Planning commission recommends approval of 11‑acre Burnt Church Road rezoning

The Beaufort County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a zoning‑map amendment for an 11‑acre parcel on Burnt Church Road that is currently split between T4 Hamlet Center and T3 Hamlet Neighborhood. Staff told commissioners the amendment would consolidate the parcel into a single T3 Neighborhood designation to allow a single 50‑lot single‑family subdivision and correct a split‑zone mapping anomaly.

"For those reasons, staff recommends approval of this rezoning," Merchant, a county planning staff member, told the commission. Staff said the property sits near public sewer and that the change is consistent with the county’s future land‑use plan.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed the applicant and staff on resident displacement, occupancy and sewer capacity. Commissioner Ashley asked directly, "Where are those folks gonna go?" after staff and the applicant said the site now contains mobile home parks with some occupied units. Applicant representatives said they intend to pursue public water and sewer connections; the engineering consultant said there are about 40 units on the combined properties but could not confirm current occupancy for every unit.

After questions and public comment, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of the amendment to the Natural Resources Committee; the motion was seconded and the Planning Commission approved forwarding the recommendation.

Next steps: The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the county’s Natural Resources Committee and then to County Council, which makes the final zoning decision.