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Pender County staff previews second round of public outreach for Imagine Pender 2050 plan
Summary
Planning staff told commissioners the county will begin a second round of public engagement next week on the Imagine Pender 2050 comprehensive land‑use plan and described the plan’s structure, key vision themes and example implementation actions.
Planning Director Ken Adams told the Pender County Board of Commissioners on April 22 that staff will open a second community engagement window next week for Imagine Pender 2050, the county’s comprehensive land‑use plan update.
Adams said the county used a fall round of public engagement to draft goals, policies and actions and will now return to the public to ask, “How did we understand your information correctly? Did we get this right?” He said five in‑person meetings are scheduled in Hampstead, Burgaw, Penderly, Currie and Rocky Point, along with an online survey and other comment channels.
The presentation explained the plan’s organization: high‑level vision themes funnel into goals, then policies and finally actionable tasks. Adams listed three proposed vision themes: “coordinate growth, preservation and infrastructure,” “support the county’s fiscal health,” and “maintain a high quality of life.” He gave examples such as a goal of “safe and efficient transportation,” a policy to “require connectivity in multimodal transportation systems,” and actions including installation requirements for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in new development.
Commissioners asked how the plan would ensure developers deliver sidewalks and bike facilities. Adams said the county can use conditional‑zoning conditions and site‑plan requirements to require construction or, alternatively, codify in‑lieu fee options (per‑foot payments held in a fund until a segment can be completed). He also described coordination with the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and noted that county governments do not control street rights‑of‑way in the same way municipalities do.
Adams said staff has a grant approved through the WMPO for a multi‑use path connecting Kiwanis Park to U.S. 17 and Topsail schools. He urged commissioners to expect a plan review and approval request in the coming months once public feedback is incorporated.
Adams closed by directing residents to pindercountync.gov/imagine for details and invited commissioners and residents to contact Communications Manager Brandy Cobb with questions.
If commissioners approve the plan later this year, staff expects to follow the document’s actions with text amendments and implementation steps tied to the county’s regulations and budget process.
