WILMINGTON—Wilmington’s Planning Commission next week will hear plans from the developer of CenterPoint, a proposed 23-acre development that would be one several massive mixed-use developments on Military Cutoff Road.
CenterPoint is requesting the city approve a conditional district rezoning of 24.81-acres from residential and special highway overlay district to urban mixed-use. Proposed in 2017, CenterPoint would consist of a hotel, apartments, retail and office space.
READ MORE: Engineer’s report: Traffic delays could increase 186 percent; no major changes to plans needed
In March the city received a traffic impact analysis from HDR Engineering which calculated the amount of traffic that would be added to the surrounding roads if approved.
TIA analyzed several different scenarios including, no build, build, and build with improvements.
According to the report, if constructed the development would add an additional 947 external trips during the evening peak hour of traffic, and 1,968 trips during the Saturday peak time period.
According to the TIA, “In build scenarios, a significant increase in side-street delays was observed at Eastwood Road at Cavalier Drive. Exiting traffic from CenterPoint is likely to increase delays, primarily on the southbound approach, by 186-percent. A proposed traffic signal here would keep intersection delays within the (level of service) C range through 2035.”
Read more: What goes into understanding traffic in Wilmington?
According to Chief Marketing Officer for Advantage Marketing Debbie Eliott, the build scenario without improvements is not a possibility as infrastructure improvements will be required by the city.
Despite traffic concerns, the Planning Commission recently approved another development’s request for rezoning and special use permit this month, despite public dissent and opposition from the Planning Department’s staff.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on June 6, at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
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