September 18, 2001

CHARLES BAKER
General Manager, New Castle County Department of Land Use

It may not be the most difficult spot in Delaware, but it's close. As General Manager of New Castle County's Department of Land Use, Charles Baker is in the midst of the County's land use maelstrom.

Charles may be a breath of fresh air after all the heavy winds of change brought on by the creation and refinement of the Unified Development Code (UDC), but whether or not he can help the County's economy weather the impact of the UDC remains to be seen.

Charles came to the Department of Land Use in January 2000 as the UDC firestorm was coming under control. He came to the County from the Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO), where he served as Deputy Director under Alex Taft. Shortly after Alex left WILMAPCO, Charles was tapped to serve as WILMAPCO's Acting Director at the same time he began his work at Land Use.

When Shawn Tucker left the County, there was a collective breath-holding until Tom Gordon named Charles the General Manager of the Department of Land Use. Charles brought not only planning and transportation expertise to the Department, but also, a calm respectful demeanor and a balanced perspective that was needed and appreciated.

He's going to need that calm demeanor, as well as the transportation and planing experience he gained in his work in Philadelphia and New Jersey before coming to Delaware. We have recently faced several onslaughts to economic development from members of Council and Charles gets to make Department recommendations about them all! His decisions will impact the economic health of our County.

Charles Baker will share his vision for the Department of Land Use under his tenure.

Beverley Baxter