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Council approves downtown zoning change to allow limited semi-permanent accessory structures
Summary
Council adopted an amendment to the Land Development Code permitting one semi-permanent accessory structure per lot in the Central Business District for food-and-beverage service as an accessory to an existing principal restaurant or nightclub, with size, orientation and historic-overlay conditions; planning staff and the applicant said the change accommodates adaptive reuse without undermining CBD design standards.
By unanimous vote on May 4 the Wilmington City Council approved a staff-recommended amendment to the Land Development Code to allow semi-permanent accessory structures in the Central Business District (CBD) subject to conditions.
Planner Grace LeMay told council the proposal was applicant-initiated following a board-of-adjustment variance request and was reviewed by staff and the planning commission. The amendment would allow no more than one semi-permanent accessory structure per lot, restrict their use to food-and-beverage service as an accessory to an existing restaurant or nightclub, cap maximum size, and require placement and orientation rules so that narrow facades face primary frontages and historic-preservation review where applicable.
Applicant Joseph Hepp Carrion, owner of the Eagles Dare at 420 North Third Street, said the semi-permanent structure on his site already serves as an ancillary bar for larger events and storage and that the text amendment resolves an implementation gap in current CBD design standards.
Planning staff recommended approval as consistent with the Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan and the planning commission voted to recommend approval with additional orientation conditions. Councilmember Clinton Quintana moved to find the amendment consistent with the comprehensive plan and to approve; Mayor Pro Tem Spears seconded. Council voted aye and later waived second reading, passing the item on second reading the same night.
The amendment applies only to accessory structures on lots with principal buildings existing as of 05/04/2026; staff said new development will still be held to full CBD design standards.
