Council approves change to former flower shop location

Milford City Council approved a request from Clark Service Group to change the former Milford Florist location on North Walnut Street to a contractor’s establishment. Council was required to issue a conditional use for the property even though it was already zoned commercial. After rules for public hearings were read into the record by City Solicitor David Rutt, City Planner Rob Pierce provided details about the project.

“The applicant is proposing to convert the existing commercial building into a food service equipment and HVAC contractor’s establishment. In the staff report the proposed operation which would be one office employee that will be full time and then there will be three service technicians that would deploy into the field from this particular area,” Pierce said. “Two properties to the south are zoned residential and contain single family detached dwellings and the property to the west across Walnut Street is the site of a portion of the community cemetery.”

Pierce went on to explain that all uses would be contained within the buildings already on the property. The property has seven parking spaces which would be more than adequate for the three technicians, one office staff member and any customers who came to pick up parts. Pierce stated that the Planning Commission approved the request with a vote of 7 to 0 on May 17.

“As Mr. Pierce stated we were seeking conditional use using an existing structure,” Trevor Kramer with Merestone Consultants, a company working with Clark Service Group, said.” Clark Service Group a food service equipment and HVAC/R service and repair provider based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The plan is to use the existing buildings and property for a branch office for their organization. Hours of business operation would be from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. They currently have three service technicians working in the lower portion of Delaware servicing all types of food service operations, from chain restaurants, healthcare, healthcare facilities, schools and restaurant groups. They would like to employ at least one person at this location to provide phone support, handle small packages and dispatch service technicians. The only storage that they would have on site would be inside the buildings. They may have an occasional customer stopping at the location pickup parts, but that will be maybe one or two people per day. The existing retail space that was used previously for the for gardening center will be used for small parts stock and office support personnel.”

Councilman Michael Boyle asked if the Planning Commission required the applicant to install screening along the property line, something that was mentioned in the staff report. Pierce stated that a neighbor spoke in favor of the application, commenting that they had already been good neighbors and there were no comments related to screening. Solicitor Rutt confirmed that the hours of business would be Monday through Friday and that the applicant would be willing to install screening should council require them to do so.

Council approved the request unanimously.