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Commissioners approve Eastfield rezoning to R‑15 despite school capacity concerns
Summary
The Onslow County Board of Commissioners voted to rezone 30.28 acres on Freedom Way from split designations to Residential‑15; planning staff and the developer said infrastructure can support suburban‑density homes, while residents and a planning board dissent raised flooding, tree‑loss and school overcrowding concerns.
The Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning for a 30.28‑acre parcel on Freedom Way on Monday, moving the property from split zoning (RA, R‑8M and Highway Business) to Residential‑15 (R‑15).
County planning staff told the board the parcel (tax map 1129‑16) falls on the boundary between the county’s suburban growth and rural residential areas and that R‑15 is intended for moderate‑density single‑family development in locations with adequate utilities and transportation. Planner Carter Metcalfe said two nearby schools — the elementary and middle schools serving the site — are already over capacity and that the property lies near a blue‑line stream (Hatchles Branch) and a flight path overlay for New River Air Station.
The Planning Board recommended approval 4–1; the lone dissent cited school and roadway capacity. At the public hearing developer Josh Edmonson of Tidewater Associates said the rezoning does not increase overall density but allows the project to place lots on better soils and avoid unstable areas. “Our density is not increasing, it’s not a request for density, it’s purely to utilize our good soils,” Edmonson said.
A neighbor, Candace Champney, said she was relieved the developer removed a proposed neighborhood access road through the adjacent mobile home park but urged the commissioners to “pause” rezonings until the county adopts stronger local controls on roads, drainage and schools. “Until we finally get local control on a binding plan that respects our roads, our drainage, and our schools, hold the rezoning,” Champney said.
Staff said the concept plan shows a maximum of 44 lots and that the developer committed to buffers adjacent to the mobile home park and to locating primary access on U.S. 24 rather than through the existing residential subdivision. Planning staff flagged that the elementary and middle schools are projected over capacity, while high school capacity remains.
After the public hearing, a motion to approve the rezoning carried; the roll call vote was not recorded in the public audio. No amendments or conditions beyond the site‑plan and standard engineering reviews were noted in the board record during the meeting.
The rezoning clears an early administrative step; final subdivision approvals, stormwater permitting and any required infrastructure improvements remain part of future technical reviews.
Meeting documents list the applicant as Tidewater Associates and the owner as Lighthouse Realty Holdings LLC. The Planning Board noted citizen concerns about potential tree removal, drainage toward Magnolia Drive and traffic cut‑throughs; those issues will be addressed during engineering review and site‑plan review if the project proceeds.
