By Cullen Lea
Intern
Wilmington City Council unanimously agreed during a March 3 meeting on an ordinance exempting a certain area of the N.C. State Port Authority property from regulations on parking, subdivisions, sign requirements and some landscaping stipulations. The item was continued from a previous meeting and modified to circumscribe a smaller area within the 284-acre port space.
“This proposed amendment would not exempt buffering from adjacent property and buildings from height, setback or use,” Ron Satterfield, assistant director of planning, development and transportation, said. “The stormwater management standards would be the same that are applied within the Central Business District of Wilmington.”
Two Sunset Park residents spoke publicly of their support for the amendment, congratulating the cooperation between city and port staffs. Other citizens warned the council to be wary of the port’s future actions.
In addition to the vote taken, council members unanimously approved an agreement for the extension of Raleigh Road as well as turn lane improvements to River Road. The overall cost of the project is estimated at $1.5 million, with both the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County contributing $300,000. However, the N.C. Department of Transporation has not yet drafted an agreement for the remaining $900,000 needed. The county has yet to approve the proposal and will consider it during its March 16 meeting.
“I am really happy that the DOT is willing to understand that we have the responsibility to protect neighborhoods,” Councilman Kevin O’Grady said. “Perhaps they will keep that in mind for the future.”
Additionally, council members agreed on a resolution authorizing the N.C. Azalea Festival’s use of the Water Street parking deck, the parking lot on Second and Market streets as well as Bailey Park and Riverfront Park for festival events.
Finally, the council unanimously agreed to designate Wilmington, N.C., a Bee City USA, the third of its kind in the country.
“If you don’t think that the protection and sustainability of bee colonies is important then our food supply and beautiful flowers would go away without them,” Councilman Charlie Rivenbark said. “In fact, we have a beehive on our city logo.”
