Pender County commissioners approve rezoning of 1.33-acre parcel on U.S. 17 to General Business

The Pender County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning request to change a 1.33-acre parcel along U.S. Highway 17 from the Residential Performance zoning district to the General Business zoning district during a meeting discussion of rezoning case 2025-89.

Pender County planning staff recommended approval, citing the parcel's location adjacent to existing commercial uses, utilities and road infrastructure. Marcy Waters, a Pender County staff member, told the board the parcel is across U.S. Highway 17 from the Holly Shelter Game Lands, sits adjacent to Surf City's jurisdiction and is surrounded by zoning that includes Environmental Conservation, General Business, Rural Agricultural and Residential Performance. "The applicant and owner, Mr. Clay Harvey, is requesting approval of a general use zoning map amendment to rezone 1 parcel totaling approximately 1.33 acres from the residential performance zoning district to the general business zoning district," Waters said.

Waters said the subject property is currently undeveloped and noted that a nearby property across U.S. 17 was rezoned to General Business in March. She told commissioners that although the proposed rezoning is inconsistent with the medium-density-residential future land use category for the parcel, it is most consistent with the neighborhood mixed-use designation that applies to parcels north of Perkins Drive; staff said the county's future land use map would be updated if the rezoning were approved. Waters also noted that available traffic information consisted only of volume counts at two locations on U.S. 17 and Perkins Drive.

The county's staff report summarized dimensional standards for the General Business district and listed permitted uses: within the General Business Zoning District one residential use is permitted, 87 nonresidential uses are permitted outright and 16 additional nonresidential uses are permitted with a special-use permit, Waters said. The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of rezoning case 2025-89 at its June 3 meeting, according to staff.

Applicant and property owner Clay Harvey described his intended use if rezoning were approved: "just steel metal buildings for trades guys," meaning commercial flex space with roll-up doors for trade contractors. Harvey said he has plans ready and that similar buildings nearby are in commercial use. He also said property owners in the area were notified; he reported no neighbor objections at the meeting.

Commissioner George made a motion "to approve the zoning map amendment and make the finding that the proposal is consistent with Pender 2 comprehensive land use plan," referencing Policy 5.1(c), (d), (e), (k) and Goal 5.8 as noted in the staff report. Commissioner Groves seconded the motion. The board voted by voice; the motion carried with all members saying "aye." No amendments or conditions were recorded in the motion.

Staff noted that the county's official map and future land use designation would be updated to reflect the approved General Business designation. No additional follow-up tasks, permit approvals or effective dates were specified during the discussion recorded in the transcript.