NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Next week the county’s planning board will consider rezoning a partially commercial property to a denser residential area.
The 10.35-acre lot sits on the northern end of the Northchase neighborhood between Paramount Way and I-140. The property is roughly split between O&I (Office and Industrial) and R-15 residential.
According to the rezoning application, filed by Cindee Wolf of Design Solutions on behalf of property owner Raiford Trask, Jr., a new R-5 residential zoning is sought. The request acknowledges that this zoning, which could allow 8 units per acre, is more than the “ideal” density of 1-6 units per acre.”
“Although the overlying designation suggests an ideal density of 1-6 units per acre, the slightly higher density of 8 units per acre allowed within an R-5 district would be consistent with transitioning between busy highway corridors and more the more established residential neighborhoods in NorthChase,” according to the request.
While the property borders I-140 and is near North College Road, it does not have any access to major roads except through the Northchase neighborhood, something developers argue makes the current zoning impractical. The request also argues that even a denser residential use should generate less traffic than commercial or industrial development.
“The only access is through the NorthChase neighborhood streets – which is not convenient for the commercial uses customarily developed in that zone. Rezoning the entire tract to R-5 for a higher density, but 100% residential, development would ultimately create less vehicular trip generation than many of the alternative uses allowed in the current district,” according to the request.
No site plan was included with the rezoning request. For reference, a development with 8 units per acre often takes the form of densely clustered single-family or townhome residences.
There’s no shortage of Trask-owned land in the area: the property is part of nearly 1,000 acres bordered by Blue Clay Road, North College Road, Kerr Avenue, and I-140 that is owned by the Daniel Webster Trask Revocable Trust and Trask Farms of New Hanover, LLC.
The New Hanover County Planning Board will hold a public hearing and consider the rezoning request on January 9, 2020, at 6 p.m. at the New Hanover County Historic Courthouse located at 24 N. Third St. in downtown Wilmington.
