By Cullen Lea
Intern
Wilmington City Council denied a possible land development on Airlie Road, and approved another near the intersection of Greenville Loop Road and Oleander Drive. Council members convened Tuesday, March 17 to vote on the ordinances that would impact Wilmington and Wrightsville Sound communities.
Councilwoman Laura Padgett motioned to deny an ordinance for a district rezoning to expand and improve an existing nonconforming commercial parking area to add three single-family residential buildings and one garage apartment located at 1303 Airlie Road and a fraction of 1308 Airlie Road. The ordinance was continued from the March 3 city council meeting.
Located directly across from Dockside Restaurant and Marina, the proposed area would be paved to accommodate 95 parking spaces and improve traffic, public safety and noise pollution. However, the Airlie community voiced their concerns over property devaluation and pushing a commercial appearance. The motion to deny passed unanimously.
“My sense of the community is that they have anxiety about changing this land,” Padgett said. “I don’t see that we can fix the constraints of the property without losing a great deal of ambience of the neighborhood. Even putting lighting in it turns it into something more commercial looking.”
Padgett suggested council support the preservation of Airlie Road’s west side for residential development while the east would remain commercial. Residents considered the proposed parking lot an encroachment into their neighborhood and signed a validated petition against it. Councilman Kevin O’Grady seconded the motion to deny, citing the petition.
The applicant for the ordinance referred to the support of Dockside owners as well as its improvement on parking in the narrow area, cleanliness and public safety. However the community continued its stance against the expansion of the parking lot into 1303 Airlie Road.
“First of all we’re not here in opposition of The Dockside Restaurant or . . . trying to interfere with their business,” said Brady Semmel, representing a group of Airlie residents. “We are in opposition of this rezoning proposal. We live with the parking lot already there and don’t want to see it expand into 1303.”
Councilman Neil Anderson questioned the residents about weighing the proposed benefits of the rezoning, yet they didn’t budge.
“You aren’t voting tonight to decide if The Dockside Restaurant continues to operate,” Semmel said. “You are voting on a commercial parking lot in a residential district.”
It was noted the ordinance for rezoning could be proposed again after it was amended.
The rezoning of 26.25 acres located at 6120 Oleander Drive, near the intersection of Greenville Loop Road, to alter nearly six acres of office buildings to community businesses and reducing their size included 20 acres to be developed as 123 residential units was presented to council for approval.
Councilmembers emphasized the importance of traffic improvements, mentioning the danger of the intersection, pedestrian safety and congestion at night. The applicants agreed substantial changes would have to be made and the ordinance was approved unanimously.
