Carolina Shores planning board rejects golf course rezoning after resident pushback

BRUNSWICK COUNTY (WWAY) — An update on a big win for the residents of Carolina Shores. 

On Wednesday, the Town of Carolina Shores Town Hall had a full house, and the subject matter has been the talk of the town. 

Residents opposed the rezoning of the run-down Carolina Shores Golf Course and turning into a multi-home development.  

Attendees highlighted major concerns such as traffic, stormwater, flooding, and health risks with retention ponds, all the things that come with building development. 

Julie Turner has lived in Carolina Shores for six years and is one of the many community members who spoke at the meeting on Wednesday. 

“I do appreciate the board hearing the data that was presented today and acknowledging that,” said Turner. 

With prior work in the healthcare industry for a global healthcare organization for most of her career, she did her own research on the posed health risks. 

“I felt my research on data and information concerning health and safety were spot on,” said Turner. 

The development team, crowded around a table, made one final pitch.  

Because the course is at a higher elevation than the homes of residents, the development team added a stormwater abatement plan. 

Ultimately, that addition didn’t sway the planning board, and a decision was made. 

“No, no, no.” 

The board voted against the proposal due to what it calls numerous inconsistencies within the developer’s plan. 

Residents like Lon Forehand say the resistance has paid off. 

“We feel vindicated, it’s just great. We had 99%; somebody said 80 percent, of our community were against this. There just wasn’t anything redeeming there,” said Forehand. 

While residents like Forehand are happy for now, he concedes this may not be the end of the story. 

The developers could always reapply, but future plans have not yet been revealed.