Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title2/2000/2400/2406.shtml
Timestamp: 2018-12-16 11:07:57
Document Index: 794407619

Matched Legal Cases: ['§137', '§137', '§1309', '§137', '§137', '§1309', '§137', '§3', '§1309', '§8409', '§1309']

Delaware General Assembly : Delaware Regulations : Administrative Code : Title 2 : 2000 : 2400
2400 Division of Transportation Solutions
1.1	The Department of Transportation has broad statutory authority to acquire public or private property and property rights in connection with the Department’s jurisdiction. Traditionally, the Department has acquired the necessary property rights upon final right-of-way plan approval for a project. In certain instances, the best interests of the state and individual property owners may be better served if such interests are either acquired or reserved by the Department prior to final right-of-way plan approval. The purpose of this regulation is to enumerate the specific policies and procedures governing the acquisition and reservation of certain real property by the Department, as contemplated by 17 Del.C. §137(a)(2).
1.2	In addition, the Department desires to have certain special property transactions reviewed and approved by the Committee established under §137(a)(2), that are not necessarily tied to a highway project location. Furthermore, certain other transportation facility acquisitions are carried out pursuant to 2 Del.C. §1309(5), which are not subject to approval by any other public body. Nonetheless, for these transactions, the Department believes it would be in the public interest to obtain a review and comment about the proposed acquisition from the Committee.
“Advanced acquisition” means the acquisition by the Department of any interest in real property prior to final design approval of the project for which such interest real property is being acquired. For purposes of this regulation and the Department’s Real Estate Manual, “advanced acquisitions” shall include, without limitation, reservation agreements.
“Advanced Acquisition Committee” or “Committee” means the committee created pursuant to 17 Del.C. §137(a)(2) and comprised of the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; the Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office; the Governor's Chief of Staff; a member of the Senate designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; a member of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; a member of the public designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and a member of the public designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Consistency review” shall mean the review by the Committee pursuant to 17 Del.C. §137(a)(2) of acquisitions for new corridors, expansion of existing corridors, the Department's Corridor Capacity Preservation Program, or certain Special Property Acquisitions.
“Hardship acquisition” shall mean an advanced acquisition to resolve a specific hardship imposed upon the owner as a result of a project, including, without limitation, long term leases and reservations between an owner and the Department. Hardship acquisitions shall include situations in which an owner must relocate for personal reasons (e.g., job transfer, death in the family, retirement plans, or medical reasons) and is unable to sell his or her property as a result of a project.
“Special Property Acquisitions” shall mean the acquisition of real property in fee simple or lesser interest for Department transportation projects that are not necessarily related to the highways and streets under its jurisdiction and control. By way of example and not limitation, these include a transit maintenance facility for the Delaware Transit Corporation, a park-and-ride lot for the convenience of commuters, or the acquisition of land to provide clear space for runway approaches for publicly-owned or public use airports. These acquisitions may be made pursuant to either 2 Del.C. §1309(5) or other legal authority, including but not limited to 17 Del.C. §137.
3.3	Criteria. Upon receipt of a written request for a hardship acquisition, the Department and its legal counsel shall initiate an internal review process to determine whether the property meets the criteria set forth herein. At minimum, the request must demonstrate to the Department’s satisfaction that:
3.4	If an owner demonstrates to the Department’s satisfaction that a hardship acquisition is appropriate, then such proposed acquisition shall be considered in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 5.0.
4.0	Protective Acquisition
4.1	Depending upon the availability of funding, the Department may consider requests for protective acquisitions.
4.2	Written Request - All requests for a protective acquisition must be in writing. A request for protective acquisition of property shall be submitted to the:
5.0	Procedures for Review and Approval of Advanced Acquisitions
5.1	For advanced acquisitions satisfying the criteria set forth in §§3.2 or 4.2, or for Special Property Acquisitions, as the case may be, the Department shall have an appraisal performed by its independent appraisers in accordance with the Department’s Real Estate Manual.
5.2	Following receipt of the appraisal, the Department and its legal counsel shall discuss the potential terms of an agreement and the justifications therefor, including the nature of the interest to be acquired (i.e., acquisition, reservation, leasehold); the necessity of acquiring such interest and the existence of any alternative transactions; the fair market value of such interest; the amount of land required; the duration of the agreement; and such other factors as may be relevant. Following such discussion, counsel shall prepare a detailed term sheet reflecting the material terms of the proposed transaction.
5.3	The Department will present the term sheet to the Advanced Acquisition Committee at a scheduled meeting as soon as reasonably practicable. The Committee shall consider the terms of and rationale for the proposed transaction and may either approve, approve with conditions, or reject such transaction. If the Committee approves the proposed transaction or approves with conditions, the Department shall negotiate the final terms with the owner.
5.3.1	For Special Property Acquisitions made under the authority of 2 Del.C. §1309(5), the Committee’s review shall be considered an advisory opinion.
5.4	The material terms of all advanced acquisitions shall be reflected in an agreement prepared or reviewed by the Department’s legal counsel and signed by the owner and an authorized representative of the Department.
6.0	Consistency Review of Certain DelDOT Real Property Acquisitions
6.1	The Committee shall conduct a consistency review for certain proposed real property acquisitions by the Department. These acquisitions consist of those real properties determined by the Department as necessary for its projects for new corridors, expansion of existing corridors, real property affected by the Corridor Capacity Preservation Program, and Special Property Acquisitions. This review shall be conducted under the following time frames:
6.1.2	For the Department’s Corridor Capacity Preservation Program, and Special Property Acquisitions: Prior to any real property acquisitions.
6.3	At the scheduled meeting for the consistency review, the Department shall present to the Committee such evidence as it deems necessary to demonstrate that the proposed acquisitions are consistent with state planning goals. This evidence shall include:
6.3.1	a detailed visual depiction of the proposed acquisitions;
6.3.2	the relevant project pages from the Capital Improvement Program adopted by the Council on Transportation, pursuant to 29 Del.C. §§8409 and 8419;
6.3.3	the relevant project authorizations as described in the relevant Bond and Capital Improvements Acts adopted by the General Assembly;
6.3.4	where applicable, the Department’s adopted Corridor Capacity Preservation plan for the corridor for which the proposed acquisition would be made, along with other evidence showing how the acquisition furthers the Department’s goals under that Program;
6.3.6	for Special Property Acquisitions, evidence showing how the proposed acquisition furthers the Department’s goals for the particular project purpose, including a cost/benefit analysis and other relevant data;
6.3.7	a description of the State’s Strategies for Policies and Spending, and how the project fits with those strategies; and
6.4	If the Committee determines that the proposed acquisition is consistent with state planning goals, it shall then notify the Department in writing.
6.4.1	For Special Property Acquisitions made under the authority of 2 Del.C. §1309(5), the Committee’s determination shall be considered an advisory opinion.
6.5	If the Committee determines that the proposed acquisition is not consistent with state planning goals, it shall then notify the Department in writing, with an explanation of the basis for the Committee’s determination.