BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Two rezonings soon to be considered by the Brunswick County planning board are signaling the possibility of more home construction to come.
Nearly 49 acres in Town Creek is one of three proposed rezonings being heard at the Apr. 11 meeting. Located at the intersection of Mill Creek Road Southeast and U.S. 17, the tract is currently zoned rural low-density residential zoning. The applicant is seeking an upgrade to medium-density residential, which would allow for “orderly suburban residential development,” and the construction of 5.8 units per acre rather than 2.9 as currently permitted. Per county regulations, 5% of the gross project area would need to be preserved as open space.
The property has been owned by D.L. Mercer since 1974 when it was purchased for $33,301, according to property records. Engineer Jeffrey Malpass is applying for the rezoning. It is not far down the highway from Go Chicken Coop.
The agenda does not hint at intentions for the property. It argues the rezoning is appropriate because nearby land is commercial and another property a quarter-mile east is zoned for medium-density residential.
When considering rezoning land, planning boards are not supposed to consider how the land will be used but rather if the proposed zoning is appropriate.
Also at the meeting, there will be a hearing to rezone a massive collection of rural land in the southwest part of the county. The site is bordered by Ash-Little River Road to the west and Pea Landing Road and Gwynn roadsRoad to the east. At around 3,100 acres, it’s almost double the size of Brunswick Plantation.
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The planning agenda does not give much away, other than stating: “This rezoning is consistent with existing continuous zonings and is compatible with land use trends for this part of Brunswick County that has access to public water and sewer.”
It then describes that area of the county as transitioning from rural agricultural to more high-density residential uses.
John Phillip Norris, of Norris and Tunstall Consulting Engineers, is overseeing the application on behalf of the property owners. Made up of 13 different parcels, the land is owned by S Longwood LLC, Longwood Properties LLC and KCS Farms LLC.
The Brunswick Planning Board’s decision on rezoning requests is final. For construction to proceed, developers would need to seek local and state permitting.
The Brunswick County Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. on Apr. 11 in the David R. Sandifer Administration Building located at the Brunswick County Government Center, 30 Government Center Dr. NE. The public will have the opportunity to speak on each rezoning request during the hearings.
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