PB Minutes 20110407-Approved
Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the New Hanover County Planning Board April 7, 2011 The New Hanover County Planning Board met Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the
Historic County Courthouse, Wilmington, NC to hold a public meeting. Planning Board Present: Staff Present: Richard Collier, Chair Chris O’Keefe, Planning & Inspections Director Troy
Barboza Jane Daughtridge, Current Planning & Zoning Manager Melissa Gott Sam Burgess, Subdivision Review Planner Dan Hilla Nicole Dreibelbis, Planner Tamara Murphy Sharon Huffman, Assistant
County Attorney Anthony Prinz Absent: Andy Heath, Vice Chair Chairman Richard Collier opened the meeting by welcoming the audience to the public hearing. Sam Burgess led the reciting
of the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Collier reviewed the procedures for the meeting. Approval of the March Planning Board Meeting Minutes Dan Hilla made a motion to approve the March
Planning Board meeting minutes as presented. Anthony Prinz seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted 6-0 to approve the March Planning Board meeting minutes. Item 1: Rezoning Request
(Z-910, 04/11) – Request by James Yopp on behalf of Rockford Partners, L.L.C. to rezone approximately 27.23 acres at 1300 and 1305 Rock Hill Road from R-20 Low-Density Residential to
R-15 Medium-Density Residential. Both parcels are classified as Wetland Resource Protection Area on the 2006 CAMA Land Classification Map. Nicole Dreibelbis provided information pertaining
to location, land classification, access, level of service and zoning. Ms. Dreibelbis showed maps, aerials, and photographs of the property and of the surrounding area. Nicole Dreibelbis
stated both parcels are located in the northern portion of the County’s jurisdiction at the terminus of Rock Hill Road, a neighborhood collector street. She explained parcel #1300 is
1.94 acres and parcel #1305 is a 25.29 acres tract, for a total of 27.23 acres. Both parcels are currently zoned R-20 and are part of the Sunset Reach performance residential
Page 2 of 4 subdivision. She reported the zoning immediately south and east of the proposal is also R-20, while Walnut Hills, an R-10 performance residential subdivision, is southeast
of the site and the recently approved and modified planned development, Rose Hill Landing, is located to the north. Ms. Dreibelbis also noted an intense I-2 Industrial District located
across the Northeast Cape Fear River to the west. Ms. Dreibelbis commented as shown in the 2006 aerial, most of the area was undeveloped, with the exception of the R-10 pocket. She noted,
as reflected in the 2010 aerial, there had been little development in the area, with the exception of the addition of a single family residence at 1300 Rock Hill Road, which is also
the only home currently built in the Sunset Reach subdivision. Ms. Dreibelbis explained traffic counts are not provided for local roads; therefore, there was initially no traffic count
available for Rock Hill Road. The closest level of service designation is derived from the traffic traffic count for Castle Hayne Road at its intersection with Rock Hill Road. She stated
the 2007 level of service for that intersection is E, meaning the road is operating at capacity. Ms. Dreibelbis reviewed the site plan approved by the TRC in September 2009 for the Sunset
Reach performance residential subdivision under the current R-20 zoning designation, noting that under the R-20 designation, 1.9 units are allocated per acre, for a maximum total of
52 lots. The approval of rezoning to R-15 would increase the performance residential density to 2.5 units per acre and allow a total of 68 lots, which would be an increase of 16 lots.
In conclusion, Ms. Dreibelbis stated staff feels the request for rezoning of both 1300 and 1305 Rock Hill Road is consistent with the 2006 CAMA Land Use Plan, the stated intent of the
R-15 zoning district, and the Wrightsboro Small Area Plan; the impact of the increased density will be consistent with the adjacent planned development and the land classification; and
density will also be restricted by septic suitability until sewer is available; therefore, staff recommends approval. Chairman Collier asked if board members had any questions for staff.
Dan Hilla asked if the River Bluffs community was located in the general area of the proposed rezoning. Jane Daughtridge explained the name of the River Bluffs development had been changed
to Rose Hill Landing, which is identified on the map. The applicant, James Yopp, of Rockford Partners, LLC, 7156 River Road, stated the rezoning request was based on staff’s recommendation
and he felt the request was suitable for the area. He noted the recent approval of the adjacent property owners’ rezoning request. Mr. Yopp commented that the increase in density did
not qualify them for a Traffic Impact Analysis because it will have limited impact on traffic. He also stated belief the rezoning will be an improved situation for the tax base and job
creation and will allow the flexibility to meet the suitability of the demographics of current market market conditions, which means smaller product dimensions. He noted the development
is limited by septic availability, but water is available.
Page 3 of 4 Mr. Yopp stated the developers had done extensive work in rehabilitating infrastructure for the county, including upfitting the well for water capacity across from Laney
High School several years ago for this subdivision. He commented the developers had contributed to the community in the region well above what their density required them to do. In conclusion,
Mr. Yopp stated they were seeking a straight rezoning of the property due to the fact that they have septic they will still have to work forward and redesign. No one from the public
spoke in opposition to the rezoning request. Chairman Collier closed the public hearing. Dan Hilla commented that the site appears to be fully developed and asked if the developer planned
to add multi-family to the development or change the lot sizes to get more density. James Yopp affirmed Mr. Hilla’s statement was correct, based on septic, and stated their intention
to keep the design as it had been approved or as close to that as possible. He acknowledged some of the septic will need to be restructured and perking conditions, noting rezoning would
allow them to alter more townhomes. Mr. Yopp said staff had already approved several townhome designs that would allow some flexibility once the rezoning has been approved. He clarified
the density would be limited to 69 units, which is a minimal increase from the current 53 units. Dan Hilla commented on the beauty of the property. Dan Hilla made a motion to approve
Rezoning Request Z-910. Tamara Murphy seconded the motion. The Planning Board voted 6-0 to approve Rezoning Request Z-910. Technical Review Committee Report (March) Sam Burgess reported
there was no TRC meeting during the month of March. Chairman Collier asked if the board members or staff had any items they would like to bring forward for discussion. Chris O’Keefe
acknowledged the ordinance improvement effort is still ongoing; however, the items are not yet ready to move forward for consideration. Jane Daughtridge informed board members that the
Market Street Corridor Plan has not been re-scheduled for a hearing by the County Commissioners because the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization will be conducting more community
outreach prior to consideration of the plan by the commissioners. Chairman Collier questioned staff about the validity of a statement (made by an unnamed source) regarding a moratorium
on development along Market Street.
Page 4 of 4 Chris O’Keefe confirmed the statement regarding a moratorium on development along Market Street was false. He commented that staff, with the support of the Planning Board
and the County Commissioners, has been approaching development on streets that are overburdened in a different way by encouraging development to cluster and take advantage of locational
advantages to provide a mix of uses and internalize some traffic in order to create the type of project that won’t increase traffic as significantly on those roadways. Mr. O’Keefe stated
he wouldn’t characterize the decision as a moratorium, but certainly a straight rezoning that doesn’t address any traffic issues may be viewed like that in the future if a consistent
decision is made. He reiterated that he wouldn’t deem the practice a moratorium on development. Richard Collier adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________
___________ Chris O’Keefe, Planning & Inspections Director