Brunswick County Planning Board issues a Split Decision
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Brunswick County Planning Board. They have allowed one housing project to move forward while sending a third development back to the drawing board.
On November 28th, the Brunswick County Planning Board unanimously approved a proposal to bring 91 single-family homes to 42 acres along Stone Chimney Road in Supply. “The Preserve at White Rock Lake” will be developed by Dream Finder Homes, LLC, a national home builder with developments in Wilmington, Fayetteville, Charlotte, and the Triad. Water and sewer services will be provided by Brunswick County, and roads within the development will be private. All 91 lots are located outside the flood zone. The approval grants the development a three-year window to complete construction.
Meanwhile, earlier in the month, the board rejected a request to build almost 3,000 housing units called Ashton Farms. The measure was rejected by another unanimous vote, which was taken after a three-hour meeting filled with public comments, with many expressing concern about the impact the proposal would have on nearby wetlands. The plans called for the neighborhood to be built on 1,200 acres in the town of Ash, located near the Brunswick/Columbus County line. The plans were submitted by Savannah, Georgia-based engineering firm Thomas & Hutton Engineering. The firm now has the option to alter their plans and resubmit them at a later date.
Sand is on the way to Wrightsivlle Beach’s North End
After multiple delays, Wrightsville Beach’s renourishment is slated to begin on December 17th. The project will involve placing 1 million cubic yards of sand and is 100% federally funded. The United States Army Corps of Engineers will spend $13.6 million on the initiative. Although a completion date has not been announced, published reports suggest it should be sometime between March and April 2024. Approval for the renourishment was granted in August 2022, but the project faced delays due to the federal Coastal Barrier Resource Act. This law imposes limits on the sources from which new sand can be obtained.
The start date was finally agreed upon when it was determined that sand from the south end of Wrightsville Beach could be relocated to the fragile northern end of the beach.
Wilmington International Airport Addresses Parking Shortage
The advantage of residing in a town of this size is the swift navigation in and out of the airport. In comparison to larger cities, queues at both ticket counters and security gates are notably shorter. Although it’s generally recommended to arrive at least two hours prior to your flight, here in Wilmington, you could easily halve that time.
However, one persistent challenge at ILM has been the availability of parking spaces. While it’s rare for anyone to miss a flight due to a lack of parking, certain times of the year can make finding a spot quite competitive. Now, Wilmington International Airport appears to have found a solution. ILM has recently inaugurated its latest parking lot, introducing approximately 500 additional parking spaces to the expanding airport. Parking Lot F offers free parking for 0-30 minutes, $1 for 30 minutes to an hour, $1 for each additional hour, and a maximum of $7 daily.
For a comprehensive list of parking options, visit the airport’s website.
Wilmington’s Whiskey Branch neighborhood to add 300 new units
The Whiskey Branch community, situated in Wilmington’s midtown area, is embarking on its second phase of development. The planned expansion involves the construction of 300 new townhomes and apartments. Phase 2 will span 64 acres, a segment of the approximately 150-acre Whiskey Branch development. Initial construction for a subdivision at Whiskey Branch commenced in 2017 and concluded in early 2021. The construction of interior roads is set to commence in early December.
The site plans for Phase 2 encompass 50 townhomes, 18 carriage homes, and six multifamily apartment buildings, ranging in size from 7,930 to 20,115 square feet. According to Rogers, the total unit count for the entire community will reach around 300, featuring a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Additionally, the plans include amenities such as a pool and pool house, a pickleball court, a bocce ball court, and a dog park.