Scarlet Oaks to ask Milton council to annex additional 5 acres

Scarlet Oaks Holdings LLC is prepared to begin the process of annexing an additional 5 acres of land at the intersection of Shingle Point Road and Harbeson Road, which the developer is proposing to use as commercial space.

Milton Town Council will hear the request and vote on a resolution to refer the application to the special review committee at council’s regular meeting, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, at Milton library.

Scarlet Oaks Holdings is requesting to annex the land, currently in Sussex County, and rezone it from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-1, commercial. The 5 acres comprises two parcels at the southern corner of Shingle Point and Harbeson roads. According to Scarlet Oaks’ annexation application, the purpose of the annexation is for the two parcels to serve as a physical connection between the planned Scarlet Oaks residential development and points in town across Harbeson Road, such as Cannery Village and Mariner Middle School. 

The concept plan for the commercial area includes a proposed mixed-use building, a greenhouse market, a beer garden, a pond and gazebo, and an outdoor area that could be used as an amphitheater or farmer’s market.  

The residential portion of the development, which was annexed into town in 2023, would include 64 single-family detached units and 99 single-family attached units, along with a clubhouse and a proposed shared-use path. The 50-acre parcel is zoned R-1, residential, with a large-parcel development overlay. Plans call for the development to have 20-foot-wide streets throughout, 5-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the streets and street trees. Each house will have two parking spaces per dwelling, per code, and open spaces will include recreation areas, stormwater management ponds and landscaping along Harbeson Road and Shingle Point Road. Access to the development will come from Shingle Point Road.

Milton’s annexation process starts with the special review committee, a three-person panel that looks at the pros and cons of annexing a parcel of land into the town. The committee’s work may or may not involve a cost-benefit analysis and review by outside consultants, depending on the size of the parcel and the nature of the proposed development. 

Following review by the special committee, the proposed annexation will then be reviewed by the planning and zoning commission, which will create an advisory report for town council, which ultimately gives the yes or no vote for final approval.