Holiday gift guide inside this week's NewArk Post Chrysler may lay off 1,700 /2a · State playoffs open /lh Vol. 76, No. 73 November 11, 1987 Newark, Del. COVER STORY Planner Grafton says department behind the times by Cathy Thomas '' We're not . ~Nture New Castle County is boom­ ing. Houses are springing up at enough as an · ~­ every turn, business construc­ tion is running apace and silhouetted against the skyline to be a role-model are nearly as many cranes as trees. II Trying to cope with this un­ paralleled growth is a planning to get in vogue with contem­ department still in its infancy. porary planning programs. That is the assessment of "I don't mean we need to be on Wayne Grafton, New Castle the cutting edge. We need to County's planning director, who have codes and ordinances that readily admits to a reputation are at least cognizant of contem­ for causing a ripple. porary planning principles." ·· · rom where 1 sit, we've Grafton stepped into the rQle made marvelous strides," says of New Castle county's planning Grafton, "and, yet, it's not director three years ago. enough." "Administratively, this place Grafton doesn't expect the was a mess." According to Graf­ county to "pull itself out of the ton, employees in the depart- woods" for another three or four Salem Woods is just one of many new developments being constructed in New Castle County. years. He would like the county See GRAFTON/12a Purzycki: Plan Comprehen~ive· plan must he specific out by year's end If the new comprehensive plan for New Castle Coun­ The much-awaited com­ posals now before the Delaware ty refers to lofty, sentimental goals, then it's not doing prehensive plan for New Castle legislature. Grafton has no pro­ it's job according to County Councilman Mike Pur­ County is nearly complete and blem with that requirement. zycki, D-Newark. should be out by the end of the "As a matter of fact, I think Council members have been attending workshops to year, according to planning the state is too little, too late in work on the final draft of the plan. director Wayne Grafton. some regards. Mandatory com­ Purzycki has expressed concerns the plan may not Although the plan will be com­ prehensive planning should be specific enough to address the county's planning plete, work will not end. Grafton have been enacted in this state problems. intends for the plan to be con­ 20 years ago." " If all the plan says, as a general proposition, is we tinually updated and says cons­ The county's new plan is bas­ need a certain amount of commercial per so much tant reviews of the plan are ed on three components: the an­ population, but doesn't give us any guidance on where necessary to keep the county nual profile, background data it should not be in specific terms, then it hasn't done us abreast of contemporary plann­ and goal identification. any favors at all," said Purzycki. ing principles. The annual profile is publish­ Well-defined standards rather than fluff are needed The last comprehensive plan ed in April every year. It in the plan, according to Purzycki, who said those for the county was done in the outlines data in the county dur­ standards will help county officials make future plan­ 1960s. ing the previous calendar year. ning decisions. " It was put on a shelf Although statistics in the pro­ " My concern has always been that we don't have the somewhere and nobody really file can be argued, Grafton says will to make tough decisions," said Purzycki. "I've looked at it," said Grafton. it is a tool for developers and not seen anything to suggest. that we've changed Comprehensive plans would planners. The statistics can give that." have to be routinely updated County Planner Wayne Grafton. under one of the land use pro- See PURZYCKI/ 12a See PLAN/ 12a INDEX FACT FILE KEEP POSTED News .............. 2a The American Cancer Society and Blue Hen Frenzy back Schools ............ 6a WNRK radio station WNRK-AM will hold a University ......... 8a special Great American Smokeout Opinion ........... lla program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tues­ Blue Hen Frenzy returns this week, and two lucky NewArk plans day, Nov.17 at University Plaza. Post readers will win pairs of tickets to the University of Sports ............. lb WNRK will put disc jockey Gino Delaware-Navy football game to be played Saturday after· Classified ......... 5b Daniello, better known to listeners as noon at Delaware Stadium. Just count the number of Blue 1Bus~ess ..... .... 10b Smokeout Dr. Crazy, aloft in a van which will be Hens in this week's issue, and call the Post office at 737-()905 lJfestyle . ....... lc hoisted skyward by a crane. after 9 a .m. Thursday. The fifth and twelfth callers with the Entertaimnent ..... 4c Daniello will not come down until correct number of Hens will win. promotion enough area office workers and Community ........ 6c residents pledge to stop smoking for Churches .. ..... .. 7c one day. Call WNRK at 737-5200 to pledge Val's Needy Family Fund support, or to challenge co-workers or other offices to stop smoking. Val's Needy Family Fund, which raises food and money for The national Great American Newark area families, will open its annual holiday season Smokeout will be marked Thursday, drive with a spaghetti dinner 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 at Holy Nov. 19. The day is set aside for run Angels Catholic Church on Possum Park Road. The spaghetti activities with a serious purpose - to dinner, sponsored by the Newark White Clay Kiwanis, will convince smokers to kick the habit. benefit Val's Needy Family Fund, as well as Meals On Wheels, Hope Dining Room, and the Emergency Response Committee of Newark. Cost is $6 .50 per person. Call Nardo at 731-9107 or 737-3412. 2a The NewArk Pot November 11, 1987 NEWS, NEWS ALE Chrysler may lay off 1,700 workers car production at the Newark have been laid off for three mon­ cording to Nicoll. "An announce­ plant. The plant will be retooled ths and the second shift for five ment will be made once we get by Cathy Thomas during 1988 to prepare for pro­ months. the information on what is duction of the A-car. Low Chrysler officials in Detroit specifically going to happen. •• seniority workers will be laid off say no final decision has been Nearly 1,700 workers at the during retooling, which is ex­ made on the possible layoffs. · At the same time, Douglas Chrysler Corp. 's Newark pected to take most of the year. "There has been discussion believes it is a "scant possibili­ Assembly Plant could be facing Douglas says the company about Newark," said Chrysler ty" that the layoffs will not oc­ layoffs. will shut down for the holidays spokesman Doug Nicoll. cur. William Douglas, United Auto Dec. 23. It is believed the laid off " There's a possibility, and I "I don't know of anything that Workers Local 1183 president, employees will not return to the stress possibility, about the se­ can shore up the market and said he has been told " on the job when the plant resumes pro­ cond shift being removed.'' that's what would have to hap­ record" by local management duction Jan. 18. Nicoll says a number of pen," said Douglas. "Our officials of the pending layoffs. Originally the company plann­ studies are being conducted "on membership has been notified "The current production plans ed to shutdown June 15, 1988 to a wide variety of subjects in­ and they fully expect the call for elimination of the second retool for the K-car. Douglas cluding assembly plant shift," said Douglas. " There's said they apparently moved up schedules." layoffs." apparently not enough market those plans because of the An official announcement of Currently, there are about to produce the K-car here." market. Under the original the company's plans should 3,600 hourly employees at the Plans call for elimination of K- schedule, the first shift would come by the end of the year, ac- plant. Award-winning North Chapel Street property. Rabid raccoon found on Barksdale Road A raccoon, discovered in front The discovery of the raccoon coon was discovered in Chester that a second rabid raccoon was of a Newark business last Fri­ has prompted a crackdown on County, Pa.,. at the Delaware found in the Pike Creek area day, has tested positive for stray animals in the city. border. near Newark. rabies. "There's going to be an in­ Officials reported Monday Award Rain tree Newark Police Department creased effort in picking up animal control officer Bob stray dogs and cats," says Hairgrove says the animal was Hairgrove. Better Newark found in the 900 block of The raccoon was discovered in 1-------ft~NTIQO E~~:: -~ Preliminary report Barksdale Road. an area where several stray cats Two property owners on North Construction debris buried in "He sort of walked a little bit have been seen. Hairgrove says WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE SALE Chapel Street in Newark have trenches is the cause of methane and fell down," said Hairgrove, " only about four-percent of the been recognized by the City Con­ gas in Raintree Village near "He walked and fell asleep, cat population is innoculated servation Advisory Commis­ Christian according to a walked and fell asleep." against rabies." SAT., NOV. 14th 8 AM-3 PM sion. preliminary report by a private Hairgrove picked up the ra­ Hairgrove is advising pet Numerous Items Including: The commission's "A Better consultant.