Wilmington board denies drive-through restaurant variance near Echo Farms
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – A proposed drive-through restaurant near a Wilmington neighborhood raised safety and traffic concerns among Echo Farms residents.
The city board of adjustment voted unanimously on Thursday to decline the developer’s variance request for the property located at the intersection of Echo Farms Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road.
“Granting these variances would compromise public safety with overwhelming traffic impacts, destroy the residential character of Echo Farms,” said Rachel Kleiches, president of Echo Farm’s resident association.
Tanner Postal Commercial Real Estate initially proposed two restaurants, one with a drive through, that would require four variances. On Thursday, the developer presented a revised plan with one drive-through restaurant needing just one variance.
Still, residents, including Kleiches said safety remained a concern, citing increased traffic near the community’s pool, tennis courts and school bus stops.
“I have three kids and it’s right next to a public pool, it is a safety concern,” said Kleiches.
The Wilmington Board of Adjustment unanimously declined the developer’s request.
“I’m excited and grateful, grateful to the board, grateful for all of our community for showing up,” Kleiches said.
Internet Optics, the seller of the site said:
“Internet Optics, LLC is the seller of approximately 2.5 acres at 4125 Echo Farms Boulevard in Wilmington. This property represents one of the last remaining commercially zoned, signalized corners on the Carolina Beach Road (US-421) corridor within the City, offering exceptional visibility, traffic exposure, and surrounding population density at a major Wilmington intersection.
The purchaser sought a single variance limited solely to the proposed location and configuration of a drive-through. Restaurant and drive-through uses themselves are permitted by right under the existing zoning. That placement-related variance was denied by the Board of Adjustment. The property remains under contract, and Internet Optics, LLC has not received a termination notice.
This approximately 2.5-acre parcel is uniquely positioned for a wide range of permitted commercial uses under current zoning, including restaurants and drive-through restaurants, retail, service, office, and other neighborhood-serving commercial activities. While addressed on Echo Farms Boulevard, the property captures the full exposure and frontage value of the Carolina Beach Road commercial corridor.
Importantly, the site is not adjacent to Echo Farms single-family neighborhoods. It is bordered by an established apartment community to the north, a 14-acre public park to the west, US-421 to the east, and vacant undeveloped land to the south. This context supports well-planned commercial development with minimal residential conflict at one of Wilmington’s most visible signalized intersections.
Internet Optics, LLC remains committed to working through Wilmington’s established planning, zoning, and real estate processes to realize a fully compliant highest-and-best-use development for this rare urban commercial parcel.”
Kleiches said their community is still open to future development. Tanner Postal Commercial Real Estate, the developer, did not want to comment after Thursday’s board decision.
