Pender County weighs $500,000 utility relocation for Amazon last-mile site as commissioners split on timing

Pender County commissioners heard an update on activity at Pender Commerce Park and debated whether the county should contribute $500,000 to relocate county utilities so an Amazon last-mile distribution facility can complete driveway work.

Miss Blue, county economic-development staff, told the board the request is for a $500,000 contribution to move county utility lines so the Amazon last-mile facility can construct its entrances; she said the appropriation must be made by separate action after the public hearing. "They are doing some site work, and we are asking to use this $500,000 to lower some of the utilities...so that they may have ample depth and protection for the lines," she said.

Wilmington Business Development (WBD) briefed commissioners on the park's pipeline of projects, including "Project Whale," a ~3.2 million-square-foot Amazon robotic sorting facility expected to create roughly 1,000 jobs, and a "Project Tuna" last-mile facility of about 140,000 square feet projected to add about 100 full-time and 200 part-time delivery jobs. WBD estimated existing tenant tax revenue of about $500,000 per year and said the pipeline could raise that to roughly $2,000,000 annually — "equivalent to 2¢ on our tax rate," the presenter said.

Commissioners pressed staff and WBD on several points: whether the developers or Amazon had been asked to contribute to the relocation; why the county was asked this late in site work; whether local contractors and subs will be prioritized; and whether the new facilities will favor automated work over local hires. WBD said early contracting for the specialized, robotic facility required nationally approved contractors and that recruitment typically draws from a multi-county labor shed; the presenter said Amazon starting pay is "in the early twenties" and emphasized benefits.

Several commissioners said they support bringing the jobs but criticized the late-stage ask and requested clearer cost-sharing and timeline information. After debate, a motion to table was discussed and a subsequent motion to approve the appropriation failed for lack of a second. No appropriation was adopted at the meeting.

What happens next: Staff said the driveway work cannot be completed to the developer's specifications until the utility relocations are done, which could delay parts of construction. Miss Blue and WBD said they will continue to refine cost estimates and return to the board with clearer information about developer contributions and potential timing for any county investment.

Quotes

"They're asking us to contribute to move our lines down," Miss Blue said during the discussion of the item.

"Once we bring on what's in the works now, it'll be upwards of $2,000,000," WBD said of projected tax revenue from current pipeline projects.

Outcome

The board considered but did not approve the requested $500,000 contribution; staff will report back with additional detail and cost-sharing options.

Background

The matter arose from item 5.2 on the agenda, a public hearing and later action item. County staff cited statutory authority for economic-development expenditures when introducing the public hearing; commissioners asked for greater clarity on developer responsibility and timing before approving any county contribution.