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Planning commission denies three related comprehensive-plan amendment requests for parcels near Highways 258/189
Summary
After public comment and extended debate, the Southampton County Planning Commission voted to deny three related comprehensive-plan amendment applications that would have opened roughly 1,366 acres to residential and industrial uses. Commissioners cited the recently updated comprehensive plan, infrastructure and school-capacity concerns, and precedent-setting risks.
The Southampton County Planning Commission on the evening it met denied three related applications that would have revised the county's future land-use map for multiple parcels near Highways 258 and 189.
Troy Brinkley, who spoke for his family and associated Miller Farms, asked the commission to amend the comprehensive plan so the properties could later be rezoned to allow residential subdivisions and light industrial uses. "What we're requesting tonight is a comprehensive plan amendment to be added to the future land use plan for 2035," Brinkley said, describing sandy soils, prior sand removal activity on the property and plans for future rezoning and studies if the plan change were approved.
Opponents at the public hearing urged the commission to preserve farmland and warned of costs. "We spent a long time putting a comprehensive plan together ... I don't see us willy-nilly altering that," resident Gary Cross told commissioners, saying the county had just updated its plan. Neighbors and longtime farmers emphasized potential impacts on schools, roads and agricultural character.
Commission debate focused on whether approving large map changes so soon after the comprehensive-plan update would undercut the plan's integrity. Several commissioners said impact and traffic studies are typically produced at the rezoning stage and that the comp plan is intended to be a stable, long-range guide. Commissioner Gibbs moved to deny the three requests, citing the need to uphold the comprehensive plan and to avoid creating a precedent that would invite additional large scale changes.
The motion carried on a recorded show-of-hands vote the transcript records as seven in favor and one opposed. The commission closed the public hearings on the three items and will not forward a favorable recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for these applications.
The commission did not adopt any new requirements for future comp-plan amendments during the meeting. Applicants may revise and resubmit applications consistent with county procedure and public-notice rules.
The commission moved on to other agenda items and said staff would deliver the minutes and hearing records to applicants and the public ahead of the next meeting.
