County approves rezoning of 9.22-acre Blue Creek Road parcel despite flooding and school-capacity concerns

The Onslow County Board of Commissioners voted April 6 to rezone a 9.22-acre property at 1228 Blue Creek Road from Rural Agriculture (RA) to Residential-10 (R10), a change staff said aligns with the county’s suburban-growth future land-use designation.

Planning staff explained the change would allow moderate-density single-family and multifamily development and is consistent with the comprehensive plan’s intent to concentrate growth near Jacksonville. Carter Metaf, who presented the staff report, said the parcel lies outside most regulated floodplain but noted a stream and AE flood zone encroachments nearby and that two of three public schools serving the area — the elementary and the middle school — could be pushed over capacity if the rezoning were developed to its maximum yields.

Neighbors pressed commissioners on stormwater and drainage. Richard Shrum, who said he owns property adjacent to the site, told the board that heavy rains and development in nearby subdivisions overwhelm undersized culverts and ditches and that new roofs and driveways increase runoff. “All the water comes from East Gate subdivision…they don't have any retention ponds,” Shrum said, urging the county to require retention and larger on-site mitigation.

A representative for the applicant, who identified himself to the board during the hearing, said the project’s drainage discharges to Blue Creek rather than into roadside ditches and that he had raised undersized pipe concerns with the Department of Transportation.

County staff noted new subdivisions and multifamily projects must obtain state stormwater permits and mitigate runoff, but they said remedying drainage in an already built neighborhood is more difficult. Metaf said county staff raised the culvert and flooding concerns with the regional technical committee (JUMPO) and DOT, and that DOT has a Blue Creek Road widening project in right-of-way acquisition with proposed construction in 2031.

Commissioners asked whether the county could adopt a local stormwater ordinance to set stricter standards; staff said that would require the board to adopt and enforce a local ordinance and that the city of Jacksonville currently enforces its own stormwater regulations. Following discussion, the board approved the rezoning by voice vote and adopted a statement of consistency.

The board’s approval allows the property owner to apply for development review under R10 standards. The planning file notes required environmental reviews, and any wetlands or additional floodplain impacts must be addressed during site-plan and permitting stages.

The county did not record a roll-call vote in the public transcript; the motion was approved by voice and the chair was authorized to sign related documentation.

Next steps: the applicant will proceed with development review and required state stormwater permitting; staff said they will continue to coordinate with DOT and the school system about capacity and drainage concerns.