HAMPSTEAD — With all the recent talk of new development happening in Wilmington and New Hanover County, it is worth noting that neighboring counties and municipalities have also been experiencing growth. In Pender County, an approximately 24-acre mixed-use development has been approved in Hampstead; the project will consist of a grocery store, retail stores, and restaurants, according to Pender County documents.
The development will be located on U.S. Highway 17 in between Hughes Road and Deerfield Drive.
The development’s master plan was originally approved by the Planning Board in January of 2017, Commercial Planner for Pender County Barnes Sutton said. The developer Headwaters Properties, LLC has now submitted a proposed a master plan revision which will be open for a public hearing during the Oct. 3 Planning Board meeting.
The original plan called for the development to be constructed in phases, with phase one consisting of a 53,000 square-foot grocery store and 22,000 square-feet of retail space. But now the developer is requesting the removal of the, “ties to phasing in the wording of the conditions …” according to documents.
This would allow the developer to construct an outparcel – a standalone retail development – prior to constructing the grocery store. According to the site plans, the developer is requesting an allowance to build Outparcel Three first.
“Outparcel three proposes a (plus or minus) 6,650 square foot, multi-tenant commercial building with two of the units being restaurants, one of which utilizing a drive-thru with an outdoor patio area; and the other two units being retail with a total of four units. The applicant is also proposing to construct the overall storm water system and wastewater pump station,” Sutton said.
According to Paramounte Engineering, a company which submitted a narrative on the development, said that without having tenants already scheduled constructing in phases is more difficult.
“Unless all tenants are known prior to beginning development, it is very difficult to predict the order of development at the time of a master development plan, so we present the intended development strategy. Often, the market or other factors cause reordering of those phases,” according to the documents submitted.
The Planning Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3 in the Pender County Public Assembly Room.
“The timeline for the build out is reliant upon several variables so we do not know exactly what timeline their timeline is. However, after an applicant receives major site approval, it will expire within two years of the approval date unless building permits have been obtained for construction,” Sutton said.
Pender County Planning Board Agenda by Michael James on Scribd
Michael Praats can be reached at [email protected]
