Executive Order advances smart growth and coordinated investment statewide, launches statewide Smart Growth Visioning, corridor planning, and downtown revitalization expansion

WILMINGTON—Governor Matt Meyer today signed an Executive Order certifying the 2025 update to the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending, a comprehensive plan that frames the State’s investments in transportation infrastructure, economic development, and preservation of open space and agricultural lands.

Driven by planned agency projects and local government land-use decisions, the updated Strategies reflect the State’s renewed approach to achieving Smart Growth through more effective coordination with local jurisdictions. As the Administration looks to ensure that Delawareans can afford housing and electricity and communities are not overwhelmed with frequent floods and rising sea levels, decisions about how land is used will require improved collaboration.

“Growth works best when it’s smart, protecting our environment while enabling economic growth and job creation,” Governor Matt Meyer said. “We urgently must protect open spaces, protect farmland and our farm families, add to the vibrancy of our downtowns, and create policies for workforce housing to be plentiful. By updating the State Strategies, we’re doing just that, in collaboration with local governments.”

The Governor’s 16th Executive Order directs the Office of State Planning Coordination (OSPC) and the Cabinet Committee on State Planning Issues (CCSPI) to establish Corridor Planning Areas along key transportation routes and regions across Delaware. These corridor plans will address congestion, safety, and accessibility concerns while better aligning transportation investments with sustainable development and preservation goals.

As part of this effort, the Order launches a seven-month coordinated planning process between the State and Sussex County beginning in January 2026. This collaboration is intended to help jump-start Sussex County’s comprehensive plan update, strengthen long-term growth planning, and ensure that future development is supported by appropriate infrastructure and services.

The Executive Order also initiates a 2026 State Smart Growth Visioning process that will engage state agencies, local governments, and non-state partners in a comprehensive look at Delaware’s future. This process will examine land use patterns, population trends, and public investment strategies; assess the effectiveness of existing state incentives and programs; align infrastructure projects across agencies; and identify tools to help all 60 local jurisdictions improve planning capacity and climate preparedness.

To support vibrant communities and downtown revitalization, the Executive Order expands Delaware’s Downtown Development District Program to the full statutory maximum of 15 districts, up from 12. Administered by OSPC and the Delaware State Housing Authority, the program provides targeted incentives for commercial, industrial, residential, and mixed-use projects that spur job creation, strengthen local economies, and build stable neighborhoods. Applications for new or expanded districts will open on February 4, 2026.

The Order further modernizes the State’s Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) process, directing OSPC to streamline coordination with state agencies and local governments, expand fast-track access for priority projects such as housing, and launch “PLUS 2.0” with updated technology, clearer timelines, and a goal of completing reviews within 45 days.

Under the Executive Order, state departments and agencies are required to use the updated Delaware Strategies as a guide for policy, infrastructure, and investment decisions, ensuring transparency, consistency, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

To read the full Executive Order, CLICK HERE.

For any questions, please email govcomm@delaware.gov.

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