Surf City council approves 46.4‑acre mixed‑use rezoning with phasing and 70/30 commercial requirement

Surf City Council approved a conditional rezoning that clears the way for a mixed‑use development across approximately 46.4 acres owned by Doug Medlin, adopting a phasing plan and adding a commercial‑first condition to limit the build‑out balance between commercial and residential uses.

Town planner Jeremy Smith described the concept plan as a three‑phase mixed‑use development: initial commercial buildings along NC‑50, followed by residential structures and later infill. The submitted plan includes commercial buildings, mixed commercial/office buildings with residential above, and a 67‑unit townhome component toward the rear of the site.

Planning staff and the planning board recommended approval but requested a commitment on the order of development so the commercial frontage is built first. Council members discussed the mechanism and agreed to add a 30/70 (commercial/residential) control to the conditional zoning to ensure the commercial portion is developed in the early phases. Attorney and applicant representatives confirmed they would accept the phasing and 30/70 condition.

Richard Collier, representing the applicant’s engineer, told council the owner is amenable to phasing the project from the street inward and will coordinate the traffic, stormwater and other technical elements during site‑plan review.

The rezoning was approved with the phasing and the added 30/70 ratio condition; site plan review will govern technical approvals, traffic impact analyses and final TIA‑driven mitigation. The council’s action ties zoning to the concept plan and conditions; any material changes will require further council review or revision to the conditional ordinance.