Pursuant to its authority under 7 Del. C. §7007, the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board (the “Board”) will hold a public hearing on Appeal No. 2026-01 filed by Starwood Digital Ventures (“Appellants”). Appellants challenge the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (“DNREC’s”) Decision on CZA-448SD, which determines that the proposed Project Washington, a data center campus in New Castle County on two parcels of land (New Castle County tax parcels 10-049.00-073 and 12-002.00-025), is prohibited from development in Delaware’s Coastal Zone.

The hearing will now begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and will be held as a hybrid hearing. It will be hosted on a virtual platform with the anchor location at the auditorium of the Richardson and Robbins building, located at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901. The link to this hearing can be found on the CZICB website. If a final decision is not rendered by the conclusion of the hearing on March 24, additional days have been scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2026, and Thursday, March 26, 2026. If needed, those hearings will begin at 9:00am and will be hosted in the same manner and location as the hearing hosted the day prior. Information regarding each day can be found on the CZICB website. The parties may present evidence, be represented by counsel and appear personally. The Board shall reach its decision based on the evidence presented at the hearing.

If you would also like to provide public comment during the hearing, please register by emailing DNREC_CZICB_Appeals@delaware.gov no later than Monday, March 23, 2026 with your name, how you plan on attending the hearing (virtually or in-person), phone number, and address. Also, please note if you are representing yourself, a company or organization. Please note that each person will be allotted three minutes of time to comment.

The Board may affirm or reverse the decision of the Secretary of DNREC with respect to applicability of any provision of Chapter 70, Title 7 of the Delaware Code to a proposed use; may modify any permit granted by the Secretary, grant a permit denied by the Secretary, deny a permit or confirm the Secretary’s grant of a permit. Provided, however, the Board may grant no permit for uses prohibited in Section 7003, Title 7 of the Delaware Code.

Related Topics:  appeal, coastal zone act, CZICB, permitting and regulation, public notice