RBIRehoboth Beach InsightCommissioner Craig Thier

Rehoboth Beach Insight editions

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Longer reads on City of Rehoboth Beach government topics, published as downloadable editions you can read, print, and share with neighbors.

FAR Removed in the Downtown DistrictA one-page handout on proposed § 270-93-C(3), which drops floor area ratio everywhere in the Downtown District — today every commercial building is capped at FAR 2.0 — alongside lot coverage of 95% on A-Street and B-Street. Includes a street-by-street coverage comparison, the regulating plan map, and why a build-out count should be published before the code is adopted. PDF.Wilmington Transit Center: pitched vs. signedA one-page handout comparing the 2017 public pitch for the Wilmington Transit Center with the deal as signed and built — a 50-year ground lease at $1 rent, and a public revenue share that waits 25 years. A comparable deal cited in the discussion of a Rehoboth City Hall garage and mobility center. PDF.Parking Minimums Cut or Removed DowntownA one-page handout comparing current parking requirements with the proposed Downtown draft table — no minimums on the first two blocks of Rehoboth Ave. and none for multi-family on B-Street and C-Street — plus the other cuts stacked on top. Based on Dover, Kohl & Partners Version 1.0, dated 9/8/2026. PDF.70 Feet, Not 42: The Height RewriteA one-page handout examining the proposed height limits and rooftop equipment exclusions in Dover, Kohl & Partners Version 1.0, including a street-by-street comparison and regulating plan map. PDF.Edition 1 — Code Updates Analysis — Three Changes That Will Drive Density and Increased Parking (9/24/2026)A plain-language review of the proposed Downtown District rewrite: parking minimums cut or removed, FAR eliminated, and height raised to 50 feet on A-Street and B-Street. Based on Dover, Kohl & Partners Version 1.0, dated 9/8/2026. PDF, about 75 KB.

What's inside Edition 1

  • Parking minimums — the draft replaces the citywide 2-spaces-per-unit rule with much lower downtown ratios, and no parking requirement at all for multi-family on B-Street and C-Street.
  • FAR eliminated — proposed § 270-93-C removes floor area ratio as a bulk tool in the Downtown District, leaving height, lot coverage, setbacks, and parking as the only limits.
  • Height raised — the 42-foot commercial cap set in the 1970s would rise to 50 feet on A-Street and B-Street under proposed § 270-93-E.

Nothing is final until the Mayor and Commissioners vote after public hearings. Questions or comments are welcome — send them my way and I'll raise them with the Commission.