BRUNSWICK COUNTY — In recent years, permanent RV lodging has gained popularity across the nation, including in Brunswick County. A family-owned business is looking to introduce a different style of lodging in the area, with proposals for a luxury motorcoach resort in Supply.
READ MORE: 180 units greenlit in Brunswick County
The Carolina Coastal Motorcoach Resort will be a gated community situated on 49 acres of former rock quarry land at Cedar Grove and Stone Chimney Road. Currently vacant and already clear-cut, the site includes a 19-acre lake, and if approved, will feature close to 100 motorcoach parking, pickleball courts, swimming pools, a clubhouse, and a dog park.
Laura and Barry Poole will operate the business, which emphasizes a goal of offering a flexible lifestyle on the road by providing residential options, void of the long-term commitment of traditional homeownership.
Daughter-in-law Annamaria Poole told Port City Daily the family aims to foster a strong sense of community in each project, as the family is responsible for three other luxury motorcoach resorts: Bear Creek, Thornton Creek, and Deer Creek Resorts in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina.
“We love to do kind of these niche projects, and we try to do it in our way, which is usually pretty high-end,” she said. “We really care about the industry and kind of creating something that people talk about and they really enjoy coming back to every year.”
Each plot in Brunswick County will include concrete pads with full hookups for electricity and water, connected to the county’s public water and sewer system. These lots are sold, not rented, and will be owned by the buyers. Plots can be customized to include other amenities like outdoor kitchens, and fireplaces.
Barry Poole noted at Monday’s commissioners meeting that many residents use their motorcoaches full-time or for extended stays. He was before the board to ask for a text amendment to allow for the addition of casitas, or a small side dwelling, so residents can accommodate guests or create additional living space, including a separate kitchen area.
He explained to commissioners each resort has an HOA that functions like those in traditional neighborhoods. Unlike typical neighborhoods where RVs or motorcoaches are often restricted by HOA rules, this resort allows residents to use either or both — motorcoaches and fixed casitas.
The commissioners unanimously approved the text amendment, allowing the option for owners to construct a casita on their plot; it was also recommended favorably by the planning board, which voted unanimously last month.
Casitas and cabanas will be limited to a maximum size of 1,200 square feet.
This isn’t the first instance of the county implementing more flexible ordinances for RV and motorcoach grounds. In November 2018, the board approved the inclusion of cabins, yurts, and tiny homes as permitted structures in outdoor RV resorts, with the stipulation these structures could occupy no more than 40% of the resort area. Additionally, the changes allowed for smaller campsite lots, reducing the number of campsites required and eliminating the need for individual lot subdivisions within campgrounds.
In 2018, Director of Planning Kristie Dixon told Port City Daily the changes aimed to make RV resorts more appealing. She noted while the county had received numerous inquiries about developing such resorts, only one had been established.
There are currently six RV campgrounds in Brunswick County, although the Brunswick Beaches RV Resort in Sunset Beach is labeled as a “resort.”
However, Poole noted to the board Monday there isn’t another resort like what he has proposed in the area: “from Florida to — until you get two hours into the mountains.”
Poole told the board he envisions residents traveling between this new resort and existing motorcoach resorts. He noted the family’s Florida business is becoming increasingly crowded and hopes some of those residents will explore this new location as an option.
Commissioner Marty Cooke asked Poole about the projected cost of each lot.
Constructing casitas could cost around $300 per square foot, not including land. He explained the total expense varies with the size of the casita, citing previous projects in the mountains where the structures are allowed to be built up to 1,700 square feet.
“Definitely upscale,” Chairman Randy Thompson added.
According to Kasacak, now that Poole has secured the text amendment, the plans will need to be submitted to the technical review committee and then to the board of adjustment for a special use permit before construction can begin.
“This is something very special,” Thompson said. “We’d like to hear an update as it moves forward.”
Tips or comments? Email journalist Jalyn Baldwin at jalyn@localdailymedia.com.
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