WILMINGTON — Neighbors in the Middle Sound Loop area are pushing back against a developer hoping to construct a townhome development off Middlesound Loop Road. In fact, residents in the area have mobilized enough support that they are holding a ‘March for Middle Sound” protest on Saturday.
Demarest Pointe is a planned townhome subdivision that would be located off Middle Sound Loop Road across from Ogden Elementary School. But neighbors are not thrilled with the plan to rezone the property from R-20 to R-5.
“Residents of Middle Sound are opposing a developer’s request to rezone 3.35 acres from R20 (low-density) to R5 (high-density) in order to build 24, three-story townhouses. The proposed, ‘Demarest Pointe’ project is directly across from Ogden Elementary School and runs along a busy roundabout. School zone safety, existing traffic woes, infrastructure issues and flood-prone neighborhoods are already concerns here. The complex will have one entrance and its only exit lies almost directly across from the school’s bus access, where the busses routinely ‘beg’ into two lanes of traffic,” according to a press release from residents who organized the march.
Though just 3.35 acres in size, the plan was criticized by members of the county’s planning board for being ‘aggressive,’ yet, it was still approved.
Related: Middle Sound Loop townhome project raises traffic concerns for neighbors
“One member observed, ‘Anything that goes here is going to have a negative effect on that school- anything that goes here is going to have a negative effect on Middle Sound Loop Road,’ However, that member approved the rezoning request anyway,” according to the press release.
After the planning board’s meeting, the community around Middle Sound has organized, created its own website, Facebook page, and established fundraising efforts to stop the rezoning request.
“This Saturday’s ‘March for Middle Sound’ will be the last such event ahead of the final vote, set to take place on July 13th at the County Commissioners meeting. We will be marching to protect our school and community from needless additional traffic within the school zone of Ogden Elementary. Allowing this to happen cannot be good planning. In addition to wearing green, participants will observe social distancing and wear masks. “Made in Middle Sound” green masks will be available for purchase for $5. This is a Rain or Shine event,” the press release concludes.
