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Residents urge county leaders to address rapid growth, healthcare shortages, burning practices and water quality
Summary
Multiple residents used public comment to press commissioners on development approval standards, a shortage of doctors and emergency services, uncontrolled debris burns by developers, and longstanding water-quality problems in older neighborhoods.
Multiple Brunswick County residents pressed the Board of Commissioners during the public comment period to address consequences of rapid population growth and development.
Shirley Sullivan told commissioners she had “to reschedule my cardiologist” and asked what the county was doing to remedy doctor and emergency‑care shortages. “Is it a good thing to be the fastest growing county in the state?” she asked, warning that growth without infrastructure strains services.
Other speakers urged stricter oversight of developer debris burns following a large, close‑call burn in Leland. Judy Andrasak said developers are “issued burn permits by the state” and described unattended clear‑cut piles that smolder for days, arguing prolonged smoke exposures worsen respiratory conditions. She urged county action and pointed to neighboring localities that have enacted burn bans.
Longtime residents from older neighborhoods described rust‑stained well water and health consequences they attribute to poor water quality. Arthur Stevens, speaking for his Marlborough area neighborhood, said families have fought for clean water for decades and asked the county to take action so older neighborhoods do not lag behind new developments that receive water service more quickly.
Nut graf: Public comments highlighted a recurring theme across speakers: residents feel county systems and services are not keeping pace with growth and asked for stronger enforcement and planning to protect public health and infrastructure.
Other commentators asked the county to consider a temporary moratorium on new developments until the county addresses school capacity, medical services, road improvements, flood protections and emergency response capacity. Several speakers referenced the county’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and urged commissioners to use growth limits and plan review policies to manage the pace of approvals.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and indicated staff will continue working on planning, public‑health and enforcement responses; the UDO revision discussion later in the meeting responded in part to these public comments.
