Commissioners approve two small rezoning requests near Sand Ridge and Burggo Highway

The Onslow County Board of Commissioners voted March 4 to approve two separate zoning map amendments seeking to change small parcels from Rural Agriculture to Community Business.

Joseph Bower, the county’s senior planner, presented PRZ 2025-29 (Buckold), a 0.75-acre parcel (tax map 1315-203.3) just south of Sand Ridge Road. Bower said the parcel is adjacent to land already zoned community business and that the Highway has capacity for additional trips; he noted Swansboro Middle School was projected over capacity and said that multifamily development permitted in the CB district could affect schools. The county planning board recommended unanimous approval. The board opened and closed the hearing with no public speakers and approved the rezoning by voice vote.

Bower then presented PRZ 2025-30 (Yates), a 1.97-acre parcel (tax map 324-191) at Burggo Highway that is also proposed to move from Rural Agriculture to Community Business. He told commissioners the property lies within a suburban growth corridor and within a half-mile of several voluntary agricultural districts; school capacity in nearby elementary and middle schools was noted as a potential concern. Applicant representative John Pierce spoke to the item and described the parcel’s history and its consistency with neighboring development. After commissioners asked about multifamily density and review standards, the board voted unanimously to approve PRZ 2025-30.

Both approvals included adoption of statements of consistency with the Horizon 2040 comprehensive plan and authorization for the chair to sign necessary documents.