BRUNSWICK COUNTY — A 3,700-unit development in Bolivia contains workforce housing, commercial space, and 30 acres of land dedicated to the county. However, it’s facing community backlash due to its large scale.
READ MORE: Wanting more details, residents push back on 154 homes planned in Shallotte
At Monday’s planning board meeting, in a 4-1 vote, the board approved the Midway Tract development, to be located off Southport Supply Road SE, also known at Highway 211, and Midway Road SE.
The board also has a new standing chair, as Joy Easley resigned from her position on Monday. Port City Daily asked the county why she decided to step down. A response was not received; John Gaver is stepping in as chair.
Spanning 1,502 acres, the development will include 2,950 single-family lots, 330 townhome lots, 336 multifamily units, and 26 acres of commercial space. Of the single-family homes, 5% — equaling 148 units — will be set aside for workforce housing.
An amenity center, pond, and walking trails are all part of preliminary plans. It also includes 650 acres of open space, with 177 acres specifically designated for recreational use. The site will extend to Clemmons Road SE and Gilbert Road SE and is proposed to bring an around 31,559 vehicle trips per 24-hour weekday volume.
Matt Nichols, representing developer Norris and Tunstall, addressed the board and emphasized several key aspects of the plans related to public use and land dedication. Notably, he highlighted development will include a donation of 30 acres of land to the county.
“It can be for fire safety — a fire department — it could be for a school, it could be for any use the county deems necessary for those 30 acres, Nichols said.
Port City Daily asked the county if they have plans for the 30 acres but did not receive an answer by press.
In recent weeks, the commissioners signed off on 257 acres in Supply to be deeded to Brunswick County Schools to build an educational complex, with an elementary, middle and high school. Just last week, the school board also approved a $5.5 million land purchase for the construction of a new elementary school in Leland.
Other features of the Midway Tract development include a 40-foot-wide public utilities easement for water and sewer, gated access to main roads, privately maintained internal roads, and a stormwater pond designed to handle a 100-year storm. Although no areas of the site are classified as flood zones by the county, the plans indicate a significant wetland coverage, around 30% of the site.
Nichols told the board it would have an exceptional design, environmental sensitivity qualities, and aesthetic appeal. He said the project exceeds the required amount of open space, providing 231 acres of open space whereas only 169 acres are required.
“It’s really creating a walkable neighborhood,” Nichols added on the topic of open space.
Additionally, Nichols noted while the maximum density permitted for medium-density residential zoning is 5.8 units per acre, this development proposes a density of just 2.5 units per acre.
When the applicants originally started the county’s approval process, a neighborhood meeting was held in December, attended by about 20 residents. At that meeting, concerns were raised about traffic and school capacity.
The board was set to review the development in February of this year, which drew in more resident feedback; however, they didn’t get a chance to speak. The development was removed from the agenda before the meeting per the developer’s request.
Around nine residents returned to Monday’s planning board, to speak in opposition.
Resident and leader of Brunswick County Conservation Partnership and administration of Stop Over Developing Brunswick County Facebook group Christie Marek represented 3,000 members from both groups. She recommended the land be surveyed again, pointing out the National Wetland Inventory found wetlands in the area have not been studied since 1983. She expressed concerns about whether adequate buffers would be established and questioned the validity of when the wildlife survey was done.
“It’s kind of hard to believe that in all that marsh and all that land, there aren’t any wildlife that needs to be protected,” she said at the meeting.
Resident Marjorie Burnside expressed concerns about emergency evacuations being hindered by the influx of new development. She questioned whether the county was adequately prepared for unforeseen emergencies, such as a nuclear evacuation with the Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant being so close in proximity. Drawing from her experience as a police officer in New York City during the September 11 attacks, Burnside emphasized, even with extensive preparations, unexpected challenges can arise.
All four entrances lead to one two-lane road, Highway 211. Currently, as part of DOT’s State Transportation Improvement Plan Highway 211 is under construction for the widening to a four lane road from Sunset Harbor Road to Midway Road.
“Safety should be at the forefront of any decisions made to new developments,” she said. “If you truly cared about your neighbors in this county as a whole, you should be fighting for us and putting people over profits.”
Another resident, Jonathan Damico, who lives in Leland, was concerned about the development’s impact on capacity and infrastructure with state population growth. He referenced the 30 acres the development is granting for county use.
“Thirty acres for the county — that’s great,” he said. “So if you put a school there, where are we going to get teachers or bus drivers? We can’t even get bus drivers from the schools we have now.”
He expressed the decision on this development should not rest solely with the planning board, suggesting it would be more appropriately handled by elected officials.
Residents have pushed back against planning board’s authority to approve developments before. Arguing that too many of the board have other jobs in development and real estate.
Nichols told the board the development will be built in phases due to its size.
“Is it a safe statement to say that if this is approved, tomorrow 2,950 single-family homes won’t show up,” Gaver said “Is it also safe to say that 330 townhomes will not show up overnight?”
There is no definite date when construction will start.
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