Gov. Matt Meyer issues executive order updating Delaware growth and spending strategy

Photo: Farmland recently for sale in Sussex County Delaware.

Gov. Matt Meyer quietly issues executive order reshaping Delaware growth policy

DOVER, Del. — Governor Matt Meyer signed Executive Order No. 16 late Friday afternoon, formally updating Delaware’s long-term growth and spending strategy and directing state agencies to coordinate land use, infrastructure and development decisions under what the administration describes as a “smart growth” framework.

The order certifies the 2025 update to the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending, a statewide planning document that guides how the state prioritizes billions of dollars in transportation, school construction, utilities and other capital investments. While the executive order does not alter local zoning authority, it establishes a framework that will influence where and how state government directs public resources.

The order was issued without a formal public announcement and took effect immediately.

The governor’s stated intent

According to the administration, Executive Order 16 is intended to ensure that limited taxpayer dollars are spent more strategically by aligning state infrastructure investments with local land-use plans and realistic growth patterns.

The updated strategy emphasizes directing growth to areas with existing or planned roads, schools, water and sewer service, while protecting farmland, open space and environmentally sensitive lands. State planning officials say the goal is to improve affordability, support economic development, and avoid costly duplication of infrastructure by coordinating decisions across state agencies and local governments.

The administration also says the framework is meant to provide clearer, more predictable guidance for long-term public and private investment decisions.

What the order directs agencies to do

Under Executive Order 16, state departments and agencies are instructed to use the updated State Strategies documents and maps when making decisions on infrastructure, resource management and capital spending, where practicable. The Office of Management and Budget is directed to use the Strategies as a guide when developing and reviewing agency spending plans.

The order launches several implementation efforts, including:

Creation of Corridor Planning Areas along major transportation routes to address congestion, safety, land use and environmental concerns
A seven-month coordinated planning effort with Sussex County beginning in 2026 to help define land-use plans for growth corridors and support updates to the county’s comprehensive plan
A statewide Smart Growth Visioning process in 2026 to analyze land-use patterns, population trends, infrastructure needs and the effectiveness of existing state investments
Expansion of the Downtown Development District program from 12 to the statutory maximum of 15 districts, with applications opening Feb. 4, 2026
Modernization of the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) process, including updated technology, expanded fast-track access for priority projects such as housing, and a target 45-day review timeline

The order allows the State Strategies maps to be updated annually based on new data or newly adopted local plans, with a full update required at least every five years.

Why supporters describe the approach as “smart”

From the administration’s perspective, the strategy is considered “smart” because it focuses on how public dollars are spent, rather than imposing new zoning rules. By aligning infrastructure investment with areas prepared for growth, supporters argue the approach can help control long-term costs, support housing and job growth, and give local governments and developers clearer expectations.

The framework also emphasizes data transparency and cross-agency coordination, which state officials say improves accountability and planning efficiency.

Who was involved in developing the plan

The order is the culmination of a multi-year, multi-agency, state-wide planning process lead the Office of Planning Coordination (OSPC) that drafted the updated maps and policies after running workshops and coordinating with counties and municipalities, and public stakeholder including the Cabinet Committee on State Planning (CCSPI), which includes the heads of DelDOT, DNREC, Housing Authority and other departments. Contributors also included Data Analysis Workgroup (DAW), Metro Planning Orgnizatins including WILMAPCO, Dover/Kent MP and Sussex MPO, as well as public stakeholders including Environmental Groups, Housing Advocates, Civic Group, Developers, and Business organizations.

Concerns raised by market-oriented critics

In the past, opponents of smiliar attempts to coordinate plannin have argued that this type directive represents an overreach of state authority into local land‑use decision‑making, giving Dover new leverage over zoning by tying infrastructure funding and project approvals to state‑defined growth areas. They contend the order will slow development, increase housing costs, and add new layers of planning that make it harder for builders and property owners to move projects forward. Critics in rural areas warn that the plan effectively restricts what landowners can do with their property by discouraging development outside designated zones, while some municipalities say the state is setting ambitious planning expectations without guaranteeing the funding needed to meet them. Taken together, a top‑down smart‑growth mandate that limits local control, constrains rural development, and risks shifting costs onto counties and towns.

Over the past several years, critics have often caution that even without changing zoning authority, state spending decisions can function as de-facto policy. Others express concern that statewide planning frameworks can expand over time, potentially increasing state influence over local land-use decisions or creating uncertainty for developers if priorities shift under future administrations.

Those concerns have not yet been tested, and the impact of the order will depend on how it is applied through future budgets, transportation plans and capital-spending decisions.

Reaction still developing

As of this week, no formal statements have been issued by the General Assembly’s Republican or Democratic caucuses specifically addressing Executive Order 16. County and municipal officials are still reviewing the updated Strategies and their potential impact on local planning and development.

Because the order was issued late on a Friday afternoon and does not require legislative approval, broader public debate is expected to emerge gradually as agencies begin applying the framework to real-world projects.

The order rescinds a 2020 planning directive issued under the previous administration and establishes the Meyer administration’s growth strategy going forward.