Milton Town Council unanimously approved moving forward with a cost-benefit analysis on the proposed Carey Farm annexation, but have not determined how that analysis will be funded.

At council’s May 4 meeting, Vice Mayor Lee Revis-Plank, who chairs the town’s special review committee, said the committee was originally going to ask town staff to conduct the analysis, which would weigh the economic impacts of the annexation and subsequent development of Carey Farm. The special review committee is the first stop on the road to annexation, as it reviews the proposal and the pros and cons. 

However, Revis-Plank said town staff is overworked and she believes a consultant is appropriate. She said she would like to see if a consultant can not only do an analysis, but also come up with a template the town can use for future annexations. 

Carey Farm is poised to be one of the larger annexations, potentially adding 192 acres near the intersection of Harbeson and Shingle Point roads. If annexed, plans call for 242 single-family homes and 143 townhouses to be built on the site. The land is currently in Sussex County, zoned AR-1, agricultural-residential, but if annexed, developer CD Carey Farms LLC is seeking an R-1 residential zoning with a large-parcel development overlay. 

Mayor John Collier said at this point, the town has no idea what a consultant would cost and no cost estimates have been put forward. 

Town Manager Kristy Rogers recommended reaching out to PFM Consulting, which previously conducted the town’s long-range fiscal plan in 2024. However, since the item is not currently in the budget, council could only elect to move forward with authorizing Rogers to look into a consultant for the cost-benefit analysis. 

Revis-Plank said while the special review committee typically has 90 days to complete its review, it can come back to council for an extension if needed.