Submit Written Testimony

Your Words on the Record

Written testimony to the City Planning Commission is one of the most direct and effective things you can do. Unlike a petition signature, a written submission puts your specific concerns on the official record — by name, in your own words. Commissioners read these letters. So does City Council.

You do not need to be a lawyer or a zoning expert. You just need to be a neighbor with something to say.

Who to Send Your Letter To

Landon Jones, lejones@wilmingtonde.gov and Dorien Snyder dsnyder@wilmingtonde.gov, City Planning Department 

This is the Planning Commission’s staff contact. Written opposition submitted here is compiled into the official record for the public hearing and presented to commissioners before they vote.

What to Include in Your Letter

Keep it focused and personal. Here’s a simple structure:

1. Your name and address (required — anonymous letters carry less weight)

2. A brief statement of your opposition to the rezoning of the parcels at Bancroft Parkway and W. 11th Street from C-1 to C-2 and C-1 to R-5-B

3. One or two specific reasons in your own words — what concerns you most? Height? Traffic? Neighborhood character? The notification gap?

4. A closing request: ask the Commission to deny the rezoning application

Your letter does not need to be long. Two or three paragraphs are enough. What matters is that it is personal, specific, and clearly comes from someone who lives here.

When to Send It

Send your letter as soon as possible. The earlier your submission arrives, the more time staff have to include it in the official materials prepared for commissioners. Do not wait until the week of the hearing.

Want to Speak in Person?

You can also testify in person at the public hearing. See the Timeline page for the date, time, and location. Public comment periods are typically two to three minutes per speaker — but your presence and your voice carry weight beyond the clock.

Need help writing your letter? See our Sample Letters page for templates you can adapt.