Planning Board recommends denying rezoning of 20.55-acre Hidden River Way parcel

The Town of North Wilkesboro Planning Board on Feb. 12 recommended denying a request to rezone a 20.55‑acre parcel off Hidden River Way from Planned Development Conditional District (PD‑CD) to Rural Residential (R‑20).

Planning and Inspections Director Joseph Kamperman told the board the property currently functions as a nonconforming manufactured‑home park and that the Future Land Use Map in the town's Comprehensive Plan designates the site as high‑density residential. He said the parcel abuts light industrial, general business and low‑density residential zoning, and noted the town's water and sewer extend to the property line but cross private property past that point and are privately maintained.

Applicant Rick Del Carlo, who said he previously sought the rezoning in 2021 and was denied by the Board of Commissioners, told the board the intent was to return manufactured homes to the site and that his partners could move homes "immediately" subject to availability. He acknowledged that any manufactured‑home park would have to meet supplemental standards for the district before additional homes could be placed.

After opening and then closing a public hearing, the Planning Board voted 5‑1 to deny the proposed zoning map amendment. Commissioner Ron Myers read the proposed consistency statement into the record: "I move to adopt the proposed Consistency Statement dated February 12, 2026, contained in the agenda materials, and to deny the proposed zoning map amendment in regards to Parcel ID 1402717 off of Hidden River Way from PD‑CD Planned Development Conditional District to R‑20 Rural Residential." Jim Murphy cast the sole dissenting vote.

In its adopted finding, the board concluded the proposed R‑20 designation would be incompatible with adjacent land uses and inconsistent with specific Comprehensive Plan policies, including Goal B.1 (flexible land use controls) and Policy 16 (field verification of existing land use). Director Kamperman emphasized that the Planning Department provides ordinance and plan facts to the board, while the Planning Board furnishes a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.

The Planning Board's recommendation is advisory; the Board of Commissioners will make the final decision at a later meeting. The Planning Board packet lists the applicant's submission date as Dec. 18, 2025, and public notice was published in the Wilkes‑Journal Patriot and mailed to surrounding property owners.