Transcript
AI TRANSCRIPT
This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person — it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.
[5:04]
Test 1-2.
[15:47]
Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for your patience. I'm sorry I had my hip replaced two weeks ago, so I'm thinking a little bit longer to get around.
[15:55]
So we'll go ahead and call this meeting of the Brunswick County Planning Board to order this afternoon, August 10, 2026.
[16:05]
Welcome, everyone. My name is Cliff Cheek and I would like to welcome you to the Brunswick County Planning Board meeting.
[16:10]
Members of the board are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the county
[16:14]
commissioners. The planning board serves as both an advisory and decision-making
[16:18]
body on land use and development matters in the county. It reviews zoning
[16:23]
changes, subdivision plans, and development proposals. The final approval authority for major subdivisions, major site plans, and plan development.
[16:33]
With special state legislation, the Planning Board also
[16:36]
approved rezoning subject to appeals
[16:39]
to the Board of Commissioners.
[16:41]
The Planning Board makes recommendations
[16:43]
on the order that's been submitted,
[16:44]
long-range plans, and planning policies.
[16:47]
While it helps shape development standards,
[16:49]
it does not have the authority to require
[16:51]
tree preservation or mandate NCPOT
[16:54]
runway improvements.
[16:56]
At this time, I ask that you please
[16:58]
turn off your cell phones or put them in a silo mode.
[17:01]
Thank you.
[17:03]
And if you will, please remove your hats for the invocation.
[17:11]
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing this together this evening.
[17:14]
Please guide us during our deliberations and discussions that I was presented tonight.
[17:19]
And help us to keep accounting the community and our citizens of our...
[17:24]
Please safeguard our beliefs, firefighters, first responders,
[17:28]
and protect our servicemen and women wherever they may be, domestic or abroad.
[17:32]
And you're heavily named, right?
[17:34]
Amen.
[17:36]
All right.
[17:37]
Pledge of allegiance to the flag
[17:46]
of the United States of America
[17:52]
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,
[17:58]
and indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[18:02]
Would
[18:11]
you go and become the local force this afternoon?
[18:14]
Thank you.
[18:15]
Will you amend your present?
[18:20]
Yes, Cruz.
[18:21]
Present.
[18:23]
Clifton Sheik.
[18:24]
Present.
[18:25]
Howard Stocks.
[18:26]
Present.
[18:27]
Robert Needham.
[18:28]
Present.
[18:30]
All right.
[18:31]
And everyone received the packet by email this last week.
[18:36]
Did everyone have a chance to review any changes to the minutes from the previous meeting?
[18:45]
We have a motion to approve the minutes as presented.
[18:50]
Motion second, all in favor say aye.
[18:53]
Aye.
[18:53]
Any opposed?
[18:54]
All right.
[18:55]
The minutes are approved as presented.
[18:59]
On to the next item, agenda amendments.
[19:02]
Do we have any agenda amendments?
[19:05]
No, but I want to make everybody aware of scam emails.
[19:08]
Attention all applicants and property owners.
[19:11]
Please be aware that fraud or emails are being sent to applicants and property owners in cases that they have before the Brunswick County Planning Board.
[19:18]
It happened this month. Two of our applicants received scam emails requesting money.
[19:26]
If you do receive any email requesting payment, do not pay.
[19:30]
Immediately contact the Brunswick County Planning Department.
[19:32]
Please note that we will never request any fees via wire transfer or gift cards.
[19:38]
so please be aware of that too. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
[19:45]
All right. Next on the agenda,
[19:47]
we've got public comment. Public comment is an opportunity included at the beginning of every
[19:52]
planning board meeting for the public to discuss items that are not on the agenda for a public
[19:56]
hearing. You must sign up prior to the meeting to speak. Time is limited to three minutes
[20:01]
per speaker and eight minutes for a speaker representing a group. The time will be
[20:06]
We tracked with a timer that we have over here.
[20:09]
And Ms. Conny, did we have anyone sign up for public comment?
[20:13]
Yes, sir.
[20:14]
Carla White.
[20:26]
Good afternoon.
[20:27]
Hey.
[20:28]
Carla White, 1775 Clemens Road, Bolivia.
[20:33]
I wanted to talk to you guys about the Swiss cheese model.
[20:36]
It's something corporations use.
[20:38]
The Swiss cheese model is a way of explaining how accidents, disasters, or other harmful
[20:43]
Several outcomes usually don't happen because of one single mistake.
[20:48]
Instead they happen when several layers of protection each have weaknesses and those weaknesses
[20:53]
happen to line up.
[20:55]
Imagine several slices of Swiss cheese stacked on top of each other.
[21:00]
Each slice equals a safety barrier.
[21:02]
Each hole equals a weakness, a failure, an oversight or a gap.
[21:07]
Most of the time a hole in one layer is blocked by another layer, but occasionally
[21:12]
those holes line up. A simple example. Say you're trying to prevent flooding from a development.
[21:19]
Layer one, proper stormwater design. Layer two, wetland protection. Layer three,
[21:25]
adequate drainage and infrastructure. Layer four, county inspections. Layer five, emergency
[21:31]
planning. Then layer six, existing roads, ditches capable of handling runoff. Each one is supposed
[21:39]
to provide protection. But imagine wetlands are removed, that's one hole. Drainage is
[21:46]
undersized, another hole. More houses are increased, more houses increased runoff, more
[21:52]
houses increased runoff, another hole. Then a major storm happens. The holes line up
[21:57]
and disaster happens, flooding. The resulting flooding isn't necessarily caused by one
[22:02]
decision, is the result of multiple weaknesses occurring together. Just like one development
[22:07]
might meet the requirements that's good enough or minimum requirements, but each
[22:13]
development adds to the problem. The resulting flooding isn't necessarily
[22:17]
caused by one decision. It's the result of multiple weaknesses occurring
[22:20]
together, and sometimes the most frustrating part is that every individual
[22:24]
layer can look good enough by itself until you stack them together and you
[22:28]
realize the cheese has more holes than protection. Thank you.
[22:35]
Thank you.
[22:41]
Shirley Sullivan.
[22:52]
Good afternoon.
[22:54]
Good afternoon.
[22:55]
Hope you're feeling better.
[22:56]
I know how that goes.
[22:58]
Shirley Sullivan 5002, Seward Court, Southport.
[23:03]
So much has been approved over the last several years.
[23:06]
It's hard to know where to start.
[23:09]
The approval of developments and land use amendments will return to the commissioners
[23:13]
effective with all applications dated July 2nd, 2026 and going forward.
[23:18]
board. The responsibilities of the planning board will greatly diminish. However, you are
[23:24]
still responsible for final approval for those applications dated prior to July 2nd. I would
[23:31]
like to ask that you pay close attention to all of the public hearing items before you
[23:37]
today. Citizens are studying state statutes following bills studying UDOs, staff reports,
[23:44]
TRCs and TIAs more than ever before. They are also sharing their concerns here and
[23:51]
everywhere. It is your responsibility to listen to the community. It is not the
[23:57]
sole input by the Planning Department and their recommendation alone that should
[24:01]
drive you. It has appeared that most decisions have been predetermined. The
[24:07]
very first purpose of the UDO is to promote the health, safety, and general
[24:12]
welfare of the residents of Brunswick County. The residents have not been heard for quite
[24:18]
some time now. In fact, attendance at planning board meetings and commissioner meetings has
[24:24]
declined. Here continually, they're going to approve it anyway, as the most common reason
[24:31]
residents don't show to these meetings. I have witnessed residents being shut down
[24:36]
in their public comments, disrespected, and ignored. Residents get three minutes
[24:42]
to share their concerns. Applicants, developers, engineering firms and planning staff have
[24:48]
unlimited time to present and are allowed to return to the podium. Please take what each
[24:54]
resident has to say into consideration before any decision is made. Minimal discussion without
[25:01]
consideration of the community's concerns is not acceptable. Thank you.
[25:07]
thank you that
[25:18]
was the last one okay thank you all right moving on to the
[25:26]
public hearings the first item on the agenda this afternoon is a major site
[25:30]
plan 2026-02 Victolic Company consideration of a major site plan for a
[25:38]
building greater than 75,000 square feet the applicant requests a maximum
[25:43]
The minimum building size allowance be granted for a one-story industrial warehouse located
[25:49]
at 2010 Enterprise Drive northeast in the Leland Industrial Park near Leland, North Carolina.
[25:55]
The project overall acreage is 22.52 acres.
[26:00]
And do we have a report from staff?
[26:02]
Yes, sir.
[26:03]
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[26:04]
Thank you.
[26:05]
The applicant requests a project building size adjustment for a building expansion
[26:10]
located at 2010 Enterprise Drive in the Leland Industrial Park that's near
[26:15]
Leland, North Carolina. The Victolic Company is a global company based in
[26:21]
Pennsylvania that produces mechanical grooved pipe coupling systems for use
[26:27]
in construction and mining activities. The project covers three tax
[26:32]
parcels and the overall project size is 22.52 acres. All tax parcels would
[26:38]
be recombined and recorded prior to zoning approval for construction.
[26:45]
The applicant requests a 230,000 square foot expansion of an existing warehouse for a maximum
[26:52]
building size allowance of 338,135 square feet for a one-story industrial warehouse.
[27:01]
Administratively, staff can approve a total building size up to 75,000 square feet.
[27:05]
Structures greater than 75,000 require approval by the planning board.
[27:09]
The project was reviewed twice by the County's technical review committee and this is the
[27:14]
last step for approval.
[27:17]
So photos of the sites includes the picture of the building as well as their property
[27:25]
on Highway 74.
[27:27]
These are views from Enterprise Drive.
[27:32]
These are all in your packet as well.
[27:34]
Well, these are from trade street which is located in the rear.
[27:39]
And then on Mercantile Drive, which is on the other side of the property.
[27:47]
And then this is additional information, all the stuff behind the construction fencing
[27:53]
is the subject site for tonight's discussion.
[27:59]
Playing staff has determined that the proposed request for maximum gross building size
[28:05]
allowance of 338,135 square feet, meets or exceeds the apical standards of the UDO
[28:12]
and therefore we recommend approval based on the conditions outlined in the staff
[28:16]
report. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have and I believe the
[28:22]
applicant is also here to answer questions sir. Thank you. All right.
[28:26]
Thank you sir. Does anyone have any questions for staff? Do I hear a
[28:33]
motion to open the public hearing?
[28:37]
I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion to open the public
[28:40]
hearing. Motion is second. All in favor say aye.
[28:44]
Aye. Any opposed? All right. The applicant, do we have the applicant or representative
[28:50]
of the applicant here to address the board? Come on down.
[28:59]
Anything you'd like to add
[29:00]
to the report? No, I think you... Yes, please state your name for the record.
[29:07]
Scott Bungo, Director of U.S. Manufacturing for Victolic, located at this location right
[29:13]
now. No, we were a mechanical pipe-joining company. We're proud to say that we employ
[29:21]
about 500 people right now of all the surrounding counties, Columbia and New Hanover and Pender
[29:28]
and of course Brunswick.
[29:32]
We're growing. Our business is growing. We're very excited
[29:35]
about that and we're looking forward to the future. If there's any questions I
[29:40]
could answer for you,
[29:43]
please, please ask. Okay. I'm not sure if anybody has any
[29:49]
questions, but we're excited for you that you're growing your company there. Yeah,
[29:53]
it's exciting as I was sitting in here I looked up and the sprinkler heads
[29:57]
above your head is what we make. So we make life
[30:00]
Life-saving devices. Anywhere you go, if you go to a restaurant or to a hotel, it's a very
[30:08]
good possibility that the sprinkler in that system is one that we built right there at
[30:13]
that location. So it's pretty cool stuff.
[30:16]
Well, thank you. All right.
[30:17]
All right, thank you.
[30:18]
Thank you. All right, Ms. County, did we have anyone sign up to speak to this?
[30:23]
No, sir.
[30:24]
No?
[30:32]
Does anyone have any questions for the applicant or do I hear a motion to close
[30:36]
a public hearing? I'll make a motion we close public hearing. I second. All right
[30:44]
motion in a second to close the public hearing.
[30:48]
It was pretty cut and dry. What
[30:53]
is the wishes of the board in regards to
[30:56]
Victolic Company's building consideration?
[31:06]
Make a motion to approve.
[31:19]
Pull it
[31:19]
to approve. Do I hear a second? Motion to second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? All right.
[31:28]
The major site plan 2026-02 for Victolic Company has been approved.
[31:36]
Thank you.
[31:40]
All right. Next
[31:41]
item on our agenda this evening, rezoning case Z940. Consideration of rezoning case
[31:48]
Z940 request to rezone tax parcel 046000102, a total of 67.52 acres from RR World Residential
[32:03]
to RR7500, medium density residential, located off of Mako Road Northeast, NC 87, near Leland
[32:11]
North Carolina. And do we have a report from staff?
[32:15]
Yes, sir, we do. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[32:19]
The applicant, Ed Lewis, requests to rezone the aforementioned tax parcel from RR,
[32:24]
rural residential to R7500, medium-density residential.
[32:27]
This rezoning request is conventional. Therefore, no conditions or site plans are proposed.
[32:32]
All owners and adjacent owners have been notified via first class mail.
[32:36]
The subject parcel was changed from RU, rural to RR,
[32:39]
rural residential in 2007 with the adoption of the Brunsett County Unified Development Ordinance.
[32:44]
The zoning of the subject possible has remained the same since then.
[32:48]
The proposed zoning district R7500, medium-density residential, the R7500, R6000, and SBR6000
[32:56]
districts are established to provide an orderly, suburban residential development, a limited
[33:02]
number of commercial and civic uses are allowed subject to the restrictions necessary
[33:07]
to preserve and protect the residential character of the neighborhood.
[33:10]
A special permit process for higher intensity developments is also allowed.
[33:16]
Using discretion to balance issues of higher density with improved amenities due to the
[33:23]
higher intensity developments contained in this district is intended to be applied to
[33:29]
property serviced, served by public sewer and water systems.
[33:39]
Existing blueprint, 2040 plan place type is open space conservation 1 and BM density residential.
[33:47]
Open space conservation 1 are the areas consistent, consists primarily of underserved open space
[33:53]
such as floodways and flood plains, high-risk flood areas, the majority, and as you can
[33:59]
see here on the future lane use map, the majority of the site is within that open
[34:05]
and space conservation one. Roughly the 97-98% is designated as OSC-1. And at the very top,
[34:12]
that orange color is medium-density residential. So it's just a small portion of the medium-density
[34:17]
residential that is located on this parcel. So roughly 1-2% is designated medium-density
[34:23]
residential. The OSC-1 place type is not consistent with the Blueprint Brunswick
[34:28]
2040 plan existing place type.
[34:33]
Planning staff recommends the now of rezoning case
[34:36]
Z940 because majority of the parcel once again 97 to 98 percent is located
[34:42]
within the flood hazard zone A zone. Resoning the parcel from RR from the
[34:49]
RR zoning district to the R7500 zoning district would increase the
[34:53]
density for resident residential development in the flood hazard A zone.
[34:58]
also the parcels about biodiversity and wildlife habitats assessment scored in
[35:05]
the 6 to 7 range out of 10. A higher score indicates more biodiversity and
[35:10]
wildlife on the site. Also the rezoning could affect school capacity in the
[35:17]
northern area of the county. This parcel is located within the Town Creek
[35:22]
Elementary School District. Town Creek Elementary is nearing capacity. There
[35:26]
There is a new elementary school plan for the Jackie Creek area near Leland, but increasing
[35:31]
density for this parcel still could cause some capacity issues for schools in the northern
[35:35]
area of the county.
[35:36]
Staff feels the current rezoning of RR rule residential is the appropriate zoning district
[35:42]
for this parcel in the surrounding area.
[35:51]
Staff recommends the Nile of rezoning case Z940 with the existing place type designation
[35:57]
as open space conservation one and medium density residential based upon the
[36:02]
following information provided surrounding area current uses the
[36:07]
blueprint runs a 2040 comp plan and other adopted Brunswick County plans and
[36:12]
policies per North Carolina general statute zoning regulation shall be made
[36:17]
in accordance with a comprehensive plan prior to adopting or rejecting any
[36:20]
zoning amendments a statement regarding plan consistency shall be adopted this
[36:24]
This request is not consistent with the blueprint Brunswick 2040 comp plan place type designation
[36:30]
is not consistent with the goals, recommendations, and policies of plans adopted by Brunswick
[36:35]
County.
[36:35]
Staff also finds the request not reasonable, appropriate, or in the interest of the public
[36:40]
based upon the following findings.
[36:42]
Number one, the majority of the proposal is designated as open space conservation
[36:45]
one.
[36:46]
The R7500 zoning district is not consistent with this land use designation.
[36:51]
Number two, the COMP plan goals and objectives do not support the rezoning.
[36:55]
It is not consistent with goals and objective NR-4 reduced the potential for property damage and impacts due to natural hazards by minimizing potential impacts of flooding.
[37:07]
Number three, most of the subject parcel, approximately 66 acres is located within the flood hazard A zone.
[37:14]
A flood study is needed for this parcel.
[37:16]
Number four, a higher wildlife habitat sport indicates higher biodiversity and
[37:21]
wildlife located on the parcel. And number five, the capacity in the northern
[37:27]
part, school capacity in the northern part of the county.
[37:37]
And here are the
[37:38]
slides for the school capacity. So as you can see there, Town Creek Elementary
[37:42]
School, it's not over capacity but it's it's over 90 percent capacity so it's
[37:47]
in capacity.
[37:50]
And then Town Creek Middle School has capacity and North Brunswick High School
[37:57]
have capacity.
[38:00]
And here are some photos from the site. The view on the left is the view
[38:04]
across Mako Road. On the left, on the right is the view of the property.
[38:11]
On the left
[38:11]
is the view facing north on Mako Road. And on the right is the view facing south on
[38:16]
Mako Road.
[38:21]
And this was a, all this was a summary of the staff report that you have
[38:29]
before you. So all the information is in the staff report. So this was just a brief
[38:33]
review of the staff report. So if you have any questions, anything in the staff
[38:38]
report or in this presentation, we'd be happy to answer. And that concludes the
[38:42]
staff report. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Connor. A question for you. What is the
[38:49]
I mean, the site has water and sewer to it, correct, or availability?
[38:56]
So as far as county water and sewer, it does not have county utilities are now available.
[39:02]
So county water or county wastewater are not available for this site.
[39:06]
But H2Go utilities, they do have utilities available for this site.
[39:12]
So water is available via a 12-inch water main, and wastewater is available via a
[39:17]
eight-inch sewer force main from H2Go?
[39:22]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but for H2Go,
[39:24]
they would need to be incorporated into Leland, though.
[39:27]
Is that?
[39:28]
They would have to reach out to H2Go and Leland
[39:31]
and talk to them about that process.
[39:33]
There's an agreement between H2Go and Leland,
[39:36]
but since Leland is by statute, not allowed to annex,
[39:41]
that they found some ways pass forward for some projects,
[39:45]
but that is generally, yes, the requirement,
[39:47]
but they have found paths forward.
[39:50]
Okay.
[39:51]
And if you will, remind us what the density is for RR versus R7500 if the capacity wastewater
[40:00]
was there.
[40:03]
You got ordinance.
[40:06]
It is 2.9.
[40:10]
I think RR is 2.9.
[40:12]
Yeah, RR is 2.9 that is with water and sewer.
[40:17]
and then it is 5.8 with water and sewer and the R7500 and I'm assuming that
[40:23]
they'll have the H to go when I say that. Okay, thank you. All right does anyone
[40:30]
else have any questions for staff?
[40:36]
Seeing none do I hear a motion to open the
[40:38]
public hearing?
[40:42]
I'll make a motion we open public hearing. Second. All right
[40:47]
Motion and a second, all in favor say aye.
[40:50]
Aye.
[40:51]
Any opposed?
[40:52]
All right.
[40:53]
Public hearing is open.
[40:55]
Do we have the applicant or a representative of the applicant
[40:58]
here to address the board?
[41:04]
Good afternoon.
[41:06]
If you will, please state your name for the record.
[41:09]
My name's Ed Lewis.
[41:12]
I made a copy of my presentation.
[41:14]
May I share it with the board?
[41:15]
Yes, sir.
[41:16]
Thank you.
[41:27]
Thank you.
[41:30]
You got a copy?
[41:49]
Thank you for allowing me to appear before you this afternoon. I've met with the staff on
[41:57]
several occasions and I fully understand what their proposal is and why. But I just wanted
[42:02]
share with you our thoughts. The county is still the fastest growing county in
[42:07]
the state as we all know and we need to provide housing for the people that are
[42:11]
coming in and the owner of this particular piece of property would like
[42:15]
to participate in sharing and creating housing for the population in this
[42:20]
county. This particular piece of property is located very close to our
[42:24]
way 17 gives us good thoroughfare going into Wilmington or Myrtle Beach
[42:30]
to wherever, wherever the work location and pleasure locations are. Close to the
[42:37]
beach, of course,
[42:41]
and the owner has said that he would provide the connection for
[42:45]
the water and the sewer at his own expense. So I think there's a possibility
[42:51]
of a win-win here for both the county as well as for the owner if the board
[42:57]
would appreciate that position. We would certainly appreciate it and we
[43:01]
I hope that you vote to resound this particular piece properly.
[43:05]
Any questions for me?
[43:11]
Does the board have any questions for this time?
[43:14]
Not right now.
[43:15]
OK.
[43:16]
All right.
[43:17]
Thank you, Mr. Lewis.
[43:18]
Thank you very much.
[43:18]
We may have some questions in a minute.
[43:20]
Thank you very much.
[43:20]
Thank you, sir.
[43:26]
Ms. County, do we have anyone sign up to speak to this one?
[43:29]
No, sir.
[43:30]
No?
[43:30]
OK.
[43:38]
Does the board have any questions for anyway?
[43:40]
Anyone?
[43:43]
Do I hear a motion to close the public hearing?
[43:46]
I'll make a motion when we close public hearing.
[43:50]
Second.
[43:51]
Motion and a second.
[43:52]
All in favor say aye.
[43:53]
Aye.
[43:54]
Any opposed?
[43:55]
All right.
[43:58]
What is the pleasure of the board in regards to rezoning case Z940?
[44:22]
Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we denies rezoning case Z940 as recommended by staff.
[44:29]
We
[44:33]
have a motion for denial of Z940 based upon the findings by staff.
[44:41]
I second.
[44:42]
Motion and a second. All in favor say aye.
[44:45]
Aye.
[44:46]
Any opposed? All right.
[44:49]
Would you amend your motion to include the consistency statement?
[44:53]
Yes.
[44:53]
To adopt the consistency statement.
[44:57]
Brian, do we need to restate it or?
[45:00]
Is his acceptance of the consistency?
[45:03]
That's, might as well start over because it has to be seconded and everything.
[45:07]
Okay. Do we need a motion to redact?
[45:12]
No. Just a motion to also include.
[45:15]
I'll make a motion to also include the consistency statement that's presented by the staff.
[45:23]
Like, a second.
[45:24]
Okay.
[45:24]
All right.
[45:25]
Motion and a second to also adopt the consistency and reasonableness determination as provided
[45:32]
by staff.
[45:33]
All in favor say aye.
[45:35]
Aye.
[45:36]
Any opposed?
[45:37]
All right.
[45:37]
Motion carries.
[45:40]
So, Z940 is denied as presented based upon the consistency and reasonableness.
[45:48]
Five items provided by staff.
[45:52]
Thank you.
[45:53]
Can we add that they have 15 days to appeal to the commissioners?
[45:58]
Yes.
[46:02]
Let's see, where is the...
[46:07]
Any person with standing may appeal the decision of the Planning Board to the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners.
[46:13]
Notice of the appeal must be provided in writing within 15 days.
[46:17]
If no appeal is received, then the decision of the Planning Board shall be final.
[46:22]
If an appeal is received in the allotted time,
[46:24]
And the case will move forward to the Brownsville County Board of Commissioners for a public
[46:27]
hearing and their consideration.
[46:40]
Next item on the agenda, rezoning case Z941.
[46:47]
Consideration of rezoning case Z941 is a request to rezone tax parcel 2120002112, a total
[46:56]
of 13.11 acres from CLD, commercial low density, and our 7,500 medium density residential to
[47:05]
CLD, commercial low density. It's located at 95 Oceanile Beach Road southwest near Oceanile
[47:12]
Beach. Additionally, consideration of proposed land use amendment LUM-941 for rezoning
[47:20]
case Z941, a request to amend the official Brunswick County Cameland use plan map from LDR, low-density residential, to MDRM, medium-density residential mixed use for tax parcel 2120002112, located at 95 Ocean
[47:42]
Beach Road southwest near Oceana Beach. This land use plan amendment totals
[47:47]
approximately 13.11 acres. And do we have a report from staff? Yes sir we do. Thank
[47:54]
you Mr. Connor. Thank you Mr. Chairman. And once again you have the staff reports
[47:57]
in front of you. So this will be a brief overview of the staff reports or
[48:02]
anything within the staff report or presentation. We'll be happy to answer
[48:05]
your questions. The applicant for C. Retson Partners LLC requests to
[48:10]
to rezone the aforementioned tax parcel from CLD, commercial low density, and R7500, medium
[48:16]
density residential to CLD, commercial low density.
[48:20]
This rezoning request is conventional, therefore no conditions or site plans are proposed.
[48:24]
All owners and adjacent owners have been notified via first class mail.
[48:28]
According to county records, the parcel has been zoned CLD and R7500 since 2004.
[48:34]
The zoning of the subject parcel has remained the same since then.
[48:37]
A portion of the parcel was subdivided out in January 2026 to create a 4.25 acre parcel
[48:45]
land tax parcel 212002103 that is located at the corner of Ocean Highway and Ocean Island
[48:54]
Beach Road.
[48:56]
The proposed zoning district commercial density, this district is intended primarily to be
[49:00]
used in outlying areas adjacent to major thoroughfares with yards and other provisions
[49:05]
for reducing conflicts with adjacent residential uses and with substantial setbacks to reduce
[49:12]
marginal frictioning on adjacent major thoroughfares.
[49:16]
Commercial uses in this district will serve the needs of residential neighborhoods for
[49:20]
auto-dependent commercial facilities and serve the needs of highway-oriented tourist businesses.
[49:31]
Existing blueprint runs at 2040, plan place type is low-density residential and Open
[49:38]
open space conservation one, the low density residential. This area is characterized by
[49:44]
low density residential development. Single family detached homes on half acre lots or
[49:50]
larger are common. Smaller lots are accomplished by keeping the gross density of the development
[49:56]
improved of the development. Improved open space including golf courses, neighborhood
[50:01]
parks and recreational amenities and greenway trails. And then on the very top, there's
[50:06]
just a small little portion, less than 1%, that is OSC1, but 99% of this property is
[50:14]
within the, currently within the LDR place type.
[50:17]
The LDR place type is not consistent with the blueprint Brunswick comp plan place type.
[50:23]
If the place type is not consistent, a land use amendment is required to propose comp
[50:29]
plan place type is medium density residential mix, MDRM.
[50:33]
This area is characterized by moderate density residential development is comprised of predominantly
[50:40]
single-family detached homes but may include attached single-family units such as townhomes
[50:45]
and duplexes.
[50:46]
The mix of housing types are intended to create intergenerational neighborhoods, improve open
[50:52]
space in the form of pocket and neighborhood parks, are interspersed, and greenway trails
[50:57]
within are located to connect such parks as well as provide links to greenway trails
[51:02]
and walkways and neighboring development. Maximum previous coverage
[51:06]
limitations help preserve green space. Staff supports this rezoning because it
[51:11]
will expand commercial uses at a major intersection along Highway 17. This will
[51:15]
bring economic development opportunities to the area. This rezoning is also
[51:19]
consistent with the surrounding zoning and will correct their split
[51:23]
zoning of the parcel.
[51:28]
Staff recommends approval of rezoning case Z941
[51:31]
one with the proposed place type designation as medium-density residential mix based upon
[51:37]
the information provided, the surrounding area, current uses, the comp plan, and other
[51:42]
adopted Brunsett County plans and policies.
[51:45]
For North Carolina General Statute, zoning regulations shall be made in accordance with
[51:49]
a comprehensive plan prior to adopting or rejecting any zoning amendment.
[51:53]
A statement regarding plan consistency shall be adopted.
[51:55]
it. This request is not consistent with the comp plan, place type, destination, and consistent
[52:03]
with the goals, recommendations, and policies of plans adopted by Brunsett County. Staff
[52:08]
also finds the request reasonable, appropriate, and in the public interest based upon the
[52:12]
following findings. Number one, the comp plan goals and objectives support the rezoning
[52:17]
is consistent with the goals and objectives ED-1, maintain and expand job opportunities
[52:22]
communities in the county, LU-2 support development areas that are best suited for future development.
[52:28]
Number two, the commercial and residential suitability maps indicate the parcel is suitable for commercial
[52:33]
and residential development.
[52:34]
Number three, this rezoning will correct the split zoning of the parcel.
[52:39]
Number four, the rezoning is consistent with surrounding zoning.
[52:43]
And number five, this rezoning will bring economic development opportunities to the
[52:47]
area.
[52:51]
On this slide, this is the flood hazard slide.
[52:53]
slide. The parcel itself is not within a flood hazard, but it is in the vicinity of
[52:58]
flood hazards down on Oceano Beach Road to the south of the property.
[53:05]
And here are the
[53:06]
school capacity slides. This parcel is within the Union Elementary School District. So
[53:14]
Union is over capacity.
[53:17]
Shalote Middle has capacity. And West Brunswick High School
[53:21]
have capacity.
[53:25]
And here are some photos of the site. So here is the view along
[53:29]
Oceano Beach Road. On the left is the view across Oceano Beach Road. And on the
[53:33]
right is the view of the property. And as you can see there is a currently
[53:37]
there's a single family residence on that property.
[53:42]
On the left is the view facing
[53:44]
north on Oceano Beach Road. And on the right is the view facing south on
[53:49]
Oceano Beach Road.
[53:53]
And here along Highway 17 on the left is the view
[53:56]
across Ocean Highway, U.S. 17, and on the right is the view of the property.
[54:04]
On the left is
[54:05]
the view facing east on Ocean Highway. On the right is the view facing west on Ocean
[54:10]
Highway. And then here are just some more pictures of the property itself. These were
[54:16]
taken from Ocean Island Beach Road.
[54:22]
And that concludes staff report.
[54:26]
Right. Thank you, Mr. Conner. Does anyone have any questions for staff?
[54:34]
Okay. Hearing
[54:35]
none. Do I hear a motion to open the public hearing?
[54:42]
I'll make a motion to be able to open
[54:44]
public hearing.
[54:47]
Do I hear a second? I second. Motion and a second. All in favor say aye.
[54:53]
Any opposed? All right. Do we have the applicant or a representative of the applicant here
[55:00]
to address the board? Thank you.
[55:05]
Good evening. Greg Stewart, 2075 Juniper Lake Road, West
[55:08]
in North Carolina. Just like the other gentleman, I have a presentation if I could just pass
[55:13]
that real quick. Tyler did hit most of the notes in his, but I would like to draw your
[55:18]
attention to one or two items that Tyler did not put in the set.
[55:20]
Yes, sir.
[55:35]
Thank you.
[55:52]
Thank you for your time. Just to give you a little bit of consideration to our thought
[55:57]
process for this rezoning request, generally with commercial zoning, many of you maybe
[56:02]
know that commercial zoning is more conducive to high-traffic volume areas. US-17 is
[56:06]
an emerging corridor County commercial development is happening that up and
[56:11]
down 17 as you can notice everything on that screen that's purple is zoned
[56:15]
commercial that is demonstrated on the first slide one slide to if you'll go
[56:22]
to my presentation which I apologize it's not up there but I'm happy to share
[56:27]
that slides with anyone there are a mile in each direction commercial
[56:34]
and based on your GIS on U.S. 17, again, that's due to the conduciveness for high traffic
[56:39]
volume areas on 17. I'm sure those of you that drive it every day are aware that intersection
[56:45]
right there where the U.S. is on U.S. 17 sees 35,500 cars a day in the ADT. The secondary
[56:55]
road, which is your ocean beach drive sees about 1,000, I'm sorry, 10,000 cars a day.
[57:04]
So again, one of the reasons that we selected this intersection for commercial development,
[57:08]
not only is it already existing in commercial, but it also has high traffic volume.
[57:13]
The other reasons conducive to commercial development are public infrastructure.
[57:17]
There's water and sewer across U.S. 17 that would be able to be tapped into.
[57:23]
Lastly, if you'll notice the, and I apologize, I'm going out of order here, on slide four
[57:30]
of mine, market analysis is a visual aerial of all of the non-commercial uses on that
[57:37]
corridor.
[57:38]
Yes, sir.
[57:38]
That one right there.
[57:39]
And as you can see, there are, I won't list them out, but there are over 15 within
[57:44]
a half mile in each direction of non-commercial uses.
[57:47]
We believe that makes this parcel conducive for commercial growth.
[57:52]
A couple other interesting things to note.
[57:54]
The corner parcel that is 4.25 acres, we are also under contract to develop.
[58:00]
The goal here is to be able to develop it all as one synergistic development.
[58:06]
One of the things that have come up in previous, I believe, conversations about this parcel has been access.
[58:13]
NCDOT, I'm sure residents will tell you those of you who have never been to Oceano Beach,
[58:17]
which I have, that road can have a high increase of traffic, and that might be a traffic concern.
[58:22]
There was a TIA performed at this intersection.
[58:24]
We do not have access to that.
[58:26]
We're working with NCDOT, we'll more than likely have to run our own TIA analysis
[58:30]
to see what type of impacts our proposed development will have to that intersection.
[58:35]
For those of you familiar with NCDOT, their manual is 650 pages long, whatever they
[58:40]
say goes.
[58:41]
We're not able to do whatever we want at that intersection. They will justify our insurance and ingress and egress points
[58:47]
So just wanted to point that out
[58:50]
Lastly if we're able to rezone that portion of the parcel
[58:53]
It will make the access be a lot more flexible into fact of getting it away from the intersection
[58:58]
Which I know has been a huge concern for NCDOT in the past
[59:01]
The also that parcel if anybody's ever walked it of our seller as there's about six to seven acres of wetlands
[59:09]
that are on that site. There's actually a creek if you can look at where the end is on
[59:14]
U.S. 17 North that runs that runs and I'm not going around at a point but right where
[59:20]
the end is with that course of the parcels. There's a creek size swamp that runs down
[59:25]
the edge of that. That has a 50 foot buffer that we're going to have to navigate until
[59:29]
we know exactly what survey and where that exactly line is. I'm not able to provide
[59:33]
kind of where different buildings or where different development efforts will go. I
[59:38]
that's one thing that's been brought up in previous attempts. Lastly, I'll tell you that
[59:42]
other than the capacity of the elementary school with 13-acre parcel and 6 to 7 acres projected
[59:49]
of wetlands, it's going to be very hard for someone to develop this into a residential
[59:53]
fashion other than just a single-use, single-family residential. So we believe highest and best
[59:58]
use of this parcel would be commercial.
[1:00:01]
I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have about our particular efforts. Right
[1:00:05]
now, we are very early in our stages. Should we be successful in rezoning, our next section
[1:00:11]
would be wetlands delineation, survey, phase one and environmental assessment to know exactly
[1:00:16]
what is going to be able, what our development efforts will look like. I can tell you that
[1:00:21]
the corner, there is a interested potential user for the corner, but all the others
[1:00:26]
will be proposed to retail. So lastly, I will say this, there are residential
[1:00:31]
lots on the rear that anytime you develop next to residential lots, one of the biggest
[1:00:36]
concerns is buffering. We're planning on leaving a 20 to 25 foot vegetative buffer
[1:00:42]
and we're happy to increase that should that not feel adequate, but also the wetter
[1:00:47]
areas to that parcel or to the rear. So it's not like we're going to, if our worst
[1:00:51]
success, we're going to clear cut everything and develop it that way, there will be
[1:00:55]
residential or a natural vegetation buffer on the left and the rear of that
[1:00:58]
parcel.
[1:01:01]
Okay. Just to remind the board you're to consider any and all uses not
[1:01:05]
specific uses and anything in regards to the site plan you will not be able to
[1:01:09]
hold him to. That'll come up at the site plan approval. So for instance like
[1:01:16]
what he was just saying about increasing buffer. Right. Okay. And our
[1:01:22]
language determinants around Smith has a small presentation as well as that
[1:01:25]
support of the applicant. Thank you for your time and I'll be here if you have any questions.
[1:01:30]
Thank you.
[1:01:41]
Thank you. My name is Rihanna Smith. I'm the land use attorney for the applicant. My address
[1:01:46]
is 127 West Hargett Street in Raleigh, North Carolina. And I just want to point out just
[1:01:53]
a few things. Staff did a great job, so I don't want to belabor it. Really it's
[1:01:57]
just saying that this really makes the most sense. It's consistent with the future
[1:02:00]
land use plan and the UDO. And even though we can't be held to anything as far as
[1:02:06]
orientation buffers and so forth. It's what makes practical sense. Taking into consideration
[1:02:13]
the traffic, the intersection, what's available and whether or not you could even really develop
[1:02:18]
it for residential use and also just being good neighbors. So happy to answer any questions
[1:02:25]
but just allows for the complete development of that parcel.
[1:02:29]
Okay. Any questions? All right. Thank you.
[1:02:45]
All right, Ms. County. Do we have anyone sign
[1:02:47]
up to speak to the board? Yes, sir. Shirley Sullivan.
[1:03:00]
Hello. Hello. Shirley Sullivan 5002,
[1:03:04]
Seaward Court, Southport. I oppose this rezoning quest as it is presented. It is encroaching
[1:03:10]
onto residential zoning. See all the red and the purple straight line? It's like
[1:03:16]
that's all residential right now. If you change that to CLD, your maximum
[1:03:23]
residential units goes up to 13.6 density.
[1:03:30]
R7500 maximum density is at
[1:03:32]
5.8. Now again this is a rezoning, but keep in mind if you, you know, once
[1:03:38]
Once you change the zoning in this direction, you can't go back because that would be considered
[1:03:43]
down zoning.
[1:03:45]
So this would allow for a lot of residential to come in, even though the developer might
[1:03:51]
be putting in some type of retail store.
[1:03:55]
You don't know.
[1:03:56]
The improvement follows the land.
[1:03:59]
So once you go to CLD, that's it.
[1:04:02]
CLD allows 50 more different uses, use types, than R7500.
[1:04:11]
So if this, whatever the developer has planned in the development application going forward,
[1:04:17]
if that doesn't work out, somebody else can come in and put in any one of those 50 different
[1:04:21]
mixed uses, and you don't want me to list those.
[1:04:28]
It's an assigned authorization, allowing the applicant name to be different from the applicant
[1:04:32]
signature on the rezoning application.
[1:04:35]
I didn't see that there was an assignment of that.
[1:04:39]
The attachment one to the rezoning staff case indicates rezoning Z937 in the upper
[1:04:45]
left-hand corner while the map itself is listed as Z941 correctly.
[1:04:50]
This is just a clerical technical mistake.
[1:04:52]
The size at the bottom left says 3.29 acres.
[1:04:56]
The parcel is in fact 13.1 acres.
[1:05:00]
There are environmental impacts.
[1:05:02]
A core of 6 to 7 out of 10 indicates more biodiversity
[1:05:05]
and wildlife on the site.
[1:05:09]
The UDL review and approval procedures
[1:05:11]
for rezoning action by planning a board.
[1:05:14]
I recommend E, reject the petition
[1:05:16]
for the zoning amendment as per the detriments
[1:05:19]
to the neighbors and the surrounding community,
[1:05:21]
the relationship between the current actual permissible development on the track and adjoining
[1:05:26]
areas and why the action taken is not in the public interest. What changed conditions warrant
[1:05:34]
the land use amendment? Again, if you look at the zoning now, all of that R7500 allows
[1:05:44]
5.8 residential units per acre.
[1:05:52]
So, and I also oppose for the commercial low density because of the Brunswick Blueprint 2040 comprehensive plan.
[1:05:59]
DQ2, maintain the character of the county.
[1:06:02]
G1, make consulting blueprint funds to get advance of the decision.
[1:06:06]
G2, maintain the relevance of blueprint Brunswick.
[1:06:09]
LU5, direct growth away from areas not well suited for development.
[1:06:14]
Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Ola.
[1:06:25]
James Weems.
[1:06:41]
Good afternoon.
[1:06:42]
You will state your name for the record. My name is James Weems and I'm a JSA
[1:06:46]
property owner at 109 Ocean Abbey Trove. I request the board to deny both of these.
[1:06:56]
I want to be clear I'm not against development. I'm not opposed to it at
[1:07:01]
all. I live here. I've lived here for 45 years. My parents have been here
[1:07:05]
since the 1970s. My children are the eighth generation on the property that's adjacent
[1:07:10]
to what they're talking about tonight. We've been here since the late 1790s. We know the
[1:07:15]
place is growing. The staff describes this request as part of correcting split zoning.
[1:07:21]
My question would be, I understand the argument, but why does making it uniformly zoned
[1:07:28]
commercial, correct the issue.
[1:07:34]
The residentially zoned land provides a
[1:07:36]
transition between the commercial development, pointed out in purple,
[1:07:40]
versus the residential property that's in red. The transition matters under the
[1:07:45]
county's own UDO. The stated purpose of the UDO includes protecting the
[1:07:50]
character of established residential neighborhoods, preserving quality of
[1:07:53]
life, maintaining orderly and compatible land use patterns, and ensuring
[1:07:58]
advocate privacy and access to property. More importantly this is a
[1:08:03]
conventional rezoning that there is no site plan there are no conditions
[1:08:05]
identifying what will be developed on any and all of the additional commercial
[1:08:10]
property. The county UDO specifically states that we're viewing a
[1:08:14]
conventional rezoning the entire range of use is allowed in the requested
[1:08:18]
zoning district must be considered regardless of the proposed site plan
[1:08:21]
or representations that a particular use may be limited. So this board is not
[1:08:26]
being asked to approve one particular business, you're being asked to decide whether the full
[1:08:30]
range of businesses that are permitted under the CLD should permanently be allowed directly
[1:08:35]
beside my house. The UDL also directs this board to consider whether the range of use
[1:08:41]
is appropriate for this area, the benefits, and then I'll point out the detriments
[1:08:44]
to the adjoining neighboring properties. What they talked about for the entrance,
[1:08:51]
entrance exit off of highway 17 would put the majority of their traffic right beside
[1:08:57]
my driveway, right beside my house.
[1:09:00]
So while it would make it easy for them to get in and out, it would be terrible for me
[1:09:04]
and my family to be right beside them.
[1:09:07]
So in closing, I understand that development standards and buffering requirements may
[1:09:11]
apply later.
[1:09:12]
It was stated by the applicant.
[1:09:13]
But why go through and approve such a zoning when we could just wait for the
[1:09:18]
site plan and get all of those buffers and things in place so that we can see
[1:09:23]
what's coming on and we can know what's happening with the land beside our
[1:09:26]
property. So I'm not asking the board to prevent this property from ever being
[1:09:30]
developed. I'm just asking you to preserve an appropriate transition
[1:09:34]
between commercial development and the established residents that is already
[1:09:38]
there.
[1:09:41]
If this development is ultimately appropriate, Brunswick County has
[1:09:44]
already had some great conditional rezoning process that would allow a
[1:09:47]
site specific condition proposed used in site plan to be considered and I believe
[1:09:51]
that would be a more appropriate way to evaluate this actual commercial proposed
[1:09:57]
beside my established residence. So I ask that you deny Z941 and
[1:10:23]
the attached
[1:10:23]
your name.
[1:10:31]
Judy Andrewsack, 5886 Curtis Court, Southwest Ocean Isle Beach.
[1:10:37]
Regarding the site usage, CLD uses that aren't allowed in R7500, agricultural industry, landscaping
[1:10:47]
and horticulture, nurseries, mobile home class B, mobile home parks, boarding houses,
[1:10:52]
Campgrounds, government-operated outdoor lighting, nude campgrounds, memorial gardens,
[1:10:58]
all medical facilities, vocational and business schools, auditoriums, civic centers, exposition
[1:11:03]
centers, major utilities, TV, HDTV, AM and FM broadcasting, commercial parking facilities,
[1:11:12]
funeral homes, crematoriums, nightclubs, taverns, bars, indoor shooting ranges, skating rinks,
[1:11:21]
outdoor advertising structures, commercial recreation, golf driving ranges, hotels, motels,
[1:11:28]
restaurants, micro breweries, wineries, convenience stores, drive-through facilities,
[1:11:33]
spleen markets, candles, marital arts, outdoor sales and display areas, performing arts,
[1:11:38]
personal service establishments, retail sales less than or equal to 10,000 square feet,
[1:11:44]
retail sales more than 10,000 square feet, veterinary establishments, animal hospitals,
[1:11:50]
mini-storage, car wash, garage services, automobile repair, repair renovation, and remodeling of
[1:11:56]
farm equipment, mobile and modular home sales services, vehicle and heavy equipment sales and
[1:12:02]
rentals, commercial boating facilities, commercial marinas and docks, seafood processing and canning
[1:12:08]
and storage of boats dry or wet. Let's tell you what you can't put in. By the way, as you exit
[1:12:16]
17 at that light. It's a dog leg if you want to go south. An ocean oil beach road
[1:12:22]
floods up to four feet deep at the swamp park. Good luck.
[1:12:31]
Thank you.
[1:12:37]
That was the last
[1:12:37]
one. Okay.
[1:12:42]
All right. Does anyone from the board have any questions for anyone
[1:12:47]
that spoke? I got a question I think it may be for our staff. Just looking at
[1:12:55]
zoning map the one that's projected right now. I see 11 parcels that touch
[1:13:01]
the commercial low density on highway 17 and this parcel as if I'm
[1:13:08]
understanding correctly they want to rezone because they have a narrow piece
[1:13:12]
that touches. I also appreciate the frontage on Ocean Isle Beach Road would
[1:13:17]
be real good commercial. I appreciate that. I think my question is if you've
[1:13:22]
got 11 more parcels that extend way back from highway 17 when they come in in six
[1:13:29]
months or a year what are we looking at with them on rezoning and it would this
[1:13:34]
be a backdoor effort to turn the whole place into apartments or something you
[1:13:40]
know every lot there I'm just curious it's not just the one parcel that I'm
[1:13:47]
looking at. It's like what's the long term possibility happening here? Is anybody
[1:13:54]
got it? Are you talking about the parcels south of that? Well all the parcels
[1:13:59]
that touch highway 17. When you look at the lot lines on these things a whole
[1:14:05]
bunch of them they have that commercial frontage on 17 but the parcel
[1:14:09]
content continues way south of 17 and so these folks I think justifiably want to
[1:14:18]
go for rezoning for the commercial density because they've got a narrow
[1:14:24]
piece that attaches and they don't really have room for anything and I
[1:14:29]
understand that the Ocean Isle Beach frontage would be good for commercial
[1:14:32]
but what happens when the other 11 show up with the same case? That's the
[1:14:39]
question I've got. I mean it's... Did you want staff to address it? From a staff
[1:14:46]
perspective we have parcels that have split zoned quite often and it becomes
[1:14:50]
very problematic for the owner or the applicant that's trying to develop it
[1:14:55]
and so usually if something split zone we do recommend to go through a
[1:15:00]
Resoning to get it zoned, then one zoning. So the likelihood if somebody came in, we would
[1:15:06]
probably recommend going through a rezoning because again, it makes designing a project
[1:15:11]
really difficult when it's two different zonings. And so that would be the likelihood of it.
[1:15:15]
The CLD district has a multifamily for several decades. So I don't really foresee that that
[1:15:22]
would be a use that would come out of the wordwork being more popular than others. And
[1:15:27]
And this area has been zoned CLD for a very, very long time, probably since the inception
[1:15:32]
of the zoning.
[1:15:34]
I'm sort of asking about all the R-7500 that could serve as a change.
[1:15:40]
And those have been zoned R-7500 as well for a long time, that's correct.
[1:15:46]
And I think he's drawing attention to the fact that there are 11 other parcels that
[1:15:51]
are split.
[1:15:51]
Right, that's what I'm saying.
[1:15:51]
If they come in, staff would very, very likely recommend that they go through a rezoning
[1:15:56]
to have it all one zoning because it's very problematic to develop a property
[1:16:00]
that's multiple zoning districts. Not to say that they will, but that is a
[1:16:06]
likelihood. But again, the multifamily is allowed and it has been allowed for a
[1:16:11]
very long time so that would be a use that is allowed in the CLD if it's
[1:16:15]
owned CLD. So I guess my question is when if one of these other ones comes
[1:16:22]
then or they don't point at this one and say you did it for them you got to do it
[1:16:27]
for us I'm just I don't I don't know but I mean that there would it would be a
[1:16:35]
there would be example of how that it was expanded on split zone property in
[1:16:40]
this area so yes okay I've got a question for stuff if the applicant was
[1:16:49]
to come in with the full site plan, what would be allowed with a, I guess, the conditional
[1:16:59]
aspect of things if they wanted to put more of a commercial, if it was still zoned R7500
[1:17:04]
with a conditional zoning?
[1:17:07]
It would have to be rezoned for conditional zoning.
[1:17:10]
Well, with the conditional zoning, you could be rezoned to CZCLD.
[1:17:14]
So yes, they could do that to a commercial district that allows that as well.
[1:17:21]
But they would have to have pretty much a site plan and everything done.
[1:17:23]
Right, they would have to have a site plan, the TIA, they would have to have the home line yards.
[1:17:27]
Additionally, you can't require somebody to do a conditional zoning.
[1:17:31]
They have to agree to it.
[1:17:32]
Every condition has to be agreed by the property owner and the county.
[1:17:36]
They have to agree to move forward.
[1:17:37]
So it's not something that you could just say, yeah, we want you to do a CZ.
[1:17:40]
And legal might have additional comments about that.
[1:17:47]
Thank you.
[1:17:57]
Any further questions?
[1:18:05]
Mr. Chairman, I move that we close public comment period.
[1:18:10]
All right.
[1:18:11]
Motion to close the public hearing.
[1:18:14]
Do I hear a second?
[1:18:20]
I need you to speak.
[1:18:22]
I'll close public comment.
[1:18:24]
You want to say?
[1:18:25]
Motion.
[1:18:26]
Were you nodding at me for the second?
[1:18:28]
Yes.
[1:18:28]
Okay.
[1:18:29]
I need for you to say that you seconded it.
[1:18:35]
We can close the public hearing.
[1:18:37]
Say you second it.
[1:18:38]
Say you second it.
[1:18:39]
Say you second it.
[1:18:40]
Second.
[1:18:40]
I thought one of them seconded it.
[1:18:42]
Thank you.
[1:18:44]
So we have a motion and a second.
[1:18:46]
All in favor say aye.
[1:18:47]
Aye.
[1:18:48]
Any opposed?
[1:18:49]
All right.
[1:18:50]
So the public hearing is closed.
[1:18:52]
What is the board's pleasure on this rezoning case
[1:18:58]
and land use map amendment. 941.
[1:19:20]
Mr. Chairman, I make a recommendation that
[1:19:22]
we deny it on concerns based on public and information that we have.
[1:19:35]
Does he
[1:19:35]
need anything else with his motion for denial? What's your actual motion? Why
[1:19:40]
are you denying it? I just concerned. Concerns over to, you know, can't require
[1:19:47]
anything, but I think we're all in agreement, you know, everybody's curious what's going to go
[1:19:51]
there and we don't know. We're setting the President's, if we zone this, we zone it the way we do it.
[1:19:59]
If we have to be rezoned.
[1:20:03]
From what I hear, you're opposed to CLD because of the possible number of uses.
[1:20:09]
Yes.
[1:20:11]
Thank you.
[1:20:12]
That's sufficient. All right.
[1:20:15]
Motion for denial due to the increased potential number of additional uses in the CLD district.
[1:20:25]
Do I hear a second?
[1:20:27]
I second.
[1:20:28]
Motion and a second.
[1:20:29]
All in favor say aye.
[1:20:30]
Aye.
[1:20:31]
Any opposed?
[1:20:32]
All right.
[1:20:34]
It has been denied as presented with the rezoning.
[1:20:45]
Can you read the appeal form and then take a brief recess?
[1:20:51]
Yes.
[1:20:53]
All right.
[1:20:54]
Any person with standing may appeal the decision of the planning board to the Brunsett County
[1:20:59]
Board of Commissioners.
[1:21:00]
Notice of the appeal must be provided and writing within 15 days.
[1:21:05]
If no appeal is received, then the decision of the planning board shall be final.
[1:21:09]
If an appeal is received in the allotted time, the case will move forward to the Bunza County
[1:21:13]
Board of Commissioners for a public hearing and their consideration.
[1:21:17]
Thank you.
[1:21:19]
And with that, we have some technical issues.
[1:21:22]
We're going to take a brief recess.
[1:21:27]
Five minutes.
[1:21:29]
All right, well let's, we'll reconvene at 5.20, it's 5.11, presently.
[1:21:39]
Okay.
[1:21:39]
Test
[1:23:53]
one,
[1:23:56]
test two.
[1:30:36]
All right, Ms. County, are you working?
[1:30:37]
motion. Yes, sir. Everything's good. All right.
[1:30:44]
We'll go ahead and call this meeting back
[1:30:46]
to order. Just missed 5.20. 5.21. All right. Before we start the next item, I would like
[1:30:56]
to make a motion to the board to recuse Howard Stocks from agenda item 8, number 4, PD 180
[1:31:02]
80 Amber Glen plan development.
[1:31:07]
Have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye.
[1:31:11]
Aye.
[1:31:12]
All right. Any opposed? All right. Mr. Stocks, if you will, step down from the board.
[1:31:22]
Don't
[1:31:23]
go anywhere. We're going to call you back up after this one. All
[1:31:34]
right. In public hearings,
[1:31:37]
item number four, Amber Glen plan development, PD 180, consideration of the proposed Amber
[1:31:43]
Amber Glen plan development consisting of 417 single family homes on approximately 122 acres
[1:31:50]
creating an overall density of 3.42 dwelling units per acre.
[1:31:55]
This is located on Old Ocean Highway US-17 business near Bolivia.
[1:32:01]
And do we have a report from staff?
[1:32:03]
Yes.
[1:32:03]
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[1:32:05]
This is application repeat 180, Amber Glen plan development.
[1:32:09]
The applicant is Cape Fear Engineering, located on Old Ocean Highway and Benton Road.
[1:32:15]
Zoning districts, as you can see from the zoning map, the overwhelming majority of the site
[1:32:19]
is CLD, or Commercial Low Density, which allows a maximum residential density of 13.6 dwelling
[1:32:27]
units per acre.
[1:32:28]
There's a very small portion.
[1:32:30]
That one small lot fronting on Benton Road is our 7,500, which allows a maximum density
[1:32:37]
of 5.8 dwelling units per acre. Both of these densities are based upon the project having
[1:32:43]
water and sewer availability. The surrounding zoning is very similar. The overwhelming majority
[1:32:50]
is CLD around. There's R7500 to the south. As mentioned, Amber Glen is a proposed plan
[1:32:59]
development consisting of 417 single family units on approximately 122 acres
[1:33:06]
creating an overall density of 3.42 dwelling units per acre. Approval
[1:33:11]
criteria, the majority of the surrounding uses consists of single family
[1:33:14]
residential, institutional, commercial, agricultural, and vacant land. Just want
[1:33:19]
to point out some of the major land uses in the area directly across Old
[1:33:27]
Ocean Highway. You've got Brunswick County School, which is the coast school. You've
[1:33:33]
also got Brunswick Community College in the top right. You've got Hospice, which is just
[1:33:40]
to the northeast. And then you've got, of course, a hospital and supply elementary
[1:33:47]
within about a quarter to a half mile away. The blueprint Brunswick Future Land
[1:33:54]
use map the notice area as commercial as commercial low density residential and
[1:34:05]
open space conservation one parking will be off-street with the minimum of two
[1:34:10]
driveway parking spaces per lot proposed infrastructure will have water and sewer
[1:34:17]
will be provided by Brunswick County and the roads will be private the
[1:34:21]
proposed development will have a 30 foot or in some small areas, a 20 foot peripheral
[1:34:28]
buffer. Those 20 foot areas will have a 6 foot fence. All must meet the minimum opacity
[1:34:34]
of 0.6. Supplemental landscaping will be installed where the natural vegetation is subpar.
[1:34:43]
The required open space of the development is approximately 30.5 acres. The developers
[1:34:48]
is proposing 32.47 acres of dedicated open space. The developer is also proposing 5.46
[1:34:54]
acres of recreation space of which 4.6 are required. The proposed project will generate
[1:35:01]
approximately 3,712 vehicle trips per 24-hour weekday volume.
[1:35:09]
A traffic impact analysis
[1:35:10]
or TIA has been completed and approved by NCDOT. A driveway permit from NCDOT will
[1:35:17]
be required prior to the recording of the individual lots.
[1:35:20]
The proposed road improvements, as mandated in the DOT, are at Site Access A, which is
[1:35:28]
at Old Ocean Highway or U.S. 17 Business, and the access into the site.
[1:35:33]
There will be a westbound and eastbound turn lanes, the westbound turn lane being
[1:35:39]
50 feet, the eastbound turn lane being 75 feet.
[1:35:42]
At Side Access B, there is no turn lanes required as dictated by DOT.
[1:35:53]
The exceptional design elements to be included in the project are as follows.
[1:35:56]
The developer is proposing 32.47 acres of open space, whereas 30.5 acres are required.
[1:36:02]
As mentioned before, the developer is also proposing 5.46 acres of recreation space,
[1:36:06]
whereas 4.6 are required.
[1:36:09]
The developer has agreed to a 10-foot additional buffer adjacent to all wetlands.
[1:36:15]
There's not a whole lot of wetlands.
[1:36:16]
It's really just along the northern or the northeastern boundary, that kind of uneven
[1:36:22]
line that there are some wetlands there where there's a small branch.
[1:36:28]
And of course, there will still be a 50-foot riparian buffer from that branch.
[1:36:36]
sidewalks are to be provided on one side of the road throughout the
[1:36:39]
development. The main road through the development which is not going to be
[1:36:43]
known as Amber Glen Boulevard shall be opened to the public and provide
[1:36:46]
greater connectivity to the area. So this will connect Benton Road with Old
[1:36:51]
Ocean Highway. Again this is not proposed to be a gated community so it
[1:36:56]
will be open. The design flexibility elements requested for the project are
[1:37:00]
as follows. Number one reduction in lot dimensions and number two reduction
[1:37:04]
and setbacks. No portions of the site are located in a flood hazard zone as you can see
[1:37:12]
from the flood map and the site is not within a half mile of a voluntary agricultural district
[1:37:20]
for schools. This site would be located in the following school districts supply elementary
[1:37:27]
which is currently at 89% capacity and projected to go over 100% capacity in the
[1:37:32]
2020-29, 20-30 school year. Cedar Grove Middle is currently at 82% capacity and not expect to
[1:37:39]
go for capacity until 2030. South Brunswick High is currently at 84% capacity and expect to go
[1:37:45]
over capacity in the 20-29 school year. Per Brunswick County schools, the expected school impact
[1:37:53]
is considered to be moderate.
[1:37:58]
Jason property owners were notified via US mail and notification
[1:38:01]
application sign was posted on the subject property. TRC was held on May 19th of
[1:38:05]
2026 and a neighborhood meeting was held on July 29th of 2026. If approved, this
[1:38:12]
development shall have a vested right for a period of three years. A two-year
[1:38:15]
extension may be requested by the applicant to the Brunswick County
[1:38:18]
Planning Department. Planning staff has determined that the proposed plan
[1:38:22]
development meets or exceed the applicable standards of the UDO and
[1:38:25]
therefore recommends approval based upon the following conditions. Number
[1:38:28]
Number one, that development shall proceed in conformity with all plans and design features
[1:38:32]
submitted as part of the plan development application and kept on file by the Brunswick
[1:38:36]
County Planning Department.
[1:38:38]
Number two, that development of the partial shall comply with all regulations as specified
[1:38:42]
in the Brunswick County UDO.
[1:38:44]
Number three, plan development approval does not constitute an authorization to
[1:38:48]
construct.
[1:38:49]
All applicable federal, state and county approvals and permits will be necessary
[1:38:53]
to obtain final approvals and building permits.
[1:38:57]
this includes stormwater utilities and fire marshal requirements. And number four plan
[1:39:02]
development approval does not constitute or guarantee the allocation of water or sewer
[1:39:06]
capacity. The applicant proceeds at their own risk with respect to future water and
[1:39:11]
sewer system connections. The ability to modify existing permits connect
[1:39:15]
unpermitted structures and construct new water and sewer infrastructure
[1:39:20]
connected or tributary to the county's water and or sewer system
[1:39:25]
permit is dependent upon receipt of a valid water and wastewater line extension permits
[1:39:30]
from the state of North Carolina. The application for which requires plan approval and sign documentation
[1:39:37]
authorizing connection to the county water and or wastewater system. Water and wastewater
[1:39:43]
available capacity will change over time. A few pictures of the site. This is looking
[1:39:50]
across Old Ocean Highway. I believe that's the Baptist Assembly building. The
[1:39:56]
Brunswick County School is just off-screen to the right. View of the
[1:40:00]
property. This is looking from Old Ocean Highway. I should also note the
[1:40:05]
property was previously owned by a timber company which is and I believe
[1:40:09]
has been recently timbered. So it was previously a tree farm. Views facing
[1:40:15]
facing West on Old Ocean Highway and East. And then Benton Road. The right hand picture
[1:40:23]
is the property that is under contract by the applicant to purchase that property and
[1:40:29]
this will be where the entrance, the southern entrance to the development would be. And
[1:40:34]
then view facing East and West on Benton Road. And that concludes staff report.
[1:40:41]
All right. Thank you, sir.
[1:40:49]
One question for you.
[1:40:53]
The plan showed the 20-foot periphery
[1:40:56]
buffer with a 6-foot vinyl fence. Is that, it was noted in here that it was a 0.6 opacity.
[1:41:02]
Is that vinyl fence a privacy fence or is that just a picket?
[1:41:08]
So in the UDO, the 0.6 opacity has several options. One of them is 30 feet with just
[1:41:14]
vegetation. The other one, if you do a 20 feet, 20 foot, 0.6 opacity, the requirement
[1:41:21]
is an opaque 6-foot-high fence. So the only areas that are going to have that per the
[1:41:27]
site plan are along the two entrance points. Sorry, did I manage the question?
[1:41:34]
Is it going to be the full fence, not the slat?
[1:41:40]
It has to be okay.
[1:41:42]
Okay, gotcha.
[1:41:43]
Thank you.
[1:41:47]
All right, does anyone else have any questions for staff?
[1:41:53]
All right.
[1:41:54]
Hearing none, do I hear a motion to open the public hearing?
[1:41:58]
So move.
[1:41:59]
Second.
[1:42:00]
Motion and a second.
[1:42:01]
All in favor say aye.
[1:42:02]
Aye.
[1:42:03]
Any opposed?
[1:42:05]
All right, do we have the applicant
[1:42:06]
or representative of the applicant? Yes, sir.
[1:42:20]
Good evening, Chairman Cheek,
[1:42:22]
members of the board. My name is Clint Cogburn. I'm a land use attorney with the
[1:42:26]
law firm Ward and Smith with offices at 82 Patton Avenue in Asheville, North
[1:42:29]
Carolina. I'm here this evening on behalf of the applicant, Kate Fear,
[1:42:33]
engineering and real-star acquisitions LLC, which is seeking approval of the
[1:42:39]
Amber Glen plan development under the preliminary master plan review
[1:42:43]
process. Additionally here with me as well as our full development team that is
[1:42:50]
available to answer questions and you'll hear from some of them as part of our
[1:42:53]
presentation. We want to be respectful of your time but also want to make sure
[1:42:56]
that we're providing you with the necessary information and meeting our
[1:42:59]
obligations under the ordinance. The individuals attending as part of our
[1:43:04]
team this evening are Graham Black from RealStar Development Group, Matt
[1:43:08]
Haley who's vice president with Cape Fear Engineering, Jackson Starling who's
[1:43:13]
a professional civil engineer with Cape Fear Engineering,
[1:43:16]
Kim Williams, wetland section manager
[1:43:18]
with Davy Resource Group, Cameron Owens,
[1:43:21]
who handles wetland delineation for Davy Resource Group,
[1:43:25]
and Raimi Kemp, who is a principal
[1:43:28]
and professional traffic engineer with RFK engineers.
[1:43:33]
We appreciate the work of our entire team
[1:43:35]
as well as with staff.
[1:43:36]
Staff has been great to work with.
[1:43:39]
My involvement is more recent,
[1:43:41]
but in talking to our entire team they've worked with staff closely in terms of
[1:43:46]
refining this plan over the course of months to get to the plan that is
[1:43:51]
before this board today which we believe not only satisfies the
[1:43:55]
requirements of the ordinance but exceeds it in many aspects.
[1:44:04]
So looking at
[1:44:05]
the subject site as staff mentioned it's a combination of five separate
[1:44:09]
adjoining parcels along Old Ocean Highway and Benton Road. It totals
[1:44:14]
approximately 122 acres of that. The breakdown is approximately 117 of those being uplands
[1:44:22]
with the remaining five being wetlands acreage. The current zoning as staff went through is
[1:44:28]
almost entirely commercial low density. The only portion of the subject site that is not
[1:44:34]
commercial low density is that access tract that connects to Benton Road and that is zoned
[1:44:41]
media and density residential. But again, other than the access, the rest of the track
[1:44:49]
is zone, that commercial low density designation. What we are proposing as part of this request
[1:44:55]
are to build 417 single family detached homes.
[1:45:00]
And that will be over the course of two phases. Those phases are almost equally split. Phase
[1:45:05]
one is slightly larger and it's shown on the site plan and the plan that has been submitted
[1:45:12]
as part of this with 214 units. Phase two slightly less than that with 203. That comes out again
[1:45:20]
to 3.42 dwelling units per acre. This is less than half of what would otherwise be possible
[1:45:29]
under the current zoning, the maximum dwelling units per acreage, if we wanted to get there
[1:45:34]
would be 7.26, we are significantly below that maximum dwelling unit capacity and that's
[1:45:42]
intentional. It is to allow for additional buffering as well as more open space and
[1:45:48]
more recreational spaces.
[1:45:56]
As staff mentioned, the purpose of the plan development request
[1:46:01]
is to provide certain flexibilities and accommodations in exchange for the applicant
[1:46:06]
increasing its burden in other areas. The two minor flexibilities that we are
[1:46:12]
asking for here are the first being lot sizes, the CLD standard minimum lot size
[1:46:19]
is 6,000 square feet. We are proposing a range in between 5,040 square feet
[1:46:26]
feet and 6,240 square feet, there will be a smaller lot design and a larger lot design
[1:46:32]
and there could be an intermediate lot design as part of this.
[1:46:35]
And that's one of the flexibilities that we are asking for.
[1:46:39]
In addition to it allowing for greater open space and greater preservation, it also provides
[1:46:45]
a more cost effective option with that smaller lot design compared to just having a standard
[1:46:51]
lot design across the entire development.
[1:46:54]
requirement. The second is a very minor flexibility that we're asking for. As part of this, we
[1:47:00]
meet all of the setbacks corner, street, side, and rear. The only flexibility we're asking
[1:47:07]
for is a small reduction to the front yard setback requirement from 25 to 20 feet. That
[1:47:13]
allows again for greater clustering, greater large open space areas, greater conservation
[1:47:18]
and the ability to have the requisite and adequate buffering and separation with adjacent
[1:47:26]
lots.
[1:47:30]
I won't go through the entirety of UDO 3.3.3A, but we do believe that we meet each of these
[1:47:36]
requirements and specifically want to highlight that as part of this we are proposing clustering
[1:47:42]
to reduce any impacts to infrastructure.
[1:47:46]
That clustering and the design of this project will also reduce erosion and sedimentation
[1:47:51]
by minimizing land disturbance, and additionally, this is a very efficient design, again, that
[1:47:58]
promotes the best use of the property, it clusters units into the uplands, it allows
[1:48:04]
for greater open space and conservation, and builds out a very good development for
[1:48:11]
this area.
[1:48:16]
As part of the proposal, again, we talked about the plan development where we're
[1:48:19]
We're asking for certain flexibilities in exchange for that as part of this proposal.
[1:48:24]
We are proposing increases to the open space and recreation requirements.
[1:48:30]
As staff mentioned, the minimum requirement for a PD is 25% open space.
[1:48:39]
That comes out to approximately 30.5 acres.
[1:48:43]
What is being proposed here is 32.47 acres.
[1:48:47]
So almost an additional two acres of open space or 106% of the requirement under the ordinance.
[1:48:53]
Additionally, as part of the open space, 15% of that in the ordinance has to be usable recreational area.
[1:49:03]
When you do the math, the requirement for this site would be 4.6 acres.
[1:49:08]
What we're proposing is almost an additional full acre at 5.46 acres or 118% of the requirement.
[1:49:17]
The open space plan, as you can see on what has been submitted with the application, includes
[1:49:22]
amenity ponds, natural areas and passive recreation space integrated throughout the development.
[1:49:28]
This is intentional to avoid kind of piecemeal open space areas that aren't cohesive, that
[1:49:33]
don't allow for those to be maximized.
[1:49:36]
This design does that, and it's very intentional in ensuring the best use of those open
[1:49:41]
spaces and making them actual usable open spaces that benefit the community in the surrounding
[1:49:46]
area. The lot size reduction also supports better integration and use of the open space
[1:49:52]
overall as part of the development. I'm going to turn it over here to Rami Kemp to talk
[1:49:57]
about traffic. I do want to note again as staff mentioned that a traffic impact analysis
[1:50:01]
was submitted for this site to the NCDOT. The TIA was reviewed and approved by Division
[1:50:10]
Division III of NCDOT on July 23rd, 2026, and that is a requirement for the plan development
[1:50:16]
approval and we have satisfied that requirement. I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Kemp so he
[1:50:20]
can provide a little bit more information on traffic.
[1:50:23]
Thank you.
[1:50:28]
Well, the summary has been well presented. I am Ramey Kemp with...
[1:50:33]
Mr. Kemp, if you...
[1:50:33]
Yeah, I was going to say state your name for the record. Thank you.
[1:50:35]
Yes, I'm Ramey Kemp with RFK Engineers, with an office at 5808 Farringdon Place
[1:50:42]
in Raleigh, North Carolina. In accordance with NCDOT and the county guidelines, we prepared
[1:50:51]
the TIA for the site. We looked at three intersections that were requested in addition to the two
[1:50:59]
access points. And from that study, we recommended that there be two lanes, two turn lanes,
[1:51:08]
on the old ocean highway, one left turn into the site and one right turn into the site.
[1:51:16]
And it was concluded that nothing was needed at the Benton Road access. Low volumes were
[1:51:24]
the primary reason.
[1:51:28]
I'd be glad to answer any questions. We were approved by the
[1:51:38]
County on July 23rd.
[1:51:42]
All right.
[1:51:43]
Thank you.
[1:51:43]
Does anyone have any questions for Mr. Kent?
[1:51:46]
All right.
[1:51:47]
Thank you, sir.
[1:51:58]
One of the things I also want to mention
[1:51:59]
is part of the traffic piece of this proposal.
[1:52:03]
And staff mentioned this as well.
[1:52:05]
The proposed design promotes connectivity
[1:52:07]
while these roads will be private.
[1:52:10]
They will have to meet the NCDOT minimum standards
[1:52:13]
for subdivision roads.
[1:52:14]
But in addition to that, it will connect Old Ocean
[1:52:17]
highway to Benton as staff mentioned. So there's not going to be a gate that prevents access
[1:52:22]
and so it will allow for greater connectivity in the surrounding area. I'd now want to turn it
[1:52:28]
over to Jackson Starling at Cape Fear Engineers to talk about some of the stormwater, sewer,
[1:52:34]
and site engineering aspects of this project. Thank you.
[1:52:41]
Good evening members of the board
[1:52:43]
and Mr. Chair. My name is Jackson Starling with Cape Fear Engineering 151 Pull Road in
[1:52:48]
So I just want to lightly touch on the water and sewer for this project.
[1:52:57]
I can push this forward a little bit.
[1:52:59]
So we've been coordinating with staff in Brunsett County Engineering on existing infrastructure in the area.
[1:53:05]
There is an existing 30-inch water main on Old Ocean Highway and an existing 10-inch force main on Old Ocean Highway.
[1:53:14]
Our intent to serve this project is to provide a centralized pump station with gravity sewer
[1:53:20]
lines, which is the preference of county engineering.
[1:53:23]
At that point where we collect all the gravity sewer, we will provide a force main that will
[1:53:29]
connect back up to Old Ocean Highway and connect into the county's transmission line.
[1:53:35]
For water, we will be connecting on to the 30-inch water main, but we will likely
[1:53:39]
also loop through to the Benton Road. Actually, there is no water on Benton Road. We will
[1:53:48]
be looping through our subdivision and back into the 30-inch line, which will certainly
[1:53:52]
provide adequate pressure for the subdivision. Just to quickly touch on stormwater, one
[1:54:00]
of the additional permits that we'll have to go through, both with the county and
[1:54:03]
with the Department of Environmental Quality. We have a number of amenity ponds and
[1:54:08]
stormwater ponds on the site to help attenuate the runoff of stormwater from
[1:54:16]
the site and slowly release it. The county holds us to a higher standard than
[1:54:21]
they did previously. They now hold us to the 25-year storm for the pre-post
[1:54:26]
condition, meaning that in the pre-development condition you have a
[1:54:31]
certain amount of runoff in a 25-year storm and the post-development runoff
[1:54:34]
condition after all the driveways. Reef tops and everything are down. We will have to be
[1:54:39]
within 5% of that pre-development condition. So I believe we've designed this site very
[1:54:47]
well and we'll over attenuate the storm water runoff from this site. So that's just kind
[1:54:56]
of lightly touching on the infrastructure. I'd be happy to answer any other questions
[1:54:59]
of board may have?
[1:55:03]
All right. Any questions from the board? All right. Thank you. Thank
[1:55:10]
you.
[1:55:15]
And I'll just briefly conclude. We do submit and it's shown on your screen here
[1:55:21]
as part of our presentation that we meet all of the required site plan approval criteria
[1:55:26]
set forth in the ordinance specifically section 3.2.5. That includes things like
[1:55:34]
like UDO compliance, future land use compliance, staff went into that.
[1:55:39]
Natural site features, parking, as staff mentioned, there will be at least two parking spaces
[1:55:44]
per unit designated in addition to those NCDOT approved access designs and improvements
[1:55:51]
that the applicant is certainly willing to make as part of this project.
[1:56:00]
And one of the things we want to touch on here at the end is we did get through
[1:56:04]
the TRC process in May of 2026, there were comments from TRC, and we appreciate TRC's
[1:56:12]
diligence in providing those comments. They're very comprehensive. We went back and made adjustments
[1:56:17]
to those, including related to sight lines at access points, delineating certain wetland
[1:56:26]
areas again along that northeastern boundary line and made some other tweaks to the plan.
[1:56:34]
Additionally, as part of this, as staff mentioned, there was a community meeting that was held
[1:56:39]
towards the end of July, and there's been ongoing dialogue both with staff and with
[1:56:44]
the community throughout this development process.
[1:56:47]
One of the outcomes of that was a comment related to access early on and which led
[1:56:53]
to the access point off of Benton Road that creates that greater connectivity. Another
[1:56:58]
one was at that front access to Old Ocean Highway. There was a comment from an adjacent
[1:57:05]
property owner related to the location of the units along that access point and wanting
[1:57:10]
them to be flipped to the other side so that there was greater buffer and distance.
[1:57:14]
That has been done as part of that along Amber Glen there at the access point along
[1:57:20]
old ocean highway. The applicant is has been in communication with the community
[1:57:26]
wants to make sure that this is a beneficial development for all and again
[1:57:31]
we believe that we meet the requirements of the ordinance very clearly that this
[1:57:37]
is an appropriate use for this site and that the combination of reduced
[1:57:41]
density and increased open space and active recreation space makes this a
[1:57:46]
appropriate project and we ask that you approve it.
[1:57:51]
Thank you. We're happy to
[1:57:54]
answer any questions. We've got a full team here, so if you have any questions,
[1:57:56]
happy to direct it to whoever may be best in the appropriate party. Yes, sir.
[1:58:01]
All right. Thank you. Any questions at this time from the board? Nope. Okay.
[1:58:08]
All right. Thank you, sir. Stay close. We may have some questions in a few
[1:58:12]
minutes.
[1:58:14]
It's kind of we have anyone sign up to speak to us on this plan
[1:58:19]
development? Yes ma'am. George Harris.
[1:58:44]
Hello, I'm George Harris. I live at 327 Benton
[1:58:47]
Road and I am aware of some of you here. That's nothing between that. I'm
[1:58:56]
curious where any runoff in this property is going to go. Is it going to end up in
[1:59:01]
the ditch by the supply school, which currently floods quite a bit at the
[1:59:08]
school entrance and I live on the opposite side of Benton Rd from this and I'm aware
[1:59:14]
of where this is. They, my concern is with the water coming off that property because
[1:59:21]
when we had that unmeaned storm in that 21 inches of rain, I had water within four to
[1:59:27]
five foot of my front step. Benton Rd was completely underwater and impassable and
[1:59:33]
it ran off. My road was compromised up near Gilbert due to the contractors sending water
[1:59:41]
out instead of where it should have gone from that project under development. And I couldn't
[1:59:47]
get out by the school. There was sort of water across the road down by the school. My concern
[1:59:53]
is just where is this water going to go for this development? There's several properties
[1:59:59]
Thank you very much.
[2:00:00]
Pretty deep, like where there's a cattle farm across from me, and that's pretty deep.
[2:00:06]
And when that happened, the cows were just out in the field sloshing around.
[2:00:11]
It's just a concern to me about the flooding. I did not own that property.
[2:00:16]
I bought it after Hurricane Florence, but it's never flooded until we had that 21 inches of rain.
[2:00:23]
But currently, both sides of Benton Road have a swell or a ditch that runs down it.
[2:00:29]
It gets to just about to the end of my property and it stops and comes under the road to my
[2:00:36]
side of the road and then goes across my property back into what they call the village there,
[2:00:44]
where behind me it goes back in there and goes back towards the Lockwood Valley.
[2:00:49]
So those people too are catching odor down there and there's no, we don't have any
[2:00:57]
septic systems we're all on force mean because the ground doesn't perk so you
[2:01:02]
know we're all in the same boat out there I don't know about this project
[2:01:05]
today you know if they need to be on a force man or not but they yeah there are
[2:01:10]
two of them on that side of Benton Road that run currently run down and there's
[2:01:14]
a reclaimed water on my side that goes back to the spray fields so head back
[2:01:19]
towards St. James golf courses that's my concern just where's the water
[2:01:24]
going. I really don't care about the houses or anything. I'm just
[2:01:30]
worrying about the water. I understand. I can call their engineer back up here. I
[2:01:35]
will say on their plans and they'll have to get state stormwater approvals.
[2:01:42]
But the stormwater management system will be designed to attenuate the one
[2:01:45]
year tenure and 25 year 24-hour storm events on the project-wide basis.
[2:01:54]
In
[2:01:54]
for the 100-year 24-hour storm event, which what you're talking about is the
[2:01:59]
PTC-8 that was probably a thousand-year event, but so the the ponds and I could
[2:02:07]
get the engineer back up here to probably better explain, but though the
[2:02:11]
banks will be higher to hold more water. I'm concerned on the Benton route
[2:02:15]
side they they're lower on that side mm-hmm that would be my interest right
[2:02:21]
there traffic's gonna be horrendous already I think approximately 400 under
[2:02:29]
construction on a corner of Benton and what's that Gilbert Gilbert yeah and then
[2:02:37]
add another 400 is just a lot of traffic I don't know if you've been on Gilbert
[2:02:48]
It's a mess.
[2:02:50]
Not uncommon to wait 20 minutes to get out on Midway Road to go anywhere.
[2:02:56]
It just, you know, you've got all these developments in that central kind of pretty
[2:03:00]
clues and just an ongoing issue.
[2:03:03]
It is, yes.
[2:03:04]
A lot of very unhappy people out that way.
[2:03:07]
Yeah, I think that was one of the recommendations of staff was to be
[2:03:10]
able to get the connectivity through.
[2:03:11]
able to get the connectivity through.
[2:03:12]
through to help alleviate some of the traffic concerns
[2:03:15]
to allow for residents in the area to access
[2:03:19]
and get to the school a little bit quicker
[2:03:22]
versus having to go up and around.
[2:03:24]
But Benton Road's a fairly desolate road,
[2:03:26]
you know, when it's not going to work or coming home,
[2:03:29]
but it's high-speed traffic at that time.
[2:03:32]
And I mean high-speed traffic, it's a lot.
[2:03:37]
Well, thank you.
[2:03:38]
Okay, thank you.
[2:03:39]
Mr.
[2:03:44]
Sterling, do you mind coming back up and addressing the stormwater flooding issue?
[2:03:53]
Sure. I appreciate the comment. The post-tropical cycling number eight storm I just want to note
[2:04:00]
was a thousand year plus storm. It's beyond anything I've seen in my lifetime and hopefully
[2:04:07]
we don't have another one in my lifetime but it's beyond anything that can truly
[2:04:11]
be designed for. I mean, it was mentioned that this road flooded, but a lot of different
[2:04:16]
areas flooded. So I guess the original question was where does the water, the runoff, ultimately
[2:04:22]
go from this subdivision? So if you see in the bottom southwest corner, we have our
[2:04:28]
stormwater pond number one labeled. So basically the way this system is going to collect
[2:04:33]
water is through, lots are going to be graded to the road. Once they get to the road,
[2:04:39]
You've got curbing gutter that deliver it to a series of stormwater pipes.
[2:04:44]
Those pipes connect into these amenity ponds which provide a little bit of attenuation in
[2:04:48]
between and then ultimately to the stormwater pond, which as the chair said earlier, we
[2:04:58]
impound more water and provide an outlet structure to basically between storms draw
[2:05:04]
the water down so that when the storm does come we're able to store a certain amount
[2:05:09]
of water per the county stormwater design manual up to the 25-year storm and then slowly
[2:05:16]
release that amount over a period of time.
[2:05:21]
That water is going to be released towards Ford's branch that runs kind of the western
[2:05:26]
northwestern portion of the property.
[2:05:29]
That branch then runs under Benton Road and on to, I
[2:05:36]
believe it's the, what's
[2:05:37]
the main run of the river there into a flood zone. We did receive some minor feedback from
[2:05:45]
some adjacent property owners about Benton Road. We are going to reach out to DOT to
[2:05:51]
see if there has been historical flooding there. But as we do with any subdivision
[2:05:56]
that we put forth for the planning board, we look at, you know, a pre-post snapshot
[2:06:02]
shot of the site. And as we stated before, the post-development runoff will be at or at
[2:06:11]
a maximum 5% over the pre-development. So this subdivision is not going to create any
[2:06:18]
problem. It's if anything going to help the current issue there at Bend Road.
[2:06:26]
Okay. Thank you, sir. And I guess just kind of breaking that down to what you were saying,
[2:06:33]
it'll release out to some of the ditches along Benton Road, but you're going to release it
[2:06:38]
slow enough that it's not going to, you know, continue to flood anywhere else. Correct.
[2:06:43]
That's correct. Slow and controlled release. Okay. All right. Thank you.
[2:06:52]
Shirley Sullivan.
[2:07:03]
Welcome back.
[2:07:05]
Shirley Sullivan 5002 Seward Court, Southport.
[2:07:10]
Has there been any further update to the documentation
[2:07:12]
that was provided in the packet made available to the public last week?
[2:07:16]
Is there an updated staff report in TRC? Or no.
[2:07:20]
That was in the packet. There's nothing been updated? Not since the packet was...
[2:07:25]
Okay. In review of the plan development application for PD-180,
[2:07:29]
I noted the following inconsistencies on the staff report under proposed road improvements.
[2:07:36]
It says provide a stop control at SR 1504 Old Linnon Road.
[2:07:40]
This road is not part of PD 180.
[2:07:42]
It belongs over on PD 183 Berkeley Bay.
[2:07:47]
On the report formerly known as the TRC, the BC schools indicate South Brunswick High
[2:07:52]
School will not go over 100% capacity until 2034.
[2:07:56]
This should read 2029 as accurately shown in the staff report.
[2:08:02]
All of these schools are currently over 82%.
[2:08:05]
How do schools calculate the growth?
[2:08:07]
Is there a specific calculation that can be published?
[2:08:11]
Can't we just apply the growth rate of 4%?
[2:08:14]
I respectfully oppose the approval of this plan document
[2:08:17]
per the following concerns.
[2:08:18]
The school capacity is listed as moderate,
[2:08:21]
three years out until over 100 capacity
[2:08:25]
per the estimate. Water and wastewater capacity have not been identified. Both are to be provided
[2:08:32]
by Brunswick County. As indicated, there are concerns on specific lots in this development
[2:08:37]
with surface elevation of flooding potential. The flood hazards map also indicates there
[2:08:42]
is no way out of this area if there is future flooding. Are any of these roads evacuation
[2:08:47]
roads. Gilbert road floods constantly.
[2:08:54]
The track impact analysis indicates 3,712 additional
[2:08:58]
vehicles per 24-hour period. The TAIA was submitted by RFK engineers PLC in June of
[2:09:04]
26. The study was performed in April of 26 while schools were in session. The NCDOT
[2:09:11]
was approved in July 23, 2026. The original NCDOT approved scope was not included in
[2:09:18]
this packet. Per the UDL, section 6.16, impact analysis, traffic volumes, data should be
[2:09:26]
adjusted for daily and seasonal variations. There is no indication of what the summer
[2:09:32]
traffic is. The state growth rate of 2% was used. Brunswick County growth rate is 4-5%.
[2:09:39]
Only one approved development was used per the coordination of NCDOT and the county in
[2:09:44]
the original scope. That's Middle Creek PD 61. That was approved in 21 for 743 units of
[2:09:52]
which 35% are built out. PD 87, PD 96, PD 144 and PD 139 which are closer to this development
[2:10:01]
are not included. They total approximately 7,000 additional trips per day for whatever
[2:10:08]
reason they were not included in the TIA. Is there something else missing from the
[2:10:12]
calculation. The proposed development packet is incomplete.
[2:10:19]
Amberglen is up for its third time. It was submitted originally as PD173. Nowhere
[2:10:24]
is an indicator on there. It's been pulled from the agenda twice.
[2:10:28]
That's your time. Thank you. If
[2:10:36]
I can comment on the 173. There was an
[2:10:39]
application submitted for this project under a previous project number PD173.
[2:10:45]
It went through TRC. They did not have a southern entrance. Staff informed the
[2:10:52]
applicant that they would not get a favorable staff recommendation. We needed
[2:10:57]
another connection. They requested and writing to withdraw the project and then
[2:11:04]
a few months later I guess through some negotiation with that property owner
[2:11:07]
they were able to secure that other connection, that road connection. And so
[2:11:13]
because it was officially withdrawn, it was a brand new application and assigned
[2:11:17]
a new plan development number. Okay. Thank you.
[2:11:25]
Rose McKeaton? Rose
[2:11:40]
McKeaton, 620 Bentham Road.
[2:11:42]
If you will pull the mic down just a little bit. Rose McKeaton, 620 Bentham Road. My property
[2:11:50]
realized right in front of that big pond and it scares me that it's going to flood. We're
[2:11:59]
having more storms over and over. It's not when it might happen, if it's going to happen.
[2:12:05]
And it will. Everybody sees the storms getting worse and worse all the time. Traffic on
[2:12:10]
that road is bad now. We've already got one subdivision at the head of the road
[2:12:16]
that they haven't completely started building on yet and yet they want to
[2:12:21]
start another one because they say there's a market for all these items.
[2:12:27]
The
[2:12:27]
reality, I mean on paper it looks great, but the reality of what's going to
[2:12:32]
happen if this gets built along with all the other ones that are going to be
[2:12:37]
built in our area, the reality is not going to be good. You need to think
[2:12:42]
about what the impact is on the people, not just because it looks so good on paper. Thank
[2:12:48]
you.
[2:12:49]
Thank you.
[2:13:03]
Alton Smith.
[2:13:12]
Good evening. My name is Alton Swan. I'm a neighbor and property owner at 532 Benton
[2:13:18]
Road and I wanted to say that I feel like that this is a responsible, well-planned
[2:13:28]
development that's
[2:13:31]
more than met the required open space. And I support this development.
[2:13:38]
I support the project. I like the fact that the density is well below what the zoning requires.
[2:13:46]
And I think it shows a real commitment to building a quality community by not maximizing
[2:13:52]
the number of homes and the development and adding more open space that's required.
[2:13:58]
I appreciate the board and staff reviewing this project and I respectfully ask that you
[2:14:03]
support this development. Thank you.
[2:14:05]
Thank you.
[2:14:12]
That was the last one.
[2:14:13]
That was the last one?
[2:14:14]
Yes, sir.
[2:14:17]
Mark, the density and commercial is shown on their map here is 7.26, but I was thinking
[2:14:26]
in CLD, it was like 13.
[2:14:28]
It is.
[2:14:29]
It's 13 that's that's for our 6,000. So it's it's 13.6 dwelling units breaker and commercial. Okay, I
[2:14:38]
Didn't know if maybe they combined with
[2:14:41]
No, or yeah, 7,500 at the below. It's a misprint. Okay
[2:14:46]
All right. Thank you
[2:14:48]
All right. Does anyone on the board have any other questions from any of the speakers tonight?
[2:14:58]
Hearing none. Do I hear a motion?
[2:15:00]
Motion to close the public hearing.
[2:15:03]
A motion to close.
[2:15:06]
A second.
[2:15:06]
All right. Motion and a second. All in favor say aye.
[2:15:09]
Aye.
[2:15:10]
Any opposed? All right. Thank you.
[2:15:15]
What is the pleasure of the board here in regards to PD 180?
[2:15:44]
Make a motion to approve as submitted.
[2:15:48]
And
[2:15:54]
we need with that the how
[2:16:02]
many conditions was it that you'd provided with staff was it five
[2:16:06]
there were four conditions and they're the usual standard conditions motion with the
[2:16:14]
with the four conditions that staff provided. All right so we have a motion for approval of
[2:16:21]
PD-180 adopting the four conditions as provided by staff.
[2:16:27]
Do I hear a second?
[2:16:31]
Second.
[2:16:32]
Motion is second.
[2:16:34]
All in favor say aye.
[2:16:35]
Aye.
[2:16:36]
Any opposed?
[2:16:37]
All right.
[2:16:38]
Motion carries, PD-180 is approved as presented
[2:16:42]
with the four conditions as provided by staff.
[2:16:45]
Thank you.
[2:16:56]
All right.
[2:16:59]
Any person with standing may appeal the decision
[2:17:01]
of the planning board to the superior court. Thank you.
[2:17:08]
All right. I would like to make
[2:17:10]
a motion to, Brian, what is it I need to bring Howard back up? Make a motion. Make a motion
[2:17:19]
to bring.
[2:17:22]
He was only recused for the one, specifically. Do I even need to make a motion?
[2:17:27]
needs to get back up here.
[2:17:31]
Mr. Stox, come on back up.
[2:17:50]
All right, Ms. Conning, let the
[2:17:52]
record show that Mr. Stox has rejoined the board. All
[2:17:59]
right, next item on the agenda.
[2:18:04]
Berkeley Bay Plan Development Modification, PD 183. Consideration of the proposed Berkeley
[2:18:11]
or Beckley, I apologize, Beckley Bay Plan Development Modification consisting of
[2:18:17]
of 289 single-family homes on approximately 107.93 acres,
[2:18:23]
creating an overall density of 2.68 dwelling units per acre.
[2:18:28]
This is located on Old Lennon Road, Southeast near Bolivia.
[2:18:33]
And do we, it actually is Berkeley, right?
[2:18:37]
Yes, it is.
[2:18:37]
Okay, sorry, it was printed as Beckley
[2:18:40]
of the second reading.
[2:18:41]
All right, do we have a report from staff?
[2:18:43]
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.
[2:18:45]
Again, this is application number PD 183, applicant is inter-coastal engineering.
[2:18:51]
This is Berkeley Bay plan development modification.
[2:18:55]
Looking on old linen road, zoning district is RR, rural residential, which allows a maximum
[2:19:01]
density of 2.9 dwelling units per acre.
[2:19:04]
The surrounding zoning, looking at the zoning map, is largely R7500, there's RR,
[2:19:12]
and then a little bit further away there's some CLD and some R6000.
[2:19:18]
Berkeley Bay is a plan development approved by the Planning Board on November 13th of 2023
[2:19:25]
consisting of 178 single-family units, 108 town-home units, and eight single-family attached
[2:19:34]
units on approximately 107.93 acres, creating an overall density of 2.72 dwelling units per acre.
[2:19:41]
The applicant is now seeking for a revision of the approved development plans.
[2:19:46]
The proposed revision consists of 289 single-family units on 107, the same acreage, 107.93 acres,
[2:19:55]
creating an overall density of 2.68 dwelling units per acre.
[2:19:59]
So it's a very minor modification.
[2:20:02]
They're actually decreasing lots.
[2:20:04]
They are changing their land use intensity, actually lowering it by making it all single
[2:20:09]
family whereas previously you had 108 town homes and 8 semi-attached homes.
[2:20:16]
Normally if you're doing that, that is a staff level approval because you're decreasing density
[2:20:22]
and decreasing land use intensity.
[2:20:24]
The only reason this is coming back here is because the applicant, because they are making
[2:20:29]
slightly larger lots, even though they're decreasing by 5 units, they're decreasing
[2:20:34]
their open space by 3.26 acres.
[2:20:38]
That is the reason we are back here. So originally they had 49.66 acres of open space. They wanted
[2:20:46]
to reduce that to 46.4 to accommodate those single family, the transition from town home
[2:20:51]
to single family. That's why we're here. I'll go through the approval criteria. The majority
[2:20:58]
of the surrounding uses consists of single family residential, agricultural, and vacant
[2:21:02]
and property. Blooper and Brunswick map denotes this area as rural agricultural and open space
[2:21:10]
and open space conservation one. Parking will be off street and minimum of two driveway parking
[2:21:16]
spaces per lot. Proposed infrastructure, water and sewer to be provided by Brunswick
[2:21:20]
County and the roads will be private. Proposed development will have a 30-foot, 0.6, opacity,
[2:21:28]
city peripheral buffer utilizing existing vegetation to satisfy the requirement. A 50
[2:21:35]
foot buffer shall be installed adjacent to tax parcel 169001302 for a VAD or voluntary
[2:21:42]
agricultural district buffer. This is the property at the extreme south of that property.
[2:21:48]
That is a VAD property.
[2:21:52]
The developer is also proposing a 30 foot street buffer on
[2:21:57]
old Lennon Road. The UDO minimum is a 20 foot buffer. Required open space for the development
[2:22:03]
is approximately 16.19 acres. The development is proposing 46.4 acres of dedicated open space.
[2:22:10]
The developer is also proposing 2.75 acres of recreation space of which 2.43 are required.
[2:22:17]
The proposed project will generate approximately 2,566 vehicle trips per 24-hour weekday
[2:22:22]
volume. A TIA has been completed and approved by NCDOT. A driveway permit
[2:22:28]
from NCDOT will be required prior to the recording of individual lots. The
[2:22:32]
proposed road improvements in that TIA include at NC211 and Zion Hill Road
[2:22:40]
provide four section protected permitted signal heads for eastbound and
[2:22:45]
westbound left turns, provide split side street phasing for northbound and
[2:22:50]
southbound approaches. Modify the signal plan to accommodate the above improvements and optimize
[2:22:56]
signal timings. Let's see if I've got the TIA slide here. Here it is. For old Lennon Road and
[2:23:06]
side access one, construct side access, one ingress and one egress lane. Internal stem
[2:23:13]
length of 50 feet provides stop control for the eastbound approach. Side access two. Again,
[2:23:20]
same thing, side access, one ingress, one egress, provide an internal protected stem of 75 feet
[2:23:29]
and provide stop control for an eastbound approach.
[2:23:33]
The exception on design elements to be included in the project are as follows. The developers proposing
[2:23:40]
46.4 acres of open space, whereas 16.9 acres are required. All lot shall be located outside of the AE flood zone.
[2:23:47]
there is significant flood zone to the rear of the property but all lots will be
[2:23:52]
outside of this flood zone. A street buffer of 30 feet shall be installed along
[2:23:56]
old Lennon Road.
[2:24:01]
Sidewalks are to be provided on one side of the road
[2:24:04]
throughout the development. The design flexibility elements requested for the
[2:24:07]
project are as follows. Number one reduction in lot dimensions and number
[2:24:11]
two reductions in setbacks. A significant portion of the project site
[2:24:15]
Again, I just mentioned this. It's in a flood hazard zone, but all lots shall be located outside of that. So
[2:24:22]
the site itself lies within a half mile of a VAD
[2:24:28]
Also tax parcels 169001 2 and 169001
[2:24:35]
202
[2:24:36]
currently lie within the VAD zone and must be removed prior to construction. So a portion of the project site is in the VAD
[2:24:43]
district. They must be removed from that voluntary district prior to
[2:24:48]
construction.
[2:24:50]
I wanted to point out the differences in the two site plans. So the
[2:24:55]
new site plan is on your left showing all single family residential. This is the
[2:25:00]
old site plan that was approved back in November of 2023 showing that layout. As
[2:25:04]
you can see the acreage is identical. They're simply modifying that left-hand
[2:25:12]
side, which is the southern side of the property to convert that to single family.
[2:25:19]
School capacity. This project will be located in the following school districts, Virginia
[2:25:24]
Williamson, which is currently over capacity. Cedar Grove Middle is currently at 82% capacity
[2:25:31]
and is not expected to go over capacity until 2030. The South Brunswick High School
[2:25:36]
is currently at 84% capacity and is expected to go over capacity in the 2029 school
[2:25:43]
year. Per the schools, the expected school impact is significant.
[2:25:49]
Adjacent property owners were notified via U.S. mail and a notification sign was posted
[2:25:53]
on the subject property. TRC was held on June 17th of 2026. The neighborhood meeting was
[2:25:59]
held on July 22nd of 2026. If approved, this development shall be vested
[2:26:04]
right for a period of three years. A two-year extension may be requested by the applicants
[2:26:08]
of the Brunsack County Planning Department.
[2:26:12]
Planning staff is determined that the
[2:26:14]
proposed development meets or exceed the applicable standards of the UDO and
[2:26:18]
therefore recommends approval based on the following conditions.
[2:26:22]
Number one, the development shall proceed in conformity with all plans and
[2:26:25]
design features submitted as part of the plan development application and
[2:26:28]
kept on file by the Brunswick County Planning Department.
[2:26:31]
Number two, the development of the partial shall comply with all
[2:26:33]
regulations as specified in the Brunswick County UDO.
[2:26:36]
Number three, plan development approval does not constitute an
[2:26:39]
authorization to construct all applicable federal, state and
[2:26:42]
county approval to permits will be necessary to obtain final plat approvals and building
[2:26:46]
permits. This includes stormwater utilities and fire marshal requirements.
[2:26:50]
And number four, plan development approval does not constitute or guarantee the allocation
[2:26:54]
of water or sewer capacity. The applicant proceeds at their own risk with respect to
[2:26:59]
future water and sewer system connections. The ability to modify existing permits
[2:27:04]
connect unpermitted structures and construct new water and sewer infrastructure connected
[2:27:09]
or a tributary to the county's water and or sewer system permit is dependent upon
[2:27:14]
receipt of valid water and wastewater line permits from the state of North
[2:27:18]
Carolina. The application for which requires final plan approval and sign
[2:27:22]
documentation authorizing connection to the county water and or wastewater
[2:27:26]
system. Water and wastewater available capacity will change over time. A few
[2:27:32]
pictures from the site. This is directly across the street from Old
[2:27:39]
property. There's currently already an access road where you can see that the SUV is parked.
[2:27:46]
That is connected to the project that is directly adjacent to this. I believe it's called Rolling
[2:27:52]
Hills, I believe. And it is currently open and accepting traffic for that development.
[2:28:01]
View facing south on Old Lennon and view facing north on Old Lennon. Again, here's
[2:28:07]
the site plan just to reiterate if if the board chooses to deny this project the
[2:28:13]
previous plan is still valid so they could proceed in accordance with that
[2:28:18]
previous plan. That concludes staff report. All right thank you sir.
[2:28:30]
Your the
[2:28:31]
SUV was parked was it at the entrance where that 30-permeter buffer is closest
[2:28:39]
two or is it at the one just down from that? Let's see if I can get this to work.
[2:28:48]
You're talking about the street buffer or oh this this is the 50-foot buffer is
[2:28:53]
that what you're asking?
[2:28:56]
Oh the SUV is parked was parked right here so this is
[2:29:00]
a road that's currently open and going to the adjacent development that is
[2:29:05]
currently being developed. Yeah that was that was going to be my next
[2:29:09]
question I couldn't tell if that was actually a road there because on the
[2:29:12]
previous plan it was where kind of split right and I believe that was
[2:29:17]
constructed since this plan was originally approved exactly there is an
[2:29:28]
easement okay thank you any other questions for staff all right hearing
[2:29:37]
none. Do I hear a motion to open the public hearing?
[2:29:42]
Second. Motion and a
[2:29:44]
second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? All right. Do we have the developer
[2:29:49]
applicant available? Yes, sir. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of
[2:29:56]
the board. My name is Craig Johnson. I'm at 60
[2:30:00]
620 Gordon Road in Wilmington, North Carolina. Again, thanks for having us. What we have done
[2:30:06]
here is we're removing the town homes that are on the south side of the project to make
[2:30:11]
those single-family homes. A total of five homes are being reduced in total of the whole community.
[2:30:20]
As Mr. Patches pointed out, we're reducing the open space by about three acres. However,
[2:30:28]
However, we still have, we have three times the amount of the required open space and
[2:30:34]
we're not reducing where the community center is going to be, that has stayed exactly the
[2:30:39]
same.
[2:30:40]
As far as flooding and stormwater, we've designed this project to the 100-year flood storm,
[2:30:46]
so we're over-designed on that, and we have done that from day one.
[2:30:52]
We took to Liberty three years ago when we got approval to build this community to go
[2:30:58]
ahead and do the TIA, which is done, and we did it back then, just to confirm that we've
[2:31:03]
done all the proper things, and that netted improvements to the intersection at Old Lennon
[2:31:08]
and South Supply Road 211.
[2:31:11]
So we've done that.
[2:31:13]
that. And the wetlands we are not touching any wetlands at all on the project and that's
[2:31:22]
remaining the same. And we are not touching any flood zone. So I just wanted to point
[2:31:30]
those things out. And the main reason we're coming back is for a slight reduction in
[2:31:36]
the open space and to get rid of townhouses and make those single family. And I'd be
[2:31:42]
happy to answer any additional questions anybody has.
[2:31:47]
Thank you, sir.
[2:31:48]
Any questions for Mr. Johnson?
[2:31:51]
All right.
[2:31:52]
Thank you, sir.
[2:31:52]
Stay close.
[2:31:53]
We may need to ask you some questions in a minute.
[2:31:59]
It's coming.
[2:31:59]
Do we have anyone sign up on this one?
[2:32:01]
Yes, sir.
[2:32:03]
Carla White?
[2:32:17]
Carla White, 1775 Clemens Road, Bolivia.
[2:32:22]
I'm not opposing this development,
[2:32:24]
but I do want to point out some issues
[2:32:26]
because there are several developments
[2:32:28]
going in that are just going to compound an issue that we have dealt with a few
[2:32:34]
times even with off-seat like non-storm rains like just regular rains we've had
[2:32:40]
flooding. I live on Clemens Road which is the only connector road for miles.
[2:32:47]
From Benton to Midway that's all you have and then when there's an accident
[2:32:53]
down to 11, it becomes gridlocked on Gilbert, Old Lennon and Clemens. And this will add
[2:33:01]
more traffic and more people who need access to get to places. I know I'm jumping around
[2:33:08]
a little bit because I just didn't, I wasn't planning on speaking on this at all. There
[2:33:11]
are 4,000, probably around 5,000 hunts going in behind me on Clemens. Midway track is
[2:33:17]
probably around 40% wetlands and that water is coming my way. It's gonna come
[2:33:24]
to Clemens Road, it's gonna go in between Avalon and Palomeda Creek and then
[2:33:29]
it's gonna go to Old Linen Road and it's gonna come in more, there's gonna be
[2:33:33]
more of it because they are just, they're clearing everything behind me
[2:33:38]
and all that water is trying to make its way to, what is the name of that
[2:33:43]
River. The Lightwood Folly River. So there's some issues with that and when
[2:33:49]
that road becomes gridlock, you're not getting anywhere. Ambulances are not getting
[2:33:52]
anywhere. If you need help or have a heart attack or you've got a baby on the
[2:33:55]
way, you're getting a helicopter to come in to get you. I can vouch for that. If
[2:34:00]
your house catches on fire, there is a fire department right next to my house.
[2:34:03]
It's called Zion Hill and if it floods or there's a wreck, it's going to take
[2:34:07]
them some time to get there. So that's just all I wanted to point out
[2:34:10]
that and that's where I came in with the Swiss cheese idea. These are just a bunch of little,
[2:34:15]
these are a lot of developments that are going to compound to a bigger issue. Thank you.
[2:34:20]
Thank you, Ms. White.
[2:34:29]
Shirley Sullivan. Not good. Okay, that was it. Okay.
[2:34:45]
All right. Does anyone
[2:34:46]
have any further questions from? For having
[2:34:54]
me back Mr. Chairman, the only thing I wanted to
[2:34:56]
point out is we are fully permitted on this community. We can start actually tomorrow
[2:35:01]
morning and it's existing status. So I just wanted to point that out. Okay. Thank you. All right.
[2:35:08]
Thank you.
[2:35:12]
All right. Any other questions for anyone that spoke? If not, do I hear a motion to
[2:35:18]
close the public hearing?
[2:35:22]
Second.
[2:35:25]
Motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
[2:35:28]
All right.
[2:35:32]
What is the pleasure of the board for this development? PD 183
[2:35:39]
modification, Berkeley Bay modification?
[2:35:51]
Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we
[2:35:52]
approve it. It's not often we get one to come back and they're asked to
[2:35:57]
reduce the density, so it is kind of like it has a win almost in our
[2:36:03]
situation as far as that goes. So I'll make a recommendation that we approve
[2:36:07]
of the modification to PD-193 as presented with the window conditions where?
[2:36:14]
Four.
[2:36:16]
Yeah.
[2:36:17]
With the four conditions outlined by the staff.
[2:36:22]
Okay.
[2:36:22]
All right.
[2:36:24]
Motion for approval of PD-183.
[2:36:27]
Do I hear a second?
[2:36:28]
I second.
[2:36:29]
All right.
[2:36:30]
All in favor say aye.
[2:36:32]
Aye.
[2:36:32]
Any opposed?
[2:36:33]
All right, PD 183 Berkeley Bay Plan Development Modification is approved.
[2:36:39]
Thank you.
[2:36:52]
Any person with standing may appeal the decision of the Planning Board to the Superior Court.
[2:37:02]
Thank you.
[2:37:06]
Just a quick Planning Board case updates.
[2:37:08]
PD 179, which was South Port Meadows.
[2:37:13]
Z937, which was a rezoning located off Old Ferry Connection, were both not appealed.
[2:37:20]
Z938, which was the former Sunset Beach E.T.J. parcel, was appealed to the Board of Commissioners.
[2:37:27]
Z939 and Z939CZ, which was the former City of Southport parcels, were not appealed.
[2:37:35]
Z939 and Z936 will be held on August 17th at the Commissioners meeting for both those appeal cases,
[2:37:44]
because if you remember 936 was appealed, too.
[2:37:47]
So both of those cases will go on August 9th.
[2:37:49]
We really pushed the former Sunset Beach one
[2:37:52]
because we only have 60 days,
[2:37:54]
so that got really pushed forward.
[2:37:59]
You said on August the 6th?
[2:38:01]
17th.
[2:38:02]
17th, okay.
[2:38:03]
I was going to say we'll be on that.
[2:38:06]
August 17th, all right.
[2:38:08]
Thank you.
[2:38:11]
Sorry.
[2:38:13]
Appreciate those update items.
[2:38:16]
Planning Board case item updates.
[2:38:17]
and we've got a fiscal year 26 administrative adjustment. Correct and
[2:38:23]
just really quick it won't take you a lot of time but I am presenting the
[2:38:27]
fiscal year 26 administrative adjustment annual report this is required by
[2:38:32]
ordinance to be provided to the county manager I also present it to you and we
[2:38:37]
provide a copy to the commissioners in fiscal year 26 there were 15 total
[2:38:42]
administrative adjustment requested out of all of them 14 were approved to
[2:38:47]
were for fence height and 13 were for setbacks. Most of them fall within a foot or less. And
[2:38:54]
this helps avoid the board of adjustment. So if you have any questions, I'll be happy
[2:38:59]
to answer your questions.
[2:39:04]
Any questions for Kirstie?
[2:39:08]
Thank you, Ms. Dixon. All right. Did you make a motion
[2:39:13]
to adjourn. All right. Motion to adjourn. Do I hear a second? All right. All in
[2:39:19]
favor say aye. Aye. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you.