1990-11-09 Work Session
"...-
~-70
MINUTES OF WORK SESSION WITH NEW HANOVER COUNTY PLANNING
DEPARTMENT, NOVEMBER 9, 1990
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work
session with the Planning Department on Friday, November 9, 1990,
at 8:30 o'clock A.M. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover
County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut Street, Wilmington,
North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Robert G. Greer; E. L.
Mathews, Jr.; Vice-Chairman Jonathan Barfield, Sr.; Chairman Fred
Retchin, County Manager, Allen O'Neal; County Attorney, Robert W.
Pope; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Commissioner Nolan O'Neal was absent.
Chairman Retchin called the meeting to order.
DISCUSSION OF DEFINING REGULATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
Planning Director Hayes expressed appreciation to the Board
for meeting with the Planning Staff to discuss regulations for
future commercial development. He stated Assistant Planning
Director, David Weaver, and Staff Planner, Pete Avery, will
discuss and define recent studies by the Planning Staff and Ad
Hoc Advisory Committee.
Assistant Planning Director Weaver presented charts on the
County's role as a retail center and stated New Hanover has
gained significant increases in the last two decades in
non-manufacturing employment, particularly in retail. Retail
employment increased over 60% between 1975 to 1985 and retail
activities are predicted to continue to rise dramatically in view
of recent discussions with several developers interested ln
building additional retail service centers. Much of this
increase in retail sales activity can be attributed to residents
from surrounding counties shopping in New Hanover County. After
evaluation by the Ad Hoc Committee, it was concluded that an
adequate supply of undeveloped land zoned for general commercial
development presently exists in New Hanover County since
commercial acreage has increased 43% from 1985-1989.
Staff Planner Avery presented maps and the following Table
of B-1 and B-2 Acreage along major road corridors in the County:
Total B-1,
B-2 Acreage
Developed
Acreage
Carolina Beach Road
Castle Hayne Road
Oleander Drive
North College Road
South College Road
Eastwood Road
Mark~t Street
Wrightsville Avenue
Total
255.9
235.1
111.3
176.9
42.5
135
480.9
23.2
1,460.8
107.7
149.8
71.6
40.6
38.1
55.6
246.8
13.7
723.9
Percentage
Developed
42%
63%
64%
23%
89%
41%
51%
59%
49%
Discussion was held on intense commercial zoning on Oleander
Drive, low commercial development on North College Road, strip
commercial development on Carolina Beach Road with an intense
commercial node at Monkey Junction, and commercial development in
the community of Castle Hayne and Castle Hayne Road.
Assistant Planning Director Weaver commented on water and
sewer services stating in order to perform land use planning, it
is necessary to know where, when and how county sewer services
will be provided, and where thoroughfares are to be located.
Maps were presented showing non-county residential sewage
systems, non-discharged private systems, location of NPDES
discharge permits, and non-discharged public utilities which are
~
e
e
e.
MINUTES OF WORK SESSION, NOVEMBER 9, 1990 (CONTINUED)
"271
~
privately owned systems. Maps were presented showing the
Southern Outer Loop and Northern Outer Loop. Once placement of
the Northern Outer Loop corridor is determined, the County should
perform a corridor study to adequately prepare for future
extensions of the corridor.
.
The following development controls were presented and
discussed to accommodate increased retail sales activity without
significantly impacting residential neighborhoods and to increase
public participation as well as to establish both use-specific
design requirements and site plan review and approval procedures:
1. Creation of a Neighborhood Business District: The
intent of this district would be to allow develop-
ment of small scale retail and service uses specifically
oriented toward serving the day-to-day needs of the
surrounding neighborhood. Use-specific controls would
be imposed, such as reduced signage, maximum limits on
parking, building sizes, and provisions for pedestrian
access.
2. Creation of Commercial Services District: This district
could be created to segregate high impact services, such
as general trade contractors and septic tank vacuum
services, which are not necessarily dependent on high
visibility, from the existing B-2 district. The intent
would be to create CS districts with more stringent
use-specific controls in areas away from major highways
which would reduce the demand for B-2 zoning.
.
3. Creation of a Planned Business District: The intent of
this district would be to allow increased public
participation and site plan review for approval of
commercial developments. It would operate similarly to
the existing Conditional Use Districts but would focus
on "stand-alone" commercial developments, such as
shopping centers, as opposed to the transitional use
emphasis of the Conditional Use District. This could be
an expansion of the Shopping Center District which is
presently not utilized.
4. Expansion of the Use of the Conditional Use District:
Presently, the Conditional Use District is intended to
provide only for low-impact transition from commercial
development to residential areas. The Conditional use
District could be utilized more often to achieve many of
the results identified above.
5.
Use-Specific Controls
Additional use-specific
could be imposed on uses
districts.
in
or
in
B-1 and B-2 Districts:
performance type controls
the existing B-1 and B-2
.
Also, redevelopment of existing commercial districts should
be encouraged. As the County becomes a larger regional
economic/service center, it is likely that interim commercial
uses such as equipment/auto sales will be replaced with more
capital intensive development with more emphasis on permanent
structures, landscaping, and site design. Vacant stretches
between commercial areas along arterial roads should be reserved
for residential development, particularly High Density
Residential Development, provided appropriate infrastructure is
available. High Density Residential Development will allow for a
variety of housing types, reduce residential sprawl, reduce
costly utility extensions, and eventually make the possible use
of mass transit a viable option.
Slides were presented showing how land has developed under
the County's land use development policies. Many examples were
shown where strip commercial development has occurred and how
this can be avoided in the future th~ough new commercial
development controls in addition to existing policies.
~
(
!
2 -r~ES OF WORK SESSION, NOVEMBER 9, 1990 ( CONTINUED)
Discussion was held on the proposed commercial development
controls. Vice-Chairman Barfield agreed with involving the
public in order for communi ties to understand how a particular
commercial use will accommodate their needs and what type of
impact will occur wi thin their neighborhood. He recommended
holding another Work Session with the Planning Staff for
presentation of a scenario on hov., creation of a Neighborhood
Business District, Commercial Services District, Planned Business
District, Expansion of the Conditional Use District, and
Use-specific controls in B-1 and B-2 districts would impact upon
future commercial development in the County. He also suggested
that the Planning Staff hold Work Sessions with the Commissioners
before presenting recommendations to the Planning Commission.
o
Chairman Retchin, on behalf of the Board, expressed
appreciation to the Planning Staff for an excellent presentation.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Vice-Chairman Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner
Mathews to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED AS FOLLOWS:
Voting Aye: Commissioner Greer
Commissioner Mathews
Vice-Chairman Barfield
Chairman Retchin
Absent: Commissioner O'Neal
Chairman Retchin adjourned the Work Session at 10:25 o'clock
A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
~dx/~
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board
o
o
~