S17-04 Staff Summary PBS17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 1 of 7
STAFF SUMMARY OF S17-04
SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION
APPLICATION SUMMARY
Case Number: S17-04
Request:
Special Use Permit in order to develop a “Camping, Travel Trailer Park”
Applicant: Property Owner(s):
Cindee Wolf of Design Solutions CWEST, LLC
Location: Acreage:
9533 & 9617 River Road 3.6
PID(s): Comp Plan Place Type:
R08800-001-008-000
R08800-001-009-000 General Residential
Existing Land Use: Proposed Land Use:
Mobile Home Park, Undeveloped Camping, Travel Trailer Park
Current Zoning:
R-15
SURROUNDING AREA
LAND USE ZONING
North Campground (Carolina Beach Family Campground) R-15
East Single-Family Residential, Undeveloped R-15
South Recreation (Snows Cut Park) R-15
West Undeveloped, Single-Family Residential R-15
S17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 2 of 7
ZONING HISTORY
April 7, 1971 Initially zoned R-15 (Area 4)
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Water/Sewer Aqua water service; private septic system
Fire Protection New Hanover County Fire Services, New Hanover County Southern Fire
District, New Hanover County Federal Point Station
Schools Carolina Beach Elementary, Codington Elementary, Murray Middle, and
Ashley High Schools
Recreation Snows Cut Park
CONSERVATION, HISTORIC, & ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Conservation No known conservation resources
Historic No known historic resources
Archaeological No known archaeological resources
Proposed Site Plan
This application proposes to develop a travel trailer park consisting of 44 camp sites. A
travel trailer is defined as “a wheeled vehicular portable structure built on a chassis
designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel and/or recreational purposes,
including, but not limited to structures mounted on auto or truck bodies that are commonly
referred to as campers.”
Travel trailer parks require a special use permit in the R-15 zoning district and are subject
to the standards of the county’s Mobile Home and Travel Trailer Park Ordinance.
S17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 3 of 7
Proposed Site Plan
TRANSPORTATION
Access is proposed to be provided to the subject property by two driveways off River
Road (SR 1576). A driveway permit from NCDOT is required for the proposed
development.
LAND USE (ITE Code) INTENSITY AM PEAK PM PEAK
Campground (416) 44 Camp Sites 14 21
Traffic Impact Analyses are required to be completed for proposals that will generate
more than 100 peak hour trips in either the AM or PM peak hours. A TIA is not required
for this project due to the projected peak hour trip generation figures.
Traffic Counts
Road Location Volume Capacity V/C LOS
River Road 9500-9600 Block 3,186 16,700 0.19 A
S17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 4 of 7
Nearby Planned Transportation Improvements and Traffic Impact Analyses
No TIAs are currently being drafted or have been completed for projects within a one-mile radius from
the subject site within the last five years.
Regional Transportation Plans:
The NHC/City of Wilmington Greenway Plan recommends that a greenway network be
installed in the surround area, including a greenway along the portion of River Road
adjacent to the subject property.
ENVIRONMENTAL
The property does not contain any Special Flood Hazard Areas, wetlands, or Natural
Heritage Areas.
The subject property is within the Telfairs Creek (SC;Sw) watershed.
S17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 5 of 7
Per the Classification of Soils in New Hanover County for Septic Tank Suitability, soils on
the property consist of Class I (suitable/slight limitation) soils.
2016 COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN
The New Hanover County Future Land Use Map provides a general representation of the vision
for New Hanover County’s future land use, as designated by place types describing the character
and function of the different types of development that make up the community. Specific goals
of the Comprehensive Plan are designated to be promoted in each place type, and other goals
may be relevant for particular properties.
Future Land Use
Map Place Type General Residential
Place Type
Description
Focuses on lower-density housing and associated civic and commercial
services. Typically, housing is single-family or duplexes. Commercial uses
should be limited to strategically located office and retail spaces, while
recreation and school facilities are encouraged throughout.
Analysis
The intent of the General Residential place type is to preserve existing
residential neighborhoods and provide opportunities for similar lower
density residential development and supportive commercial, civic, and
recreational development. Though recreational uses are encouraged in
General Residential areas, uses such as RV parks and campgrounds are not
specifically addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. However, these uses are
common in many communities along the North Carolina coast, including New
Hanover County, and can support tourism and public access to water and
natural resources.
The subject property is adjacent to an existing campground and public
recreational amenities. It is not located adjacent to existing residential
neighborhoods, although there are a few single-family homes in the
surrounding area. This type of location is appropriate for low intensity
recreational uses such as this one.
S17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 6 of 7
Consistency
Recommendation
The proposed RV and travel trailer campground is generally CONSISTENT
with this place type because it provides recreational opportunities, is not
estimated to generate a large amount of traffic on the roadway network,
and is located next to an existing travel trailer park in an area containing
few single-family homes.
STAFF PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS AND FINDINGS OF FACT:
Staff has conducted an analysis of the proposed use and the information provided as part of the
application package and has created preliminary findings of fact for each of the conclusions
required to be reached to approve the special use permit request. These preliminary findings of
fact and conclusions are based solely on the information provided to date, prior to any information
or testimony in support or opposition to the request that may be presented at the upcoming public
hearing at the Board meeting.
Finding 1: The Board must find that the use will not materially endanger the public health or
safety where proposed and developed according to the plan as submitted and approved.
A. The site is accessed from River Road, a minor arterial street that is operating at an
acceptable Level of Service.
B. Water services must be provided and designed in accordance with Aqua’s standards.
Wastewater services must be provided and designed in accordance with DEQ Division of
Waste Management’s and NHC Environmental Health Services’ standards.
C. The subject property is located in the New Hanover County South Fire Service District.
D. The site is not located within any Special Flood Hazard Area.
E. The proposed development is not estimated to generate enough traffic to require a Traffic
Impact Analysis be conducted.
F. A driveway permit must be obtained from NCDOT.
Staff Suggestion: Evidence in the record at this time supports a finding that the use will not materially
endanger the public health or safety where proposed.
Finding 2: The Board must find that the use meets all required conditions and specifications of
the Zoning Ordinance.
A. The site is zoned R-15, Residential District.
B. Travel Trailer Parks are allowed by special use permit in the R-15 zoning districts.
C. The site shall comply with the landscaping and buffering requirements of the Zoning
Ordinance.
D. A site plan has been included as part of the special use permit application and demonstrates
that the requirements of the Mobile Home and Travel Trailer Park Ordinance will be met.
Staff Suggestion: Evidence in the record at this time supports a finding that the use meets all of the
required conditions and specifications of the Zoning Ordinance.
S17-04 Staff Summary PB Page 7 of 7
Finding 3: The Board must find that the use will not substantially injure the value of adjoining
or abutting property or that the use is a public necessity.
A. The surrounding land uses include an existing travel trailer park and low-density residential.
The subject property is not located adjacent to residential neighborhoods.
B. No evidence has been submitted that this project will decrease the property values of
adjacent or nearby properties.
Staff Suggestion: The evidence in the record at this time supports a finding that the use will not
substantially injure the value of adjoining or abutting property.
Finding 4: The Board must find that the location and character of the use if developed according
to the plan as submitted and approved will be in harmony with the area in which it is to be
located and in general conformity with the plan of development for New Hanover County.
A. The 2016 Comprehensive Plan classifies the area proposed for the development as General
Residential, and the proposal aligns with the intent of this land use classification. The
proposal provides recreational opportunities, will have few impacts on existing residential
neighborhoods, and is generally compatible with the existing residential and recreational
development pattern of the area.
B. The proposal includes a 20-foot-wide pedestrian and non-vehicular access easement for a
future multi-use path, consistent with the Wilmington/New Hanover County Comprehensive
Greenway Plan.
Staff Suggestion: Evidence in the record at this time supports a finding that the use is general conformity
with the plan of development for New Hanover County.
Staff Suggested Conditions
1. No camping activity of any kind can occur in any required bufferyard or in the 15-foot
access easement that runs along the northern property line of the subject site.
2. A 20-foot-wide easement shall be dedicated to the County along River Road for the
purposes of installing a future pedestrian facility in accordance with the Wilmington/NHC
Comprehensive Greenway Plan.