Onslow commissioners approve four rezoning requests for sites across the county
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Summary
The Onslow County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved rezoning requests Wednesday for parcels in Richlands, Jacksonville, Stump Sound and White Oak townships, citing infrastructure availability and Planning Board recommendations; one applicant said a grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping center is intended to serve the area.
On Monday the Onslow County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve four separate zoning map amendments that county planners said align with the comprehensive plan and available infrastructure.
The first approval cleared a request by John L. Pierce & Associates on behalf of Robert and Rosemary Hemby to rezone about 18.93 acres at the intersection of Richlands Highway (U.S. 258) and Catherine's Lake Road to Highway Business. Planner Carter Metcalfe told commissioners the parcels have access to a 6‑inch Onwasa water main and nearby sewer force mains, and staff noted a 2023 traffic count of about 19,000 trips on that corridor. Developer representatives told the board they have interest from a grocery retailer and other neighborhood‑serving businesses. "We do have some interest from some businesses that would be really community‑related business," said John L. Pierce, the applicant representative.
Two additional rezoning requests were approved with little public opposition. PRMS Investments' application to rezone roughly 56 acres at 1945 Pony Farm Road from Rural Agriculture to Residential‑10 drew no public speakers; staff warned that a full multifamily buildout could push the adjacent middle school toward overcapacity but noted water service (14‑inch main) and a Planning Board recommendation for approval.
The board also approved a request to change a 3.93‑acre parcel on Wilmington Highway from Highway Business to Rural Agriculture (Ottaway Associates), with an owner representative noting the lot is accessed only by a 30‑foot easement and lacks sewer — factors supporting the RA designation. Finally, the board rezoned about 11.7 acres at 113 Nautical Wave Road from Residential‑20 to Rural Agriculture (Parrott), a change staff said supported rural preservation goals.
Each rezoning was accompanied by a staff analysis of environmental conditions, school impacts and infrastructure capacity; Planning Board hearings produced unanimous recommendations for approval in all four matters. Commissioners who spoke said they supported the actions while watching future traffic plans from NCDOT and school‑capacity implications.
The measures were adopted by motion and voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting minutes and there were no recorded dissenting votes.