PENDER COUNTY — Tuesday, the planning board unanimously recommended the Point South master plan, a mixed-use development by McAdams Homes, to move forward.
The request consists of 225 multi-family units, 133 single-family detached units, 60 single-family attached dwelling units, and 20 acres of commercial use. The site is 77.61 total acres and will be built within the planned development zoning district. The property is located approximately a quarter-mile northeast of the intersection of Scotts Hill Loop Road and U.S. Hwy 17 South between Pandy Ann Lane and Blake Farm Boulevard.
Point South would join a number of recent development projects in the area, including the Reserve at Blake Farms’ 240 apartments Mungo Homes’ ongoing construction of 137 houses, Oak Grove at Blake Farms’ 186 apartments, and D.R. Horton’s new regional office and 70 townhome project, as well as the expansion of the Scotts Hill Medical Center.
The owner is listed as Blakes of Scotts Hill LLC and the applicant is Wilmington-based McAdams Homes.
McAdams has been expanding its presence in the Cape Fear region in recent years. In 2021, CEO Adam Sosne told the Wilmington Business Journal the company plans to build up to 5,000 homes and own 1,200 acres in southern Pender County in the coming decade. The company bought 130 acres on Sidbury Road from Blakes of Scotts Hill LLC for $1.5 million.
McAdams developments include the Belle Meade apartment complex in Monkey Junction, Stephens Pointe apartments in Porters Neck, Landing at Lewis Creek off Gordon Road, and Kerr Crossing near the UNCW.
In September, McAdams garnered approval for a conditional rezoning to build 200 units on Carolina Beach Road.
The Pender County Planning Board’s motion for approval of the latest project required three conditions. The project must:
- Contain a multi-use pedestrian path along Hwy 17
- Not have street parking
- Be further reviewed of road curvature meandering
The planning board gave Pender County Planning Director Daniel Adams authority to modify the plan as it goes through technical review to meet county standards. If he is uncertain they are fulfilled the plan will return to the planning board.
The South Point master development plan was first reviewed at the Sept. 1, 2023 technical review meeting. Staff feedback was focused on the design’s mostly straight roads and grid-like intersections. Pender’s Unified Development Ordinances (UDO) require “internal circulation routes” to not follow fixed linear roads. Road curvature is desired to preserve trees and other natural features.
After the technical review committee, McAdams slightly modified the design’s road curvature, but the planning board wanted more assurance the adjustments are aligned with county regulations.
The developer also agreed to install sidewalks throughout the development to provide walkable connectivity between the commercial, single-family, and multi-family units.
Pender County Planner Taylor Davis said the applicant hosted a public input meeting for nearby property owners of the proposed Point South development at the Hampstead Annex on Sept. 12. Topics of discussion included stormwater impacts to adjacent properties, buffers, and the construction timeline.
The proposed development intends to utilize Pender County Utilities for water service and private company Pluris for wastewater. Stormwater management plans will include a pond within the development. The site contains potentially 1.5 acres of wetlands, which Adams said will be further studied before construction.
A traffic impact analysis will be required because the influx of residents is expected to generate more than 100 trips during the morning and at least 1,000 trips during the day. The TIA would inform any necessary road improvements before development begins.
“This project will generate traffic — that’s no secret,” Adam said.
Anticipated traffic increases would exceed capacity for the area. The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s 2021 statistics of annual average daily traffic for the area of U.S. 17 between Blake Farm Boulevard and Paddy Ann Lane is 40,500 vehicles with a capacity of 41,639.
Proposed density is 9.97 units per acre for single-family units and 15 units per acre for multi-family. The site contains 15 acres of open space to include walking trails and multi-use pathways.
Davis said employment centers, offices, and manufacturing are encouraged for the plan’s commercial component.
McAdams Homes is proposing points of access to the development from U.S. Hwy 17. The development’s internal roads are slated to be private except for connections to Trask Land Co. and DR Horton’s Blake Farms Development.
Adams said he would work with McAdams to assure the conditions are met so the applicant would “have an opportunity to move forward on their project and not have to come back and go through subsequent approval processes.”
Tips or comments? Email journalist Peter Castagno at [email protected].
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