HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ21-04M Staff SummaryZ21-04M Staff Report PB 12.2.2021 Page 1 of 13
STAFF REPORT FOR Z21-04M
CONDITIONAL ZONING DISTRICT APPLICATION
APPLICATION SUMMARY
Case Number: Z21-04M
Request:
Modification of a (CZD) R-10 District
Applicant: Property Owner(s):
Sonya Edens with RSC Engineering, PLLC Cape Fear Habitat For Humanity Inc.
Location: Acreage:
3200 Block of Reminisce Road 4.90 acres
PID(s): Comp Plan Place Type:
R02500-003-004-000 General Residential
Existing Land Use: Proposed Land Use:
Undeveloped Single-Family Residential
Current Zoning: Proposed Zoning:
(CZD) R-10, Conditional Residential 10 district (CZD) R-10, Conditional Residential 10 district
SURROUNDING AREA
LAND USE ZONING
North Single-Family Residential R-20
East Single-Family Residential (Rivendell Bay, Oakley Circle) R-20, R-15
South Single-Family Residential (Apple Valley) R-20
West Single-Family Residential (Apple Valley and Walnut Hills) R-20, R-10
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ZONING HISTORY
July 1, 1974 Initially zoned R-20 (Area 10A)
May 3, 2021 (CZD) R-10, Conditional Residential 10 district
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Water/Sewer Water and sewer service is available through CFPUA via a mainline
extension and pump station.
Fire Protection New Hanover County Fire Services, New Hanover County Northern Fire
District, New Hanover County Station Wrightsboro.
Schools Wrightsboro Elementary, Holly Shelter Middle, and New Hanover High
Schools.
Recreation Optimist Park, Northern Regional Park, Blue Clay Bike Park
CONSERVATION, HISTORIC, & ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Conservation No known conservation resources
Historic No known historic resources
Archaeological No known archaeological resources
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APPROVED CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN
• In May 2021 the Commissioners approved a (CZD) R-10, Conditional Residential 10 district
consisting of 4.90 acres for an 11-lot single-family subdivision.
• Access to the development was approved off Reminisce Road, a public local street, via a
new private right-of-way connection, Dorsey Lane.
• The initial approval conditioned stormwater management facilities to be provided via a
roadside swale in lieu of a stormwater pond.
PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN
• This application proposes to modify the existing conditional zoning district (Case# Z21-04)
to add a proposed stormwater pond to the already approved residential (CZD) R-10,
Conditional Residential 10 district.
• While there is a shift in the 11-lot configuration, the number of lots remains the same.
• The updated conceptual plan complies with the County’s standards for a conventional
subdivision, including zoning dimensional standards, access and open space requirements.
• Access to the site remains off Reminisce Road, a public local street, via a new private right-
of-way connection, Dorsey Lane. Maintenance of Dorsey Lane will be the responsibility of
the homeowners’ association.
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Approved Site Plan:
Applicant’s Conceptual Site Plan with Staff Markups
Proposed Site Plan:
Applicant’s Approved Site Plan with Staff Markups
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AREA SUBDIVISIONS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
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TRANSPORTATION
• Access is proposed to be provided to the subject property from Reminisce Road, an NCDOT
maintained road that connects to Rockhill Road. In addition, the nearby public street
network in the Apple Valley subdivision connects to Oakley Road to the south. Both Oakley
Road and Rockhill Road connect to Castle Hayne Road.
• The applicant has also designed the site to allow for a future connection to the adjacent
undeveloped parcel to the northeast.
• A traffic signal was installed at the intersection of Oakley Road and Castle Hayne Road in
2020.
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• As currently zoned, the (CZD) R-10 zoning proposed 11 detached single-family homes are
estimated to generate about 13 trips during the peak hours.
• The estimated traffic generated from the site is under the 100 peak hour threshold that
triggers the ordinance requirement for a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA).
• Because a TIA is not required, staff has provided the volume to capacity ratio for Castle
Hayne Road near the subject site. While volume to capacity ratio, based on average daily
trips, can provide a general idea of the function of adjacent roadways, the delay vehicles
take in seconds to pass through intersections is generally considered a more effective
measure when determining the Level of Service of a roadway. The volume to capacity ratio
indicates capacity currently exists in this area to accommodate the small change in
estimated trips.
NCDOT Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) - 2020
Road Location Volume Capacity V/C
Castle Hayne Road 1,000 feet south of
Rockhill Road 16,324
19,603
0.83
Intensity Approx. Peak Hour Trips
Proposed
Development:
11 Single-Family
Dwellings 13 AM / 13 PM
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Nearby Planned Transportation Improvements and Traffic Impact Analyses
Nearby NC STIP Projects:
• STIP Project U-5863
o Project to widen Castle Hayne Road from I-140 to Division Drive. This project will
add a center turn lane or median to sections of the road.
o The current construction schedule for this project is to begin right-of-way acquisition
in 2029.
Nearby Traffic Impact Analyses:
There are no pending or approved Traffic Impact Analyses within the proximity of the subject
property that are anticipated to affect this request.
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ENVIRONMENTAL
• The property does not contain any Special Flood Hazard Areas or Natural Heritage Areas.
• According to the applicant there is no evidence of regulated wetlands within the area of
the property to be developed.
• The property is within the Ness Creek (C;Sw) watershed.
• Per the Classification of Soils in New Hanover County for Septic Tank Suitability, soils on
the property consist of Class I (suitable/slight limitation) and Class II (moderate limitation)
soils; however, the project will connect to CFPUA sewer and water services.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
SCHOOLS
• Students living in the proposed development would be assigned to Wrightsboro Elementary
School, Holly Shelter Middle School, and New Hanover High School. Students may apply
to attend public magnet, year-round elementary, or specialty high schools.
• A maximum of 11 dwelling units would be permitted under the Approved (CZD) R-10
Zoning. The proposed modification will have no impact on the dwelling units allowed.
• Based on a generalized historic generation rate*, staff would estimate the new project
would generate roughly one additional student. However, affordable housing developments
may be more likely to provide housing for families with school-age children, so the proposed
rezoning may generate more students than would be estimated using the historic generation
rate estimates.
Development Type Intensity Estimated Student Generation
(generalized historic student generation rate)*
Approved (CZD) R-10
Zoning& Proposed
Modification
11 residential units Total: 3 students**
* Generalized historic generation rates are calculated by dividing the projected New Hanover County public school
student enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year by the estimated number of dwelling units in the county. Currently,
there are an average of 0.24 public school students (0.11 for elementary, 0.05 for middle, and 0.08 for high)
generated per dwelling unit across New Hanover County. These numbers are updated annually and include students
attending out-of-district specialty schools, such as year-round elementary schools, Isaac Bear, and SeaTECH. Generation
rates do not take into account different housing types and different locations, which typically yield different numbers
of students.
** The estimated student generation calculation results in a difference of fewer than one student being generated from
the proposed rezoning compared to current zoning (2.16 compared with 2.64).
• Since the proposed development is likely to have a build-out date within 5 years, staff has
outlined existing school capacity to provide a general idea of the potential impact on public
schools.
• These numbers do not reflect any future capacity upgrades that may occur over the next
five years or changes to student populations.
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School Enrollment* and Capacity** - 2020-2021 Estimates
* Enrollment is based on the New Hanover County Schools enrollment that was projected for the 2020-2021 school
year.
** Capacity calculations were determined by New Hanover County Schools for the 2020-2021 school year and are
based on NC DPI Facility Guidelines & Class Size Requirements. Modifications refer to specific program requirements
unique to a particular school. These may include exceptional children’s classrooms beyond the original building design,
classrooms to serve a unique population such as ESL, or classrooms designated for art and music if the building wasn’t
specifically designed with those spaces.
• The recent facility needs survey that has been prepared by Schools staff includes the most
current NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) student growth projections and school
capacity data. It does not include student growth projections and available capacity for
individual schools, but it appears that planned facility upgrades, combined with changes to
student enrollment patterns, will result in adequate capacity district-wide over the next five
years if facility upgrades are funded.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN
• One of the goals of the New Hanover County Strategic Plan for 2018-2023 is to encourage
the development of complete communities in the unincorporated county by increasing access
to goods and services and providing for a range of housing types and price points.
• The subject site is within the Wrightsboro community area. The proposed project includes
single-family housing and is located more than one mile away from existing retail and
service providers, so it would not impact the percentage of homes within a one-mile radius
of basic goods and services or the diversity of the community's housing types.
• While the Wrightsboro area is one of the communities in the unincorporated county with
more affordable housing options, the number of for-sale units in the overall County serving
residents making less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) is limited. As a Habitat for
Humanity project, the proposed subdivision would assist in providing the range of price
points envisioned by the strategic plan for the County as a whole.
Level
Total
NHC %
Capacity School
Enrollment
of Assigned
School
Capacity
of
Assigned
School w/
Portables
% of
Capacity of
Assigned
School
Funded
Capacity
Upgrades
Elementary 97% Wrightsboro 547 564 97% None
Middle 107% Holly Shelter 917 934 98% None
High 105% New
Hanover 1,532 1,648 93% None
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REPRESENTATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
Representative R-10 Developments:
Representative Habitat for Humanity Development:
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CONTEXT AND COMPATIBILITY
• The proposed modifications will not result in additional lots or traffic.
• The request is to change the stormwater management tool utilized from roadside swales to
a stormwater pond.
• The applicant proposes that the lots range from about 10,000 square feet to about 15,000
square feet. The proposed lot sizes and single-family housing type are similar to existing
development in the neighborhood.
2016 COMPREHENSIVE 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. These place types are
intended to identify general areas for particular development patterns and should not be
interpreted as being parcel specific.
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. Types of uses
include single-family residential, low-density multi-family residential, light
commercial, civic, and recreational.
Analysis
The subject parcel is located off of Reminisce Road about one mile west of
Castle Hayne Road, a minor arterial roadway. The site is located between
the GE employment center to the north and the Wrightsboro community-
level commercial node at the intersection of Castle Hayne Road and N. Kerr
Avenue to the south.
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This area was designated as General Residential to provide for
development consistent with the existing lower density neighborhoods in a
place where a mix of uses is less appropriate. The proposed development
density remains 2.2 dwelling units per acre and would provide a residential
development consistent with the density recommendation for this place type
(up to 8 dwelling units per acre). In addition, the proposed lot sizes will be
similar to adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Consistency
Recommendation
The proposed modification to the conditional R-10 zoning district is
generally CONSISTENT with the 2016 Comprehensive Plan because it
provides residential development similar to the density of adjacent
neighborhoods and is in line with the density recommendations for General
Residential.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the proposal and suggests the following motion:
I move to APPROVE the proposed modification to the existing conditional R-10 district.
I find it to be CONSISTENT with the purposes and intent of the Comprehensive Plan
because the project’s use and density are in line with the recommendation for General
Residential areas. I also find APPROVAL of the rezoning request is reasonable and in
the public interest because the proposal remains consistent with the existing
development pattern of the surrounding area and will allow for needed infrastructure.
Alternative Motion for Denial
I move to DENY the proposed modification to the existing conditional R-10 district.
While I find it to be CONSISTENT with the purposes and intent of the Comprehensive
Plan because the project’s use and density are in line with the recommendation for
General Residential areas, I find DENIAL of the rezoning request is reasonable and in
the public interest because the proposal is not consistent with the existing development
pattern of the surrounding area and will adversely impact the adjacent neighborhoods.