Commission denies rezoning request that would have kept oversized Market Street sign

New Hanover County commissioners on June 1 unanimously denied a conditional rezoning request for 7650 Market Street that would have removed the county’s Special Highway Overlay District (SHOD) restrictions for an existing convenience store and its free‑standing sign.

The item drew an extended staff presentation and a lengthy applicant argument from attorney Colin Tarrant, who said the sign resulted from a permitting mistake and that the conditional rezoning would resolve a unique, site‑specific situation. Tarrant told the board, “We’re here on a conditional rezoning,” and argued the parcel’s history and location presented facts that justified a legislative accommodation.

Neighbors strongly opposed the request at the public hearing, raising lighting, safety and nuisance concerns. Joseph Davis said residents had repeatedly urged the owner to mitigate the sign and lighting and that they had not seen meaningful change: “He has not cutback on any of his lighting,” Davis said during public comment. Elizabeth Sites and other neighbors also described ongoing neighborhood impacts and urged adherence to SHOD standards.

County staff and the county manager noted an earlier agreement between the county and the property owner that required the sign to be removed, replaced or modified within an agreed period; the county manager said the county had permitted a noncompliant sign in error and that the intent of the agreement was to bring the sign into compliance.

After lengthy discussion about precedent, enforcement and the underlying agreement, a commissioner moved to deny the request; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously to deny the conditional rezoning. The board asked the applicant to continue discussions with planning staff about next steps.

What happens next: The denial preserves SHOD standards for the parcel; staff invited further conversations with the applicant about compliance options or alternative remedies.