Residents voice traffic concerns as Planning Board considers rezoning near Natalie Commons Drive

Lincoln County planning staff presented Zoning Map Amendment (ZMA) 768, a request from Pierce Real Estate Holdings LLC to rezone a 2.0-acre parcel from IG (Industrial General) to BN (Neighborhood Business) on the north side of Natalie Commons Drive.

Staff said the parcel lies in the Eastern Lincoln Development District overlay and that the county’s land-use plan designates this area as a suburban commercial center suitable for neighborhood-serving commercial uses. Staff explained that the proposed BN district allows lower-intensity commercial uses than the existing IG district — examples discussed included small offices, dry-cleaning, and neighborhood retail uses generally limited to buildings up to 10,000 square feet.

Commissioners asked whether the site is adjacent to Dry Pond Pet Resort; staff confirmed it is. The applicant’s representative, Cassidy Machado Michelle, said the applicant was not in attendance and that the rezoning is intended to make the site more marketable in line with the land-use plan rather than to permit a specific identified use.

Several residents who live adjacent to the parcel spoke during the public hearing. Marie Scheip (7215 Indigo Way), who lives closest to the site, said the parcel is now wooded and expressed concern about traffic increases, noise, vandalism and loss of tree cover. Jessica Colson (7211 Indigo Way) said she was worried about possible uses — specifically saying she did not want a bar at the site — and cited traffic and vandalism concerns.

The chair closed the public hearing for ZMA 768 with no final decision recorded in the meeting transcript; the planning board moved on to the next zoning case and recessed for deliberation.