Milton council requests Route 16 speed limit change

With new development springing up all over the Route 16 corridor through Milton town limits, the town council has approved sending a request to Delaware Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit from 50 to 35 mph from Palmer Street to Country Road.

The requested change, approved Nov. 1 by Milton Town Council, is being made in anticipation of the proposed Cypress Grove development, a 240-unit housing project located on a 26-acre parcel starting at the corner of Route 16 and Country Road. While the Cypress Grove land is within Milton, Route 16 is owned and maintained by DelDOT. 

The reduction to 35 mph is consistent with the rest of Route 16 going through Milton. 

Cypress Grove is one of two major developments planned for the Route 16 corridor within Milton. The other is the planned Royal Farms convenience store and gas station on a 2-acre parcel at the corner of Route 16 and Union Street Extended. Both properties were annexed into town in early 2020 and are currently in the site-plan review process.

The intersection at the proposed Royal Farms has been under discussion by the Milton Streets, Sidewalks and Parks Committee for months. The committee would like to have DelDOT officials come in to discuss the intersection, but no meeting has been set up at this time. 

The Milton Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special-use permit and preliminary site plans for the Royal Farms Oct. 19 after results from a DelDOT traffic study were completed. 

The study  recommended allowing right-in, right-out and left-out traffic access for the parcel from Route 16, meaning there would be no left-hand turns into the property. Royal Farms would be responsible for putting in a left-hand turn lane on Route 16. DelDOT officials recommended allowing for full access into and out of the property from Cedar Creek Road.

Improvements on Route 16 are currently subject to DelDOT’s Coastal Corridor Study, which seeks public and local government input on improving traffic flow. DelDOT has three major improvements planned for Route 16 over the next six years, including a new grade-separated intersection at Route 1 and Route 16, improvements at Route 16 and Route 30 in Milton, and a grade-separated intersection at Route 16 and Route 113 in Ellendale. 

Improvements to come from the Royal Farms are still being reviewed. Royal Farms will go before the Milton Board of Adjustment at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15, at Grace Church, seeking variances from town requirements regarding parking and minimum setbacks. Royal Farms is seeking to have parking in the front setback area – normally prohibited in town code – and to have that parking within the code-required minimum 50-foot setback area.