Developers behind one of Leland's most massive planned residential developments are taking a swing at rezoning to add a champion golf course and more.
Situatedin the southwest corners of Interstate 140 and U.S. 74/76 in Leland is the nearly 4,000-home East Lake development. Following a flood study conducted earlier this year, project leaders are proposing some changes for more than 2,000 acres of the project - one change being the addition of an 18-hole golf course.
The Leland Planning Board on Sept. 22 will discuss their recommendation of rezoning 2,060.55 acres of East Lake to the planned unit development zoning district. If the rezoning and associated master land use plan are pushed forward to council, the project is one step closer to having
602 acres of conservation removed and more.
How we got here
The large project was previously denied by the Brunswick County Planning Board due to flooding and wetland concerns. Leland’s town council gained decision making power on the project after the 2,114.27-acre property was annexed into the town in December 2022.
Only slightly smaller than Brunswick Forest, East Lake plans include 3,925 single family lots, 693 townhomes and 300 multifamily units. Criteria Development in mid-2024 submitted a new master land use plan proposing 6,302 residential units. However, the 2024 proposal never earned approval.
Since the annexation and initial zoning, portions of the project have moved through the subdivision review process and started construction in phases - each phase being at different stages of the development approval process.
Town staff on Aug. 31, 2026, received an application from Criteria Development on behalf of the property owners to rezone 2,060.55 acres located along Malmo Loop Road, adjacent to Colon Mintz Road NE and Interstate 140. Some of the property is active in residential construction.
What developers are asking
The applicant is asking to rezone more than 2,000 acres to the planned unit development district. Currently, the property is divided among the town's medium density residential, multifamily, commercial business, general commercial, conservation and flexcode zoning districts.
Individual property owners associated with this rezoning request include: Leland Landco LLC c/o Criteria Development LLC, Leland Landco II LLC, Leland Landco III LLC, Leland Landco IV LLC, Adams Homes AEC LLC, Caviness & Cates Bld & Dev Co of Greenville, Cates Building Inc., New Leaf Builders of NC, and JLM East Lake LLC.
What new amenities are proposed for East Lake
Submitted planned unit development plans show 3,800 single-family units and 66.31 acres of commercial area. The proposed boundary does not encompass the entirety of the existing commercially-zoned area near Malmo Loop Road.
The new plan adds a golf course, fishing pond and lakefront amenity center to the amenity list already comprised of walking trails, club houses, playgrounds, parks and sports courts.
"An 18-hole championship golf course encompassing 190 acres of the property is proposed as part of the planned unit development," Criteria Development's East Lake planned unit development statement of public interest states.
The course will be designed to navigate "seamlessly" through proposed residential spaces, as stated in the statement. A public pool and other public amenities could also be planned.
"The proposed semi-private facility will provide additional options for golf enthusiasts in the region," Criteria Development's statement reads. "Several nearby courses have recently changed to a fully private model thereby eliminating play to the general public."
How the planned unit development changes the project
Leland's planned unit development district allows more flexibility in construction and development than residential districts in respect to area, yard, height, density and open space requirements. Many of the residential product types, uses and development densities in the proposed master land use plan are already permitted in its existing zoning.
Currently, multifamily units are allowed on less than 90 acres. If rezoned, the planned unit development zoning would permit multifamily construction throughout the entire 2,060.55-acre area.
More than a 200-acre decreases in required total open space and passive open space would also be part of the zoning change.
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When wetlands come into play
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in recent flood insurance rate maps identified areas of unstudied 100-year flood zone, also called Zone A, throughout the property. These areas require a flood study to establish the base flood elevation prior to development. On April 17, a flood study became effective, identifying the AE flood zones, or 100-year flood zones with established base flood elevations.
The planned unit development master plan shows 428 acres of wetlands on the 2,060-acre area, slightly lower than the previous 600 acres of wetlands accounted for. The staff report notes not all of the wetland areas within the area have been studied or delineated. Plan amendments could be made to reduce the amount of passive open space, but would require town council approval.
Wetland development remains subject to wetland determinations and permitting requirements set forth by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Which commercial areas are impacted
The submitted master land use plan concentrates its 66.31-acre commercial area in the southern portion of the property, but does not identify a commercial or mixed-use area near the central and Malmo Loop neighborhoods.
Commercial areas are permitted in planned unit developments and are intended to primarily serve the neighborhood. The rezoned property would be permitted to have a maximum of 103 acres of commercial use.
Existing plans include roughly 57 acres of commercial are is located at the corner of Malmo Loop Road NE and Colon Mintz Rd NE. The proposed rezoning would reduce this area to 5.28 acres, with almost two acres of wetlands being located in the center.
For more information, visit the town of Leland's website.
Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Developers take swing at golf course proposal for Leland
