Leland council postpones decision on Mallory Creek mixed-use rezoning after residents raise concerns

The Leland Town Council on Jan. 21 postponed a final decision on a conditional zoning map amendment for the Mallory Creek Mixed Use Project after residents and council members said they needed more time and outreach.

The proposal, submitted by Thomas & Hutton on behalf of landowner/developer interests including D.R. Horton, would rezone roughly 31.5 acres now zoned PUD and C1 to conditional R6 (medium‑density residential) and conditional C1 (commercial). The site plan presented to council shows 127 townhomes, about 30,000 square feet of commercial space (5,000 square feet of restaurant, 15,000 square feet of retail and 10,000 square feet of office), and roughly 17 acres designated as common area, recreation and green space. The applicant described the development as a neighborhood node with sidewalks, multi‑use paths and a commercial courtyard with a small stage.

Council discussed traffic, tree preservation, stormwater capacity and the loss of commercial acreage in the town’s Highway 133 corridor. Planning staff said the application included a tree survey identifying a 15‑inch sweetgum, several maples (including two 12‑inch maples) and three live oaks in the Mallory Creek Drive right of way; those live oaks are adjacent to but not inside the project boundary. Staff also reported that the applicant would be required to submit a traffic impact analysis (TIA) and final stormwater plans during the technical review committee (TRC) phase if the rezoning proceeds.

Residents who spoke during the public hearing voiced mixed views. Some said the proposed plan is a reasonable compromise that preserves buffers between new development and existing homes, adds walkable retail and would include the Gullah Geechee Heritage Trail alignment. Others said the property was designated commercial for decades and urged the council to retain more commercial acreage at the River Road (NC 133) intersection. Several speakers asked for another public presentation specifically addressed to Mallory Creek Plantation residents about how the project would affect HOA amenities, pools, clubhouse space, and traffic on Mallory Creek Drive.

Planning staff described the site as split between high development potential and resource‑oriented development potential on the town’s Future Land Use Map. The staff presentation listed estimated vehicle trips from the proposed plan at about 24,100 average daily trips with roughly 170 AM peak trips and 226 PM peak trips; the presentation said the planning capacity of NC 133 in that area is about 15,000 but cited a 2022 count of about 66,100 annual average daily trips. Staff recommended requiring a TIA and stormwater designs sized to town standards through the TRC if the rezoning proceeds.

Applicant representatives said the design reduces density from an earlier denied proposal, increases on‑site open space, incorporates 1.1 miles of multi‑use path they said could serve as the first Gullah Geechee Trail segment west of the river, and limits permitted commercial uses within the conditional district to the uses shown on the site plan (restaurant, retail, office). The applicant also said commercial acreage would be retained by the seller rather than conveyed immediately for speculative commercial development.

After extended council discussion about outreach and commercial acreage on NC 133, Councilmember Richard moved to postpone the decision. The motion to postpone passed; the council set a new hearing for Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. and requested that the applicants and the Mallory Creek HOA provide another public presentation before that date. The council did not adopt a final vote on the rezoning at the Jan. 21 meeting.