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Onslow Planning Board unanimously recommends denial of D.R. Horton's Starling Cove conditional rezoning after resident objections
Summary
After extensive public comment on traffic, stormwater and infrastructure capacity, the Onslow County Planning Board on May 7 recommended denial of D.R. Horton's conditional rezoning (CREZ-2026-00002) from RA to CZ R-10; the motion passed unanimously and will be forwarded as the Board's advisory recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
The Onslow County Planning Board unanimously recommended denial on May 7 of a conditional rezoning request from D.R. Horton for the Starling Cove subdivision, citing widespread resident concerns about traffic, stormwater management and local infrastructure capacity.
Planner Joseph Bauer introduced the proposal and noted the application seeks to rezone the property from Rural Agricultural (RA) to Conditional R-10 (CZ R-10). Applicant representative Grayson Morgan said the company refiled the request after a previous RA-to-R-8M application was withdrawn and that the current request reduces density. Morgan described the R-10 proposal as having minimum 10,000-square-foot lots, with 77 lots under that size and 53 lots above it, and said the applicant would propose two right-turn lanes into the subdivision subject to NCDOT approval. Morgan said the project has a will-serve letter from ONWASA and that stormwater would be handled through infiltration basins and state stormwater permits.
"We estimate around $300,000 per year in tax revenue for the proposed homes," Morgan said, adding the company's stated goal is to build homes for the working class.
Multiple nearby residents pressed the Board with specific infrastructure concerns. Carl Priechenfried cited traffic volume and safety on Queens Creek Road and questioned whether the proposed right-turn lanes would be functional. Residents also raised concerns about the Queens Creek Bridge, local culverts and shoulders, stormwater runoff and water quality, school capacity, emergency evacuation routes during hurricanes and ONWASA's ability to serve additional development.
Marilyn Bunce, the Board's chair, clarified that rezoning conditions can limit the number of homes: under the current conditional proposal the applicant indicated they would build no more than 130 homes. Tim McCurry noted that the proposal "may fall under the special requirement from the base," flagging potential additional review or coordination.
Board members briefly discussed whether NCDOT would approve the proposed turning lanes; Morgan said NCDOT must review and approve any road work. Director Carter Metcalf recommended staff contact NCDOT about roadway drainage ditches at Queens Creek Road and Bear Creek Road.
After public comment and staff discussion, Roger Brown moved to recommend denial of CREZ-2026-00002; Brandon Howard seconded. The motion to recommend denial, and a separate motion to deny the required consistency statement, passed by unanimous vote. The Planning Board's actions are advisory and will be transmitted to the Board of Commissioners for final action.
The Board adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
