Planning board recommends rezoning at 6312 Castlehane Road for nursery and contractor office with conditions

Wilmington New Hanover County Feb. 5, 2025 The New Hanover County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of a rezoning request for 1.97 acres at 6312 Castlehane Road to a conditional Commercial Services (CS) district, allowing a landscape contractor office, retail and wholesale nursery and a live-work caretaker unit under several conditions intended to limit impacts on nearby residences.

The proposal, filed as Z25-01 by Design Solutions on behalf of property owner Ricardo Santiago, would rezone the parcel from R-15 residential to CS with conditions that include removal of the existing circular driveway, preservation of a 35-foot buffer behind the existing buildings, a 20-foot Type A buffer on remaining property lines, limits on exterior lighting, restricted hours of operation and a prohibition on storing or staging heavy contractor equipment on-site. The boardmember who moved the recommendation read the conditions into the record before the vote.

Staff presented the request and recommended approval with five conditions, concluding that the proposed uses align with the Comprehensive Plancommunity mixed-use place type and that the site is a low traffic generator located near other commercial uses. Planning staff said the CS district was…