The first Board of Commissioners meeting in May featured a plethora of proclamations, an infrastructure contract for Blue Clay Business Park and funding for projects throughout the county. Check out the highlights from the meeting below.
Proclamations aplenty
The May 1 meeting opened with the Commissioners approving five important proclamations that highlight issues impacting New Hanover County and our residents, as well as the country and world at-large. These proclamations are intended to bring greater awareness to these matters and promote discussion.
The proclamations, which are linked below, included:
Blue Clay Business Park infrastructure contract approved
The infrastructure needed to bring the Blue Clay Business Park to life will move forward after unanimous approval by the Board of Commissioners. The contract, which was awarded to Wells Brothers Construction at a cost of $7.5 million, will bring water and sewer to the site in early 2024, allowing businesses access to needed infrastructure and creating greater economic development opportunities for the area. Parcels on the 120-acre site are available to be purchased through the upset bid process.
Capital improvement funding for county projects approved
Following a presentation by county staff and a public hearing, Commissioners unanimously approved to finance up to $25 million in improvement projects throughout the county.
Some of the projects that will be completed with this funding include Hanover Pines Nature Park and the purchase of a building in Downtown Wilmington to expand the Cape Fear Community College nursing and allied health programs, along with improvements, expansion and replacement to several other county buildings and vehicles.
That’s not all …
The Board of Commissioners considered several Planning and Land Use rezoning requests at the meeting, hearing from residents and engaging in important conversations. The first rezoning of 42.1 acres off Carolina Beach Road near Manassas Drive for higher density housing was denied in a 4-1 vote. The second hearing was unanimously approved, allowing for a residential piece of property off Carolina Beach Road to be rezoned as regional business. The final public hearing to rezone 4.64 acres at 6634 Carolina Beach Road to moderate density residential housing for a 64-unit multi-family development was denied by a 3-2 vote.
Additionally, a quasi-judicial hearing for a special use permit was unanimously approved, allowing for an increase the allowed density up to 10.2 dwelling units per acre for four parcels on Piner Road.
You can view the May 1 meeting here and below. The next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners is set for 9 a.m. on May 15.
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners holds its regularly scheduled meetings on the first and third Monday of each month, unless otherwise noted. These meetings take place at the New Hanover County Historic Courthouse (24 North 3rd Street, Room 301). A schedule of the 2023 meetings can be found here.
All meetings are broadcast live on NHCTV.com, New Hanover County's YouTube channel and Spectrum channel 13. For meeting agendas, minutes and exhibits, visit Commissioners.NHCgov.com.