Preliminary forum held for proposed 291‑unit additional dwelling allowance north of Taryn Woods; traffic, HOA and application completeness disputed

The New Hanover County Planning Board on Sept. 4 held a preliminary forum — an advisory, non‑decisional hearing — on a special use permit application that would grant an additional dwelling allowance for property north of the Terrain/Taryn Woods subdivision. Staff said the application proposes a maximum of 291 dwelling units at 6.75 dwelling units per acre; board members did not make a recommendation and the matter will proceed to a quasi‑judicial hearing before the Board of Commissioners.

Planning staffer Robert Farrell opened the staff presentation and reminded the board that preliminary forums are informational: neither staff nor the planning board will make a formal recommendation tonight, and the Board of Commissioners must later hold a quasi‑judicial hearing that requires sworn testimony and four statutory findings, including that the proposed use will not materially endanger public health or safety and will be in harmony with the area.

The applicant presented a revised plan that the attorney described as “materially different” from a denied 2023 application. The applicant’s attorney, identified in the record as Corey (attorney for the applicant), said the new proposal reduces the previous request from 444 units (10.2 du/acre) to a maximum of 291 units at 6.75 du/acre and would set aside a 35% minimum open space required by the UDO for an additional dwelling allowance. Corey told the board the…