Kent County Levy Court conditionally approves Sanctuary Family Center expansion

DOVER, Del. — Kent County Levy Court on Feb. 24, 2026, voted 6–0 with one member absent to grant conditional approval of application CS 2602, allowing Sanctuary Family Center to expand with a sanctuary, family center and a 29,022-square-foot education building on an approximately 11.7-acre site.

Ms. Kiefer, the county’s public hearing presenter, told commissioners the Regional Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend conditional approval and found the project compliant with the county comprehensive plan. "The application before the levy court tonight, CS 2602, is a conditional use application with site plan for the expansion of a church property, to include also sports field and a campground," she said.

Vice President Scott moved to grant the conditional approval, citing the RPC recommendation, public hearing testimony and specific code provisions permitting the proposed uses. "I move that the Levy Court grant conditional approval of application CS 2602," he said in introducing the motion. Commissioner Hertz seconded. In the roll call all present members voted in favor; Mr. Angel was recorded absent.

The hearing record presented to the court included the RPC recommendations report (Exhibit A), public hearing testimony (Exhibit B) and staff findings. Commissioners who spoke in favor noted that staff and the RPC had recommended approval and that the application demonstrated compliance with the cited development standards. No in-person or online opposition was recorded by the operator during the hearing.

The application materials describe the site and proposed uses and cite Kent County land‑use provisions permitting the educational building and associated uses as conditional. The record identifies code references read aloud during the meeting (described in the meeting record as sections "205‑53" and "205‑69b"). The court closed the public hearing after the vote.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the court entered the conditional approval on the public record and the matter will proceed under the conditions identified in the RPC and staff reports. The public hearing record notes that further site‑specific permitting and compliance with any conditions of approval remain required before construction or use changes occur.