Planning board backs rezoning near Castle Hane Road with stormwater conditions

The New Hanover County Planning Board on March 5 recommended approval of rezoning request Z1705, a proposal to modify a conditional B-2 district covering three parcels near Castle Hane Road that includes the former Fire Station 13 site.

Staff planner Robert Farrell told the board the project would broaden permitted low‑intensity commercial uses, add a shared stormwater system and an outdoor storage area at 5307 Castle Hane Road, and retain a public access easement along the road. Farrell said staff’s recommendation was grounded in the 2016 comprehensive plan’s community mixed‑use place type and included conditions such as a solid privacy fence, landscape buffering, exterior lighting restrictions and stormwater management designed for 100‑year storm attenuation.

“For the record, this is consistent with the comprehensive plan and includes conditions to mitigate potential impacts on nearby residential development,” Farrell said.

The applicant’s representative, Cindy Wolf, said the revised concept largely reflects a 2017 approval and that the project would use existing well and septic utilities; she said the design will include an on‑site stormwater pond and buffers intended to reduce impacts on neighboring houses.

Resident Rick Wilson, who lives on Hyacinth Street, opposed approval unless long‑standing neighborhood drainage problems are addressed first. He described repeated flooding events since 1999 and said he and neighbors have suffered damage and continue to pay a stormwater surcharge despite unresolved issues.

“I’m asking that no more development be approved until mine and my neighbors’ flooding problems are addressed,” Wilson said.

County stormwater staff told the board that while neighborhood drainage issues predate the project, staff and the NCDOT have identified downstream measures — including a potential culvert and conveyance improvements on Garden Place Road — that could help. Engineering staff and the applicant also emphasized that the development will be required to obtain all state and county stormwater permits and that the project’s stormwater system will be designed to 100‑year attenuation standards to avoid increasing pre‑development runoff.

After board discussion and a seconding, a member moved to recommend the rezoning with the staff‑proposed conditions. The motion passed by voice vote. Planning staff said the item will go to the county commissioners for a final quasi‑judicial hearing tentatively scheduled for April 6, 2026.

Next steps: the rezoning will appear on the Board of County Commissioners agenda for consideration; required state and county stormwater permitting and any downstream coordination with NCDOT will occur during permitting and TRC review.