BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Developers are one step closer to bringing a 43.5-acre housing community to Brunswick County, following an unanimous approval from the county planning board Monday night.
The proposal involves a rectangular plot of land on Ocean Highway, about a 10 minute drive from the South Carolina border. Wayne Smith, who operates a backhoe company in a nearby lot, owns more than 60 acres along the stretch of highway, including the 40 acres incorporated in the proposed development. Smith said he has no involvement with the project.
On county documents, Norris & Tunstall Consulting Engineers is listed as the applicant. When asked about the proposed development, a receptionist for the firm said: “We’re not at liberty to discuss any projects.”
Developers hoped to call the project “Sunrise Cove.” Since the name is already in use by another subdivision, county planners asked for it to be changed.
The development is designed to encompass 174 single-family lots on roughly 40 acres, leading to a density of 4.34 dwelling units per acre. Currently, the land is mostly undeveloped.
Though 8.02 acres of open space is required under the county code, the developer proposed including 9.84 acres. Similarly, while 1.2 acres of recreation space is required, the developer offered 4.78.
Brunswick County will provide water and sewer infrastructure; plans also call for a 30-foot vegetative buffer.
County staff stated the proposed development will lead to approximately 1,665 additional vehicle trips on a typical weekday. Each lot will have at least two designated parking spaces.
The landowner declined to answer questions about the project, but said much of it was contingent on the land being bought. Smith did not specify who was in the market for the parcel.
“There won’t be a project if those people don’t buy it,” Smith said. “Until they buy it, they’re just speculating. It’s all just speculation right now.”
More details about the proposed development will become clear when the project is presented to the board of county commissioners.
On Monday night, the planning board also approved three other rezoning requests. A 242-acre parcel received a green light for a rezoning request, clearing the path for the construction of a sand mine.
RELATED: Sand mine proposed for Brunswick County, contingent on rezoning request
Additionally, a 9.74-acre parcel got a thumbs-up for a self-storage space, and a property owner requested an acre to be rezoned to put a metal garage on her land.
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