City of Rehoboth Beach and Dover Kohl & Partners Plan Charrette Week July 13-17 to Obtain Public Feedback on Commercial Zoning Code

June 18, 2026

The City of Rehoboth Beach has partnered with Dover Kohl & Partners for a zoning code update. This is necessary to make civic improvements that solve problems and enhance the features and community activities of Rehoboth Beach.

One crucial element to this process is a chance for community involvement in a Charrette Week which will be held at the Convention Center in the City of Rehoboth Beach throughout the week of July 13-17. A “charrette” is a meeting in which stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions.

The Charrette Week is all about gathering input from the people who care about Rehoboth Beach — residents, business owners, property owners, visitors, and anyone interested in the city’s future.

To make the process interactive, the week includes a variety of activities:

Walking Tour
We’ll take a guided walk through key streets so participants can look closely at buildings and public spaces — often noticing details they pass by every day. These walks help us understand how buildings relate to the street, how safe and comfortable the environment feels, and how design choices shape the sense of place. Participants also share stories about past issues and how they were resolved, giving valuable real-world context.

Interactive Meetings
Throughout the week, we’ll hold topic-focused meetings designed to be hands-on rather than passive. Early in the charrette, we’ll host a “map session” where we spread out large maps and hand out markers. Participants get to “be the planner,” drawing ideas, highlighting issues, and pointing out opportunities directly on the map. We document everything so no insight gets lost.

Drop-In Studio Time
Because people have different schedules, we pack activities into one week to allow flexibility. Our team will be on-site sketching, drafting early concepts, and visualizing ideas based on what we’ve heard. Anyone can drop in, look over our shoulders, ask questions, offer feedback, or just chat informally.

Focus Meetings
These meetings will be geared more towards specific topics or groups, but anyone is welcome to attend any of these meetings.

End-of-Week Summary
At the end of Charrette Week, we’ll present a summary of what we heard and show some initial ideas. These might illustrate solutions to problems or highlight exciting concepts that emerged from the community. And while this may not look like writing zoning rules, it’s the foundation for them. The Charrette Week sets the framework and the policy direction that ultimately shape how the zoning code is written.

It all kicks off on Monday, July 17, from 4:00-7:00pm in the Convention Center. This Kick-Off Meeting will allow people to meet the Dover, Kohl & Partners team, learn more about the initiative, and provide hands-on feedback.

Session will continue Tuesday through Thursday, beginning as early as 8:00am and wrapping up at 6:00pm. At the end of the week, Dover Kohl & Partners will share a Progress Presentation at 2:00pm at the Mayor & Commissioners Meeting, which is open to the public, will be livestreamed and available to view after the meeting on the City’s youtube page.

For a complete schedule, please visit:
Zoning Code Changes – Dover, Kohl & Partners – – DE | Official Website

Here you will also find more information, videos and FAQ.

Members of the media are invited to attend all sessions.

Contact: Brooke Thaler, Communications Director, 302-227-6181, ext. 522

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