Residents press commissioners on development, blocked access and transparency during public comment

At the Aug. 18 meeting of the Pender County Board of Commissioners, a string of public commentators raised complaints about local development practices, access to private property, the county's use of closed sessions and requests for more town halls.

Jacob Farrow, a 4-H youth representative, and other introductory items opened the meeting. During the public comment period, Jennifer Hornacek described losing access to her family driveway after the Vineyard Trace subdivision was approved and fenced by the HOA. Hornacek said the final plat did not reflect her driveway and that grading created a ditch through an access easement that leaves the dirt road impassable in rain, potentially blocking fire and EMS access. She told commissioners: "No one should have to go through what I'm going through." County staff said they had the property identification and were coordinating with departments to review the documents.

Maple Hill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Harold Motley asked the board to exclude his volunteer department from a planned merger with county emergency services, arguing the nonprofit model maintains volunteers and that the planned merger could increase costs and risk reductions in service levels. He requested continued contracting and paid-staff support rather than full inclusion in the merger.

Other speakers pressed for greater transparency: Sherry Proctor urged the board to follow North Carolina statutes on closed sessions and public notice and to keep more extensive minutes; several others asked for town halls in Hampstead and for commissioners who represent those areas to meet with residents. Anne Deaton presented a petition with more than 1,000 signatures asking the county and planning boards to adopt a temporary moratorium on permitting new residential developments in Hampstead until two years after the bypass is fully in use, citing safety and crash data presented in the meeting packet.

Residents also raised building- and health-related concerns: Beth Butler requested the status and results of mold remediation at Topsail Middle School and whether school bond funds remained available for remediation work; Greg Long appealed for stronger code-enforcement tools to address illegal RVs and long-term occupancy he said created safety and nuisance problems on nearby properties.

Several commenters demanded clearer, faster notice when boards appoint or reappoint members and asked that appointees be current residents of Pender County. There were repeated calls for staff and commissioners to provide follow-up to public commenters after the meeting.

What the board said: Manager and staff members acknowledged receipt of complaints and told speakers the county would coordinate interdepartmental reviews (planning, emergency management, sheriff's office, code enforcement and administration) and follow up. For some items staff identified next steps (for example, coordinate a meeting on the RV issue and review Vineyard Trace documents), while other requests were referred to future agenda items or follow-up outside the meeting.

Why it matters: Speakers described localized safety risks (blocked access for emergency vehicles, drainage/ditch work in an access easement) and broad frustration with development patterns and openness in county decision-making. Several matters raised — moratorium requests, merger scope for volunteer fire departments, and code enforcement powers — will likely require administrative follow-up or future formal agenda action by the board.

The board did not take formal action on these public-comment items during the meeting; in several cases staff said they would follow up with the residents and report back on potential remedies or next steps.