Planning board recommends rezoning on Neuse Boulevard to ease split-zoning for businesses

NEW BERN — The New Bern Planning & Zoning Board on March 19 voted to recommend a city-initiated rezoning, REZ0033782026, that would convert multiple parcels on Neuse Boulevard to Commercial 3 (C-3) and change the Industrial-1 portion of a parcel on South Glenburnie Road to C-3 while leaving the rear R-15 (Residential-15) portion unchanged.

City planning staff (Peter) presented the request and told the board the Neuse Boulevard properties total about 4.52 acres and the South Glenburnie Road parcel about 3.89 acres. Peter said the change is intended to resolve split zoning that currently places C-3 uses adjacent to R-15 residential zoning and can prevent otherwise-permitted businesses from operating or expanding. “We’re trying to clean that up,” he said, describing the proposal as a conformity cleanup carried out with owner consent.

The presentation included a uses-comparison chart for C-3 versus R-15 and a map showing six locations affected by the proposal. Staff said permitted uses under C-3 better match the commercial strip on Neuse Boulevard, and noted an application already filed for multifamily development on a neighboring C-3 parcel that could use the rezoned area for parking or support. Staff emphasized the request was made with owner consent and is meant to be incremental rather than rezoning larger adjoining sections at once.

Board members asked several clarifying questions about the split boundary, access points and whether the multifamily applicant intended to purchase the entire tract or only part of it. Peter said access for the southern parcel would be from Martin Luther King Boulevard and that legal counsel for the applicant is still working through property details; he did not provide a definitive sale plan.

After discussion, a board member moved to adopt the required consistency statement and recommend the rezoning to the Board of Aldermen. The motion was seconded and, after a voice vote in which members answered “Aye,” the chair stated, “Motion carries.” The transcript records the vote outcome as carried but does not include a roll-call tally in the record.

No members of the public spoke during the three-minute public-comment invitation for this item.

The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Aldermen for final consideration. At the meeting the chair had no additional remarks; the board later heard a member’s report on a Main Street conference and staff reminded members about upcoming school development planning and zoning workshops in May.

What’s next: The Board of Aldermen will receive the recommendation and decide whether to adopt the rezoning ordinance. The transcript does not record a Board of Aldermen date or a staff-estimated hearing timeline for final action.