Arguing inconsistency, rezoning request denied in Brunswick County

A rezoning that would have brought commercial uses to a primarily residential area near Winnabow was denied by the Brunswick County Planning Board this month.

At its July meeting, the planning board reconsidered a rezoning request that was tabled at the board’s June meeting. The request looked to rezone 15 acres of land at 5740 Ocean Highway East (U.S. 17) from rural residential to commercial low density.

Keith Smith, the applicant, said he is a pastor and looked to build a meeting facility and housing for aged-out foster care kids over retail space – ultimately deciding that commercial low-density zoning would best accommodate those goals.

However, the request was conventional, not conditional, meaning the board could not consider specific plans that may be in the works for the property. Instead, they had to consider any and all commercial uses when determining whether to approve or deny the request.

The land surrounding the of interest property is largely zoned for rural residential use, and is currently either vacant or residential land. County planning staff recommended the rezoning for approval, but noted the board would have to amend its Blueprint Brunswick 2040 Comprehensive Plan to make the new land use consistent with the land use plan.

A neighbor nearby expressed concern for bringing commercial zoning to the largely residential area, and ultimately, the board agreed the move could set a precedent that could impact the area in the future.

In a vote of 5-1, the board denied the request.

Four other rezonings approved

At the July meeting, the planning board considered and approved – at least in part – three other rezoning requests.

A conditional request to rezone 2.81 acres of land on Washington Road SW from commercial low density to rural residential to make way for an outdoor pickleball facility was approved unanimously .

A request to rezone just over 12 acres of high-density residential land on Boones Neck Road near Supply to commercial low density was approved in part. The request included two separate parcels of land – a 10-acre parcel at 1886 Boones Neck Road and a 2-acre part of the parcel at 1917 Boones Neck Road.

By unanimous vote, the board approved the rezoning for the 1886 property, and denied the request for the 1917 property.

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A request to rezone 3.83 acres of land on Green Swamp Road from rural residential to commercial low density and a request to rezone more than 26 acres of land on Midway Road from medium-density residential to commercial low density were approved unanimously.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Arguing inconsistency, rezoning request denied in Brunswick County