BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Pickleball players in a neighboring county may have a new facility if a zoning request passes in Shallotte.
READ MORE: ‘Robbed of our ETJ’: Per new legislation, Southport to turn over surrounding land to county
The Carolina Pickleball Company hopes to build a recreational center and courts at 5183 Washington Road. The 2.78-acre site will include six outdoor pickleball courts and an indoor recreational center, according to site plans designed by McGill Associates.
Carolina Pickelball Company is requesting a rural, low density residential from a low-density commercial zoning; the application states it’s consistent with the land use plan. It will be built on vacant land, near a boat repair and automotive repair shop; a few residences also abut the property.
Jennifer Darrow, the owner of the property and The Carolina Pickleball Company, has hosted pickleball leagues and events, including kids’ camps. The company is a private club, open to new members. Darrow declined to comment to Port City Daily about the facility.
Located at the Lumber River Basin, the total site area is 121,000 square feet and requires 19 parking spaces.
Combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played with a paddle and a plastic ball, the recreational sport has been reported to be the fastest-growing in the United States. According to a 2023 report by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball has seen an 87.5% year-over-year growth. It is suitable for players of all ages and skill levels, adding to its popularity.
Should the rezoning gain approval, this would be the second indoor facility dedicated to pickleball in Brunswick County, following the establishment of The House of Pickleball in 2018. Located at 115 Kay Todd Road in Leland, it was the first facility of its kind in New Hanover, Pender, or Brunswick County. The House of Pickleball expanded in 2023, doubling its cushioned courts from six to twelve.
Also on the agenda for the public hearing is a rezoning for a 26.15-acre parcel from medium density residential to low density commercial. The site is located next to 2651 Midway Road in Bolivia. No site plans were provided with the applications because it is not a conditional rezoning. The developer is listed as David Purser from LPM Group, an Oak Island home builder behind Lucas Cove.
The agenda includes the rezoning of two parcels on 12.07 acres of land at 1886 and 1917 Boonesneck Road near Supply, submitted by the Theresa P. Rhodes Family Revocable Living Trust and Samuel Varnam. The zoning would change from high density residential to low density commercial. Site plans show Varnam owns roughly 10 acres, while the trust owns 2.
It’s unclear what is planned, though the application states: “NC Highway 130 corridor is in transition. A proposed rezoning would further endorse commercial development and would be consistent with recent commercial activity in the neighboring area.”
Additionally, a rezoning for two parcels from rural, low density, residential to low density commercial is on the agenda, submitted by David Summerlin, a real estate broker for Sun Coast Partners, and South Brunswick Development. The parcels sit on 3.83 acres of land near 131 Green Swamp Road in Supply.
According to the application, the area could be impacted by an interchange plan at the Highway 17 and Highway 211 intersection. Though it won’t affect the listed property outright, the goal is to get ahead and zone it for future needs; a mixed-use aligns with the county’s future land use plan.
“These sites are needed for future commercial uses, in that the NCDOT is not allowing Highway 17 access on many of the properties near the intersection,” the application notes.
The Brunswick County Planning Board’s public hearing will be held July 8, 6 p.m., in the commissioners’ chambers in the David R. Sandifer Administration Building at 30 Government Center Drive in Bolivia.
Tips or comments? Email jalyn@localdailymedia.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
