Milford Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Growth

On June 27, 2025 the City of Milford made a statement in regards to the pace and impact of growth in the city

In response to ongoing concerns from residents about the pace and impact of development in the area, the City of Milford has issued a detailed statement reaffirming its commitment to managing growth in a strategic, sustainable, and transparent way. City officials emphasized that Milford’s leadership is actively working to balance the needs of both current and future residents while protecting the character of the community.

Development Snapshot and Future Buildout

The city’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan indicates that nearly 45% of Milford’s land was either vacant or used for agriculture at the time—land that was available for future development. Since then, Milford has approved plans for more than 3,400 new housing units across multiple residential types, including:

1,118 single-family detached homes
202 semi-detached homes
781 townhouses
839 multi-family units
488 condominiums

In addition, about 650 acres of vacant, residentially zoned land remain, with the potential for another 3,300 homes.

Despite these approvals, the city notes that actual growth has been steady, not explosive. Since 2015, Milford has issued an average of 170 permits annually for new dwelling units, peaking at 371 in 2020. If construction continues at a rate of 200 homes per year, it would take 17 years to complete the currently approved projects—and over three decades to build out all developable land.

Infrastructure and Services Planning

Milford outlined several areas where infrastructure and services are being actively expanded to meet future needs:

Water & Sewer:
The city has invested in modernizing its water and sewer systems, with each new development required to either build or pay for system upgrades to ensure capacity.

Electric Grid:
Milford’s municipal electric department is upgrading its grid with smart technologies and conducting quarterly energy forecasts to ensure service keeps pace with demand.

Transportation:
The city continues working with DelDOT and the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization to advance long-term traffic solutions, including through the SE Milford Transportation Improvement District.

Parks & Recreation:
Efforts are underway to expand green space and recreation programming, with new parks planned for growing neighborhoods.

Education:
Student enrollment in the Milford School District has increased from 4,203 in 2013–14 to 4,523 in 2024–25. The opening of Milford Middle School this fall will help ease overcrowding in area schools.

A Measured Approach to Annexation

Milford also addressed misconceptions about rapid expansion of city boundaries. Over the last decade, the city has annexed just 66 acres—only 1% of its total area. Of that, only 10 acres were designated for new development, while the rest supported existing industrial and municipal uses.

City leaders say resident input will remain central to Milford’s growth strategy.

“We deeply value the continued engagement of our community, whose input is essential in guiding our vision and shaping the city’s future,” the statement concluded.

For more information, visit https://www.cityofmilford.com/