Renderings courtesy Berlin Planning Commission

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(July 18, 2019) Berlin’s Planning Commission issued a favorable recommendation to annex part of i.g. Burton’s car dealership property following a meeting last Wednesday.

The annexation would apply to the Chevrolet dealership side of the business complex. The company also plans to demolish the current shop and rebuild it. The parcel where i.g. Burton’s Chrysler Dodge Ram Jeep shop is already inside the town limits.

Pete Renzi, director of operations at i.g. Burton, has said he expects construction on the Chevrolet dealership begin before end of 2020 and finish by 2021.

Attorney Sandy McAllister Jr., who represented i.g. Burton, said he hoped the annexation would be seamless.

“Nobody will drive by it next week and know anything was different,” McAllister said.

McAllister also told the commission the draft annexation agreement was updated to reflect the facilities’ “continued automotive use.”

During an event celebrating the new addition in Berlin, company President Charles Burton said he hoped area residents appreciate the dealership.

“We’re going to be making a significant investment in Berlin, and we feel the people in the town are great and deserve such an investment,” Burton said in a May interview. “They’re nice people. They’re good people, and we really like the community, we really do. We think it’s a good market and we’re happy to be in it.”

i.g. Burton acquired the dealership on Old Ocean City Boulevard from the Barrett family last summer, and has plans to renovate the facilities.

The company also has dealerships in Milford, Lewes, Smyrna and Seaford, Delaware.

Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Ron Cascio moved to endorse the proposed annexation, which member John Barrett seconded. The vote was unanimous.

It’s unclear when the annexation agreement will go before the mayor and council. However, Planning Director Dave Engelhart anticipates an August or September public hearing as the proposal also needs to go before the county and state planning departments.