Onslow County commissioners approve three rezonings, accept land donation and award $12.36 million renovation contract

The Onslow County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 approved three separate rezoning requests, accepted a 171-acre donation located behind the county landfill and awarded a $12,356,800 construction contract for a multipurpose building renovation.

The board approved the Sheffield rezoning (Z-2024-16), the Collins Acres rezoning (PREZ-2024-21) and the Cotton Hill rezoning (PREZ-2024-22) after staff presentations and public hearings. Each item passed on voice votes with no recorded opposition during the meeting.

Planning staff presented each rezoning as a "downzoning" request: Sheffield from R-8M to Rural Agriculture (RA); Collins Acres from R-15 to RA across five parcels totaling 58.60 acres; and Cotton Hill from R-15 to RA across two parcels totaling about 134.36 acres. Staff told commissioners that the proposals align with the county's comprehensive plan designations for rural residential or agriculture/forestry and that planning board recommended approval of all three requests.

Also on the agenda, Solid Waste Director Jamie Harrell asked the board to accept a donation of 171 acres from Matt Glover behind the county landfill. Harrell told commissioners the property contains fill material the county can use for daily landfill cover and space for laydown yards; the board voted to accept the donation and authorized the county manager and county attorney to sign required documents.

For capital improvements, county staff recommended awarding the renovation contract for the multipurpose building to Clancy & Theis Construction Company as the lowest responsive bidder. County staff reported five responsible bidders and presented a low bid of $12,356,800; the board voted to award the contract and authorize the chair to sign.

Votes at a glance: • Rezoning Z-2024-16 (Sheffield): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Staff presentation: Carter Metcalf. Applicant: Mark Sheffield. • Rezoning PREZ-2024-21 (Collins Acres): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Applicant: John L. Pierce/John L. Pierce & Associates; owners: Diversified Investors and Atlantic Construction. • Rezoning PREZ-2024-22 (Cotton Hill): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Applicant: John L. Pierce/John L. Pierce & Associates; owner: Beaver Creek Investors Inc. • Glover land donation (171 acres behind landfill): Accepted; county manager and county attorney authorized to sign documents (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Presenter: Jamie Harrell. • Multipurpose building renovation contract: Awarded to Clancy & Theis Construction Company for $12,356,800; chair authorized to sign (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Presenter: Warren (county staff).

Each rezoning request included staff analysis of utilities, fire district ISO ratings, school capacity projections and environmental constraints. Commissioners did not record roll-call tallies; motions were made and approved by voice with "aye" responses and no recorded "no" votes during the meeting.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that the rezoning requests were consistent with the comprehensive plan objectives cited in staff reports and that environmental or infrastructure requirements would be addressed during subsequent development-review processes. The board directed staff to execute standard follow-up documents as part of the approvals.

The board's actions conclude a meeting that also included a public comment period with residents raising separate issues about a private shooting range and private road maintenance.