SURF CITY — Town planners are reviewing plans for the first phase of a 200-home development called Magnolia Reserve off Highway 210 between the Saltwater Landing subdivision and the town’s water plant.
The property, divided into three different lots, totals 79 acres and, if approved, would be split into three phases of construction. The developer is currently working with Surf City planning staff to provide information needed to bring the final plat for Phase 1A to Council, which would include the subdivision’s first 20 homes, according to Town Planner Amy Kimes.
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“Once the engineer has provided all needed information staff will place the item on Council’s agenda,” she said in an email on Friday.
The development is owned by South State Development, Kimes said, which is registered in nearby Jacksonville and is owned by Elijah T. Morton and Curtis L. Morton.
The entrance from Highway 210 would be through a looped road called Torquay Drive, according to a preliminary master development plan. The plan shows six detention ponds and conserved wetlands on the western boundary of the property, as well as another small area, roughly the size of one of the proposed lots, near the southern boundary.
The land is zoned R-10 Residential, which allows 10,000-square foot lots. Saltwater Landings, which borders the property to the east, is also zoned R-10.
The first phase of Magnolia Reserve is nearing completion of staff review while testing for Magnolia Reserve’s first phase of construction has been completed successfully, according to a government update sent by Town Manager Kyle Breuer last week.
Final certifications have been submitted to the state, according to the update.
Last Monday, Mayor Doug Medlin said the first phase of the Waterside development, which includes its first 60 lots, had been approved and will move into the next stage of work, according to his Facebook page.
“We will see a temporary traffic light at the intersection of J.H. Batts Rd. and Highway 50 this Spring,” he said.
The preliminary plan for Magnolia Reserve was approved by Council in June 2018.
According to the preliminary plan:
- No portion of the property is located within the 100-year floodplain;
- South State Development intends to complete all infrastructure initially and build the lots in phases;
- All lots will be provided by Surf City’s water and sewer service by way of extending nearby mains;
- Sidewalks will be provided on both sides of the proposed streets;
- Open space, stormwater detention, and roads will be the responsibility of the homeowners association;
- Wetlands exist on the property;
- The subdivision will provide LED street lights;
- And no gates, traffic-calming devices, or on-street parking will be permitted.
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