PENDER COUNTY — Wyndwater developers are taking another shot at revising their master development plan, after the request was denied twice last year.
READ MORE: Developer submits Wyndwater appeal, in hopes to reverse planning board decision
ALSO: Pender County residents, planning board show strong opposition to Wyndwater development revision
It’s been over a year since Mike Pollak, on behalf of Signature Top Sail NC, submitted to the Pender County planning board a change to the large-scale development. Wyndwater was first approved in 2013 with 185 acres of single-family homes and 143 acres of commercial space; it’s undergone nearly a dozen revisions since.
Pollak is requesting another one, the same changes he asked for last year to reduce overall acreage, yet this time it includes a more detailed stormwater strategy. A top issue among community members and the planning board was his plan did not ease concerns about potential increased future flooding.
Pollak held another community meeting in June, required before submitting to the planning board; 25 people attended. Most inquired about the drainage plan, according to Pollak’s follow-up report.
In a second attempt, Pollak wants to reduce the total land size by about 30 acres, modify the location of 136 townhomes and expand commercial space to 68,800 square feet. The nearly 7 acres of commercial property will include 52,800 square feet of medical office space and 16,000 square feet for retail.
The update will decrease the neighborhood’s footprint from 235 to 205 acres. This changes the net density to four dwellings per acre, up from 2.76 units per acre.
The Pender County Planning Board unanimously denied the request last June, following strong opposition from community members in the neighboring development Topsail Greens. The residents feared building so close to their homes would expose them to increased flooding.
The planning board also grilled Pollak on his stormwater plan, which his engineer, Garry Pape of GSP Consulting, had not yet finalized.
Unsatisfied with the lack of stormwater design preparation, the board sided with the community and voted against his request. Pollak appealed and the issue was tabled for a month to allow the concerned neighbors’ legal representation to partake in the hearing.
That was also denied.
Now Pollak is resubmitting seemingly the same plan, but with a more in-depth stormwater design implementation, in hopes of appeasing the board.
For one of the two future phases, which will contain 60 townhomes and 12,800 square feet of medical office space, the development will be treated by a wet detention basin. It will discharge water to an existing ditch system along the eastern portion of the property. The system should direct water away from buildings and into the ditch to mitigate flooding.
Located south of Topsail Plantation Drive and north of Champion Drive, the proposed wet detention basin — a permanent pool of water for removing pollutants — will treat the first 1.5 inches of rainfall to control runoff from 10- and 25-year storm events. An emergency spillway will convey runoff from 50-year storm events.
The second proposed phase of development will contain 56 townhomes, 16,000 square feet of retail and 40,000 square feet of medical space. Located to the north of Topsail Plantation, and south of Topsail Greens Drive, this portion of the neighborhood will be treated with two wet detention basins. Water will be discharged to a ditch system along the eastern side of the property.
In a letter sent to Pender County planning director Justin Brantley, Pollock said residents “seemed comfortable” with the new stormwater plans he presented at the community meeting. It also stated the retention ponds are “substantially larger” than required by the state’s storm water department and will improve the existing site’s drainage
The planning board will reconsider the request at its Tuesday meeting at 7 p.m. at the Hampstead Annex Auditorium.
Tips or comments? Email amy@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
