Public hearing held for 36‑unit rezoning on Carolina Beach Road; planning board and staff favored approval

The county held a public hearing on a request to rezone 4.56 acres at 6634 Carolina Beach Road from R‑15 to a conditional R‑5 district to allow up to 36 attached single‑family dwelling units. Staff and the planning board recommended approval with a set of conditions intended to reduce impacts on adjacent neighborhoods.

Planning staff said the parcel is wooded and bordered on the west by the Lords Creek neighborhood. The applicant proposed 36 units arranged as nine four‑unit structures but included a condition allowing for alternative attached housing types (triplexes or other configurations) to provide flexibility. The proposal also includes a 35‑foot preserved tree and open‑space area in the center of the site and a fenced, opaque buffer along the property line adjacent to existing homes.

"The plan provides both for the state stream setback, and there are no impacts to the wetlands being proposed," said Cindy Wolf, the applicant's representative, who said wetlands on the southeast boundary were delineated and approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Wolf emphasized the applicant reduced prior proposed densities and said the homes would be built for individual ownership rather than rental product.

Laura McCabe of the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees testified in support of the project's tree preservation strategy and urged that a certified arborist be required to survey and protect the retained grove before clearing. "The alliance appreciates that the applicant has stated their intent to maximize tree save and not to clear cut the project site," McCabe said.

Several neighbors spoke in opposition at the hearing, citing traffic, drainage and perceived inconsistency with the surrounding low‑density character. Adrienne Garber said the proposal "is not in keeping with our most current 2025 trend towards down zoning" and urged commissioners to deny the request. Kyle Pressman and other Lords Creek residents said the Carolina Beach Road corridor is already congested and described a recent crash near the neighborhood entrance as evidence of safety concerns.

Staff told the board the project would be below the 100‑peak‑hour trip threshold that triggers a full traffic impact analysis and that driveway permitting will require NCDOT review. A recommended condition would require an extension of an existing right‑turn lane if DOT approves the improvement. Staff also said project review will proceed through TRC and permitting if the board approves.

The planning board considered the item on Aug. 7 and recommended approval after public comment; staff forwarded additional public comments to the commissioners before the hearing. The transcript ends with the hearing concluded and the applicant indicating it wished to proceed with the vote; the record does not include a final decision by the full board on this agenda item within the provided transcript.