The New Hanover County Planning Board unanimously recommended approval for two commercial rezonings.
At a meeting on Sept. 3, Planning Board members expressed support for two projects that will bring new business developments to two growing areas of the county. The proposals will now move forward to the Board of Commissioners for final review at a meeting on Sept. 21.
Both proposals will serve projects that are well underway, with one on Gordon Road and another in the Wrightsboro area of Castle Hayne Road.
Here’s what’s planned.
Gordon Road commercial
The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of a rezoning request for one acre at 6441 Gordon Road proposed by Heron Cove Development. The property is currently zoned for low-density residential development, and
the applicant is seeking to establish a commercial business district.
Site plans for the project, known as Heron Point Commons, include a two-story building, stormwater pond, parking lot and fenced buffer. Development representative Amy Schaefer said that the proposed building is smaller than the maximum height that would be allowed for a by-right home on the site.
Schaefer said that convenience stores, grocery stores, small restaurants and professional services are among the potential uses for the building. The development will not have a drive thru or fuel sales.
Neighboring resident Kim Turner has lived at her home three doors down from the proposed development since 1980 and said she had hoped for it to be her permanent retirement home prior to all the recent construction. She was among a handful of residents who spoke in favor of the project but asked if the conditions limiting uses would apply to future property owners if the land was sold. Planning Board Chair Clark Hipp confirmed that the conditions would stand.
The development is expected to slightly increase traffic along Gordon Road, but it is below the threshold required to trigger a full traffic impact analysis.
A 10-foot multi-use path will run in front of the property along Gordon Road as part of an N.C. Department of Transportation widening project that is currently under construction. The widening is expected to be completed by December 2029. The project is connected to the Heron Cove residential subdivision, which passed on a 4-1 vote in July 2025, with Commissioner Stephanie Walker dissenting. Walker cited traffic concerns and environmental impacts, including flooding, when she voted against the project. Developers plan to build 66 homes on the 10.8-acre property.
Wrightsboro Business Park
The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of a straight rezoning for 12.33 acres at 2724 Castle Hayne Road in connection with the Wrightsboro Business Park. The property is currently zoned for office and institutional use, and the applicant is seeking to establish a regional business district. The proposal leaves a strip of the property under its current designation.
Although recommending approval, county staff noted that they would have “preferred” conditional rezoning that did not leave the property split-zoned, in conjunction with a concept plan that would better allow them to evaluate potential impacts.
Under a straight rezoning, no conditions can be imposed, and no site plans are required. The project is expected to have a total traffic impact of 153 morning peak hour trips and 163 evening peak hour trips. A full traffic impact analysis may be required depending on the intensity of the intended uses.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Two New Hanover developments are moving forward. Here's what's planned.
