC Council Meetings

CCOBH meeting on Infill and

NCC County EX. Meetings for Umbrella Groups

In making this a successful year, on behalf of the community, I would like to recognize and give Special thanks to the officers of GHADA:

Shari DeVivo, our Treasurer for her work on maintaining the books for the organization

Sara Barre for her Secretarial activities

CJ Seitz for his counsel and work on Land Use Issues

Pam Gouge for elevating the administrative practices, improving the communication process, and implementing GHADA’s Web site.

Recognition to our Focus Group Chairpersons

Terry Massie, Eleanor Smith, Steve Borleske and Neil Greenstein.

To New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon for his planning support

Joe Lake, Senator L. Sorenson and Rep Joe Miro for their continued hard work related to the relocation of Tweeds Tavern

Steve Borleske for his work coordinating the redevelopment of Hockessin Parks.

Councilman Rich Abbott for his active involvement in the Hockessin Area

Representative Roger Roy for his many initiatives and to all of our Senators and Representatives for their support.

And last, but not least, to the Board Members and the members at large that contribute their time and effort to community matters.

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