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Pender County Planning Board OKs rezoning for 1.33-acre parcel on U.S. 17
Summary
The Pender County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of a zoning map amendment to rezone a 1.33-acre parcel on U.S. Highway 17 from Residential Performance to General Business.
The Pender County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of a zoning map amendment for one 1.33-acre parcel along U.S. Highway 17, moving the property from Residential Performance (RP) to General Business (GB). The board approved the recommendation at its June meeting; the case will be considered by the Pender County Board of Commissioners at its July 14 meeting.
County planner Marcy Waters presented the case (rezoning case 2025-89) and said CLH Building Group is the owner as of April 15 and the parcel is adjacent to existing commercial uses. "The rezoning is supported by one goal and four policies in the comprehensive land use plan," Waters told the board, and staff recommended approval.
Applicant Clay Arbic (describing his plans for the site) told the board he intends to build a small flex-space building for trades—"a square up to 5,000 square foot building to roll up doors and 500 square foot of office space"—but Waters and board members emphasized that a general-use rezoning allows any permitted use in the GB district, not only the applicant’s stated plan.
Board members asked about dimensional standards, buffers and setbacks. Waters said the UDO establishes the dimensional standards and that a C buffer between commercial and residential uses would require a fully opaque six-foot screen. Board member comments noted the parcel’s visibility from U.S. 17 and recent rezonings nearby. Several members said the request was consistent with a commercial pattern developing along the corridor.
Chairman Damien Buchanan called for a motion; a board member moved to approve the zoning map amendment and to find the proposal consistent with the Pender Comprehensive Land Use Plan, citing policies noted in the staff report. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Buchanan confirmed the case will be transmitted to the county commissioners for final action on July 14 in Hampstead.
The board’s recommendation does not by itself change zoning; it is advisory to the Board of Commissioners, which makes the final legislative decision. If the commission approves, the future land use map would be updated to Neighborhood Mixed Use for the parcel, per Waters’ presentation.
Ending: The board recorded the recommendation and moved to the next agenda item. The applicant and staff will attend the July 14 county commissioners meeting for final consideration.
