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Council approves rezoning request for 130.97-acre parcel at 233 Quill Drive
Summary
After a public hearing with neighbors and a developer presentation, Whiteville's council approved a rezoning request that designates roughly 17.2 acres B-3 (highway-service business) and about 113.8 acres R-6 (higher-density residential); annexation will be addressed in a future proceeding and detailed site plans will return for review.
The Whiteville City Council voted to approve a rezoning request for a 130.97-acre parcel at 233 Quill Drive after a public hearing and discussion about traffic, buffers and future site plans.
Staff described the application from AMC 2 LLC (agent Miss Carlson Graham) as a split rezoning that would reclassify roughly 17.21 acres to B-3 (highway-service business) and 113.76 acres to R-6 (higher-density residential). A city staff member explained that the site is currently in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and that annexation, which would make the property subject to city ordinances and taxes, will be handled in a separate public hearing and process. The staff presentation noted that the city's land-use plan is about nine years old and that, while the rezoning conflicts in parts with the plan, staff views the request as consistent with current policy strategies for mixed-use and workforce housing near major transportation corridors.
Developer Austin Gray of DRG said the B-3 portion is intended for highway-facing commercial uses — "not industrial warehousing, not manufacturing" — and that the project team is considering multiple options to protect neighborhood character, including preserving Quail Drive or routing access via an upgraded Alligator Run Road. Gray said the developer has discussed access and sight-distance concerns with DOT and plans environmental delineations for wetlands if the project proceeds.
Residents at the public hearing raised concerns about rural character, the potential effect on farm animals and privacy, and increased traffic close to backyards. "We lived in the country because we like the aspects it brings to our lifestyle," one resident said. Council members questioned staff and the developer about lot sizes, setbacks and likely traffic impacts; staff noted that B-3 is a broad designation used for shopping centers and highway-service business and that many details will be resolved at the special-use and site-plan stages when council can impose conditions.
Chair (speaker 1) framed the vote in terms of managing growth and expanding the tax base. A motion to approve the rezoning and to proceed with the annexation process as outlined was made, seconded and carried by the council. Council members instructed staff that the annexation and detailed design documents would return to the council in future hearings for additional review and potential conditions.
