A proposed 55+ residential community that would put in 930 new homes near Scotts Hill recently hit a major roadblock when the Pender County Planning Board voted to recommend denial.
The planning board doesn’t always have the authority to deny a potential development, as many of the proposed projects are considered “by-right” because they align with the existing zoning conditions.
Dupin Tract, however, requires a conditional rezoning in order to proceed as planned with the 930 homes. Only about a third of that number would be allowed without a rezoning.
At a Sept. 1 meeting, members of the planning board expressed several concerns about the development. Most of the issues focused around adding more density in an area where the board members said
infrastructure is already strained.
The recommendation for denial isn’t the final nail in the coffin for the Dupin Tract development, though. The rezoning request will still appear before the county’s board of commissioners for a final verdict on Oct. 19.
County planning staff said the Dupin Tract community would have a gross density of 2.3 units per acre, a substantial increase from the property's current rural agricultural zoning, which requires one-acre lots.
The additional density and its potential impact on roads, healthcare services and other infrastructure emerged as key points of contention during the Sept. 1 public hearing.
"It's great to have the 55 and over, but as it's presented and without additional restrictions there's additional burden for the community that hasn't really been tabulated,” said board member Brett Keeler.
Planning staff presented that Sidbury Road, where the property is located, was operating at about half its capacity as of 2024. But board members said the data was outdated given how much has been built in the area over the past two years.
Keeler also expressed that healthcare access was already an issue in the region and a 55+ community would further burden the community.
Keeler ultimately made the motion to deny the project as proposed. The board passed the motion in a 3-2 split.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Pender Planning Board denies large community proposed for Scotts Hill
