Planning panel backs comprehensive‑plan change for Kate Estates but stops short on rezoning

The Southampton County Planning Commission voted to recommend a comprehensive‑plan amendment for the Kate Estates subdivision on Monday but failed to reach a recommendation on the companion rezoning request.

Stewart Bonnell, the project’s engineer, told the commission the proposal would create a two‑phase, single‑family subdivision called Kate Estates with 45 total lots (28 in phase one, 17 in phase two) on about 14.85 acres proposed to be redesignated from commercial to low‑density residential. “Phase 1 is a proposed 28 residential lot subdivision,” Bonnell said, adding that phase 2 would require rezoning from A‑1 to R‑2.

The commission’s decision came after roughly two hours of technical questions and public comment focusing on stormwater, septic and sewer availability, sight‑distance at the proposed road entrance, and a pending wetland delineation. Commissioners pressed the developer on stormwater design: the project team said the subdivision would use a DEQ‑compliant wet pond…