The Wilmington Planning Commission on Wednesday approved rezoning a nearly 12-acre parcel of Airlie Road from residential to mixed-used for a proposed 57 single-family house development, sparking opposition from several dozen neighbors and residents who said it would detract from the pastoral qualities of the state “scenic byway” and bring more traffic.
The commission voted 5-1 to approve the rezoning to urban mixed-use from residential after developers agreed to stretch the “setback” distance from 20 feet to 30 feet, putting more space between the houses and Airlie Road. The vote followed a public hearing that lasted nearly two hours, as several neighbors stood to speak against the rezoning, while developers negotiated a compromise to meet some of the commissioners concerns. The rezoning will be on the March 7 Wilmington City Council meeting.
After the public comments, several commissioners said their primary concern was the setback distance, which at 20 feet was less than the 30 feet for R-15 residential zoning, the current classification for the 11.8-acre lot at 315 Airlie Road, near the entrance of Airlie Gardens.
While several residents raised concerns about density, several commissioners said they believed the density was in line with the city’s development plans.Commissioner Laura Miller added she was also concerned that the development had nine houses facing Airlie Road, saying something closer to four homes would be more appropriate. She was the only vote against the rezoning. The commission recused vice chairman Richard Collier from the vote.
The project would build 57 single-family homes and would connect to the former Galleria site on Wrightsville Avenue, which borders the lot’s north side. Nine of the homes would be located on Airlie Road. The developers told the commission that it had stepped back from an earlier plan of 72 lots, including some town homes, after meeting with neighbors. Developers said if the lots weren’t rezoned, they could build a 34-lot neighborhood on the property under the current R-15 zoning.
But several neighbors said the project doesn’t fit the area and that the rezoning deviates from the Wrightsville Sound Small Area Plan, which they said doesn’t allow for anything but residential zoning on Airlie Road. And while developers said they would preserve 27 live oak trees on the site, and bring in 125 more for landscaping, neighbors said it would bring urbanization to a road that was named a North Carolina scenic byway for its trees and nature.
“We went through a lot of trouble to get that designation,” said Anne Russell, a resident of the Bradley Creek Point neighborhood off Airlie Road. “We are a rural road. We have a horse pasture, we have beautiful Airlie Gardens. It’s rural. It’s not Mayfaire.”
Thank you, Laura Miller, for understanding the character of Airlie Road the Historic and Scenic Byway. and having the courage to do the right thing rather than caving to developer pressure. The density of this huge development does not coincide with existing residential areas fronting on Airlie Road. It is, essentially, tract housing which will pour more traffic onto Airlie, when this development could use its entrance/exit on Wrightsville Avenue/Galleria site and have a pedestrian-bicycling path from Airlie. While the out-of-town developer, State Street, has a right to build on the property it purchased, it should do so respecting the existing character of Airlie. We hope Mayor Saffo (who values trees), Kevin O’Grady (who has been a champion for historic preservation), and other City Council members respects the hundreds of Airlie Road residents.
The preceding commentary contains several intentionally misleading and false statements.
The density for the planned single-family residential community is the same as at Airlie Forest.
The development plan will save legacy trees and includes an extensive tree and landscape buffer along the frontage at Airlie Road. The current conditions on that part of Airlie Road are not particularly attractive. Development of the parcel is inevitable and the development plans will improve the existing aesthetics.
Although it is not clear, Ms. Russell’s characterization of the developer as an “out-of-developer” seems to be a condescending slight to a developer who has the ability and desire to create an attractive neighborhood. Below-the-belt comments suggest that Ms. Russell is desperate to win support for her unsubstantiated objection to a rezoning that is fully supported by the Planning Department.
Ms. Russell’s assertion that the planned housing will constitue “tract housing” is an irresponsible and false statement. She knows the builder for the project is considered to be the premier custom home builder in Wilmington and is very aware that the homes will be high quality, well designed residences.
Disseminating false and misleading information does not reflect favorably on the author.
Wilmington desperately needs quality planned development which promotes walkabilty and convenient access to services and recreation. Our community is too dependent on vehicular transportation and must support live-work-play infill developments in order to accommodate the future success of our city.
Tell me Mr McDorn, do you think 57 houses is really going to” improve the existing aesthetics”? Airlie Road is one of the few remaining treasures in New Hanover county that this PLANNING BOARD hasn’t already rubber stamped to pave paradise and put up a parking lot! The fact that this board “fully supported” the zoning change surprises NO ONE! ALL they care about is more tax money in the base! I can only assume you either work for the developer or are somehow affiliated because I literally know NO ONE that thinks putting 57 houses, and all the traffic that it brings to BEAUTIFUL Airlie Road, is a good idea!