SURF CITY — Despite being a tourist destination with plenty of homes and condo rentals available, few hotels exist on the mainland of Surf City. That could change if the Surf City Town Council agrees with its planning board to allow Five Star Capital’s rezoning request to move forward.
Five Star is a real-estate zoning and investment company with plans to bring a 118-room, four-story SpringHill Suites to 230 East Florence Way, next to Surf City Town Hall. It would be the second hotel built on the mainland, as a 110-room Hampton Inn is under construction at the Promenade Shopping Center at the intersection of N.C. Highway 210 and U.S. Highway 50.
The island proper has four accommodation facilities, including Island Inn, Saltwater Suites, Loggerhead Inn, and Tiffany’s Motel & Condos.
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“I personally think it would be a great addition to the community and a perfect spot for it,” planning board member Frankie Williams said at the July 9 Surf City Planning Board meeting.
Five Star requested a CZ-C3 conditional — extended commercial — zoning from R-15, which allows single-family, detached homes on 15,000 max square-foot lots. The property is surrounded by C3 to the east and south and residential performance zoning (allowing varied residential housing types, with maximum height of 35 feet) to the north.
There was little discussion outside of Williams’ remark and motion to approve. The rezoning request passed unanimously by the board in a 4-0 vote, with Brian Moxey, Renee Rhodes and Clinton Bailey in attendance.
Surf City Planning Board has seven members and two alternates, though Vice Chairman Steve Pasquantonio, Michael Elliss, Greg Kane, David Ward, and Damian Buchanan all had excused absences. A quorum was still in place for a vote, since it requires four members to be in attendance, to suggest council pass the rezoning.
(At the top of the meeting, Moxey was also voted as the new planning board chair to take effect in August, with current chair Rhodes voted in as vice chair.)
A Marriott brand, the SpringHill Suites build is anticipated to cost upward of $20 million. Five Star estimated roughly $500,000 annually will be brought in for both municipal and county taxes. Adding to the job base, it’s expecting the addition of 40 full-time and part-time positions.
If all goes according to plan, SpringHill will be positioned across from the Arboretum at Surf City Shopping Center. Nearby established uses include restaurants, retail and grocery stores, like Starbucks, Petco, Publix and a Burrito Shak. There is also undeveloped land to the west.
According to the city, the development surrounding the property reflects commercial activity nearby, particularly near the highways 210 and 50 intersection.
The CZ-C3 zoning allows up to four-story structures; SpringHill is planned to be no more than 50 feet tall and 70,000 square feet. It also proposes the hotel’s use would extend beyond the tourism season and provide year-round lodging to business travelers, municipal visitors, consultants, contractors and more.
The hotel’s expected vehicle trip generation is below the traffic impact analysis threshold mandated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. NCDOT requires a TIA if AM and PM trips break 100 or the daily overall traffic is 1,000. The hotel is expected to have 964 average daily vehicle trips, with 63 in the morning and roughly 71 in the evening.
Also wastewater capacity is maxed-out currently in Surf City, with one large commercial project coming also coming in. Capacity is expected to open next by the first quarter of 2029; according to agenda documents, the hotel plans to utilize town water and sewer.
There were conditions included in the rezoning approval, including sidewalk connection along Florence Way to join the town hall property and the Arboretum shopping center. All lighting will face downward, away from nearby properties, with a 20-foot landscaped buffer along the western portion. An outdoor event venue, nightclub, and amplified sound system uses are prohibited, though the hotel will have a pool,, indoor lounge areas and a bar.
As well, the town worked out with the company to ensure four suites would be reserved for the Town of Surf City in the case of a state of emergency to cover the town.
Staff also recommended approval due to the hotel’s economic impact, creating employment opportunities and supporting local business. The rezoning will go to Surf City Town Council Aug. 5.
The site plan would still have to come back before the planning board regardless of rezoning approval.
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