MILTON, Del. — Construction of a planned Royal Farms gas station and convenience store on the Milton-Ellendale Highway could be delayed once again, as the engineering firm representing the project has requested another one-year extension of the project’s final site plan approval.
Verdantas LLC, on behalf of Two Farms, Inc., submitted the request to the Milton Planning and Zoning Commission, citing delays tied to DelDOT infrastructure projects near the site and utility plan revisions requested by Artesian Wastewater Management.
Royal Farms received its initial approval for the project in May 2023, allowing for the construction of a 4,710-square-foot one-story convenience store with fuel pumps and site improvements. A previous extension granted in May 2024 is set to expire June 5, 2025.
“Over the past year since the extension was granted, the property owner has been working on coordinating agreements with DelDOT with a nearby project related to the intersection improvements, for which negotiations are ongoing,” Verdantas Project Manager Samuel Guarnieri wrote in its extension request.
The firm also noted that Artesian Wastewater Management requested updates to previously approved sanitary sewer designs due to regulatory changes. Meanwhile, Royal Farms has also been in negotiations with contractors regarding construction bids.