Town Council approves resolution to incorporate portion of land into Berlin

PHOTO COURTESY I.G. BURTON
Drawings showcase plans for a completely redone i.g. Burton Chevrolet dealership on Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin. i.g. Burton’s Director of Operations Pete Renzi and Attorney Sandy McCallister Jr. addressed the Town Council Monday evening to get a resolution approved to move forward with the annexation of the dealership.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Oct. 31, 2019) The annexation agreement that will allow the i.g. Burton car dealership to overhaul some physical aspects of its Berlin operation was approved by the Town Council at its Monday evening.

There is roughly 6.0975 acres that would be annexed into the town, ac- cording to an agreement between i.g. Burton and the Town of Berlin.

The annexation applies to the Chevrolet dealership. The company also plans to demolish the current shop and rebuild it. The parcel where i.g. Burton’s Chrysler Dodge Ram Jeep shop is al- ready inside the town limits.

At the county level, the property is zoned C-2 Commercial, but that desig- nation would change to B-2 Shopping District, according to the annexation agreement.

The Town of Berlin would provide several services, including police protection and water service, and i.g. Burton would agree to pay “ready-to-serve” fees for seven equivalent dwelling units of wastewater service to the property.

Attorney Sandy McCallister Jr., who represents i.g. Burton, said he’s been working with Worcester County and the state to get final annexation approval.

When speaking with Worcester County officials, McCallister said that Barrett Road was a topic of discussion.

McCallister said as a condition of the annexation, county officials wanted to include the road. However, he added that Berlin officials asked that i.g. Burton assume the responsibility of maintaining the road.

McCallister asked the mayor and council “to move forward with you folks and keep the process going.”

Berlin’s Planning Commission issued a favorable recommendation on the annexation during a July meeting.

i.g. Burton acquired the dealership on Old Ocean City Boulevard from the Barrett family in the summer of 2018. The company also has dealerships in Milford, Lewes, Smyrna and Seaford, Delaware.

Mayor Gee Williams then called for a public hearing to allow townspeople to express their opinions on the matter, but no one opted to participate.

Councilman Zack Tyndall asked whether the company could switch from its current electric service provider, Delmarva Power, to the town’s electric utility, and cited a previously annexed property that had been allowed to do that.

Town Attorney David Gaskill said that property, a proposed gas station and convenience store on North Main Street near Route 50 developed by Spiro Buas, had “a special agreement” between Delmarva Power and the Berlin Electric Utility that was approved by the Public Service Commission. He added something like this wouldn’t typically apply for new annexations.

“We would expect not to see that be- cause it’s not within our right to decide who can serve them electric power,” Gaskill said.

Councilman Thom Gulyas moved to continue with the annexation process, which was approved in a 3-1 vote. Tyndall was the sole dissenter.

Councilman Dean Burrell was absent from Monday evening’s meeting.