Thankfully, those messy situations that engender this level of appeals are
very few and far between.  This is the first that I've seen, and sure
enough, it was a doozy.

At any rate, the SHPO and other interested organizations/citizens in
Delaware have been pretty supportive on a variety of preservation issues in
Wilmington.  In this particular case, a SHPO rep was present at every
meeting, and he was very firm speaking on behalf of the State's interests
(which concurred with the Design Review Commission).  However, as you noted,
these are very much local issues, and the local legislation (at this stage)
is really the only thing that may have any teeth.

I think that most of what this change will take in Wilmington is a good set
of recommendations to change the proposed ordinance.  Putting the words in
the right order, I think, will be the key, ie. "expiration of appeal period"
before "applicant receives permit."  Sometimes it takes a bit of time
figuring things out before issueing something that seems so simple.

- Johnette