BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Three development proposals that would bring almost 200 units to Brunswick County have been approved.
The Preserve at White Rock Lake development, already under construction, added eight more homes to its site plans, bringing its total count to 99 homes as approved by the planning board last week. Originally approved in November of 2023, it is being built on the southwestern end of Stone Chimney Road in Supply.
The planning board signed off on other projects as well, including 93 single-family dwellings and a major subdivision to bring 79, both in Bolivia. During the hearing for the subdivision, Clearwell Estates, residents raised concerns over potential flooding.
Garry Jenkins, who lives on Thunder Hill Road adjacent to the 66.5-acre development, expressed concerns about stormwater runoff and its potential impact on a creek that flows through his property and the development area.
To be located on Clearwell Drive, just south of Mt. Misery Road NE, the project falls under rural low-density zoning and will have a density of 1.19 units per acre.
“I’d like to know how the runoff will be managed in the creek and how it will affect my property and my sister’s?” Jenkins asked. “We’ve been here for over 100 years.”
Water will flow through wetlands on the property, with six designated wetland areas according to the site plans; four of them are protected.
“We obviously cannot dam up or restrict the flow into that body of water,” developer Mike Nichols, from Paramounte Engineering, said. “There will be some runoff — less than 15% — going into the creek. According to county ordinance, this is considered to have minimal impact on surrounding properties.”
Clearwater Estates is considered a Low Impact Development; as defined by the county, it will feature less than 15% of impervious surfaces. The state standard is less than 24%.
Low Impact Development is an approach for managing stormwater and site development that aims to minimize environmental impacts. It uses design techniques to enhance the land’s natural ability to absorb water and filter pollutants, helping to restore and preserve ecological processes.
Resident Christie Marek, who lives in Ash and is a representative of Brunswick County Conservation Partnership, asked about the protection of wetlands on the property.
“These protected wetlands cannot be built on, though they will be on private lots and will likely hold water in the future,” Kristie Dixon, planning director, answered.
Marek also mentioned that from her research, wetlands need a 75-foot buffer surrounding them.
“Their property will flood as soon as they start digging up root systems and building in that area,” she noted.
Dixon clarified to Marek the buffer recommendations she referenced from the North Carolina Coastal Federation and the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission apply only to planned developments, whereas this project is classified as a major subdivision. She explained that staff had determined the subdivision meets all minimum regulatory requirements.
However the subdivision will offer a 10-foot perimeter buffer and a 15-foot street buffer on Clearwell Drive, even though these buffers are not required. The plans include 2.57 acres of open space, surpassing the mandated 1.99 acres, with 1.1 acres designated for recreational use.
Staff also noted, while the county will provide water, sewer service will not be available due to the rural zoning. The developer plans to use septic tanks.
A traffic analysis report was not required, but staff’s report said the neighborhood is expected to generate around 756 trips per weekday. The site plans include two entrance and exit points, but staff included a condition in their recommendations that one be gated and reserved for emergency access only.
Additionally, before construction can commence, staff put forth a condition requiring a road maintenance agreement between Paramount Engineering and the owner of Clearwell Drive. The developer — also behind Helm’s Point subdivision and Lanes Ferry Landing projects in Pender County — is responsible for the maintenance.
The board unanimously approved the project with staff’s conditions to gate one access point and secure a maintenance agreement with the owners of Clearwell Drive.
Hankins Tract
The Hankins Tract development, previously known as Brunswick Landing, received board approval at last week’s meeting. The project is just shy of 100 single-family homes spread across 26.81 acres on Old Ocean Highway in Bolivia, a density of 3.47 units per acre. It is situated directly across from the Middle Creek Village development, which comprises 750 lots and is currently under construction.
During staff presentation, Community Enforcement Phillip Coates detailed the inclusion of a 30-foot street buffer of existing vegetation and fencing, with additional landscaping to be added to the buffer if necessary. The county’s utility services will provide water and sewer. The development will also offer 11.04 acres of open space, exceeding the requirement by nearly 6 acres. Of this open space, 1.59 acres will be designated for recreational use.
While the site plans did not specify amenities, Jody Bland from Norris and Bland Engineering indicated that part of the recreation space will be for a dog park. He also assured the board that the stormwater retention pond will meet the 100-year flood- plan standards, though the site is not in a flood zone.
“We will design all the stormwater ponds to handle up to the 100-year storm, as far as the pre post retention. So we’re going above and beyond the county ordinance in that,” Bland told the board.
Although a traffic impact analysis was not required for the development, staff estimates that the neighborhood will generate approximately 890 trips per weekday. A TIA is required when a development is expected to produce more than 100 peak-hour trips.
There were no public comments or additional remarks from the board during the hearing. The development was unanimously approved.
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