New Hanover County Commissioners approve rezoning for 67-home development

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted on Monday to approve a rezoning request that will allow for a 67-home residential development along Gordon Road, despite vocal opposition from nearby residents and environmental advocates.

The approved request changes the zoning of the Heron Cove site from R-15 to R-5, paving the way for higher-density development. The project, proposed by Heron Homes, aims to offer single-family homes starting around $375,000.

“This is what the future of starter homes looks like in New Hanover County,” said Commissioner Rob Zapple, who supported the project. “This will provide a housing type that we really, really need. The site is problematic. But I also understand, again, myself being a builder, the concept of how to make this work.”

Despite support from some commissioners and business leaders, the project faced strong opposition from neighboring residents, environmental advocates, and representatives of the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees.

Kim Turner, who lives adjacent to the proposed development, shared concerns about increased flooding, especially after severe rain events like Hurricane Florence. She and others noted that the development’s proposed stormwater ponds would be located near flood-prone areas and questioned whether long-term maintenance could be guaranteed.

“I will be my husband’s caregiver for the rest of his life,” Turner said. “Now I’m faced with worrying about whether my property is going to flood or not.”

Others, including forestry professor Dr. James Gregory, warned about the loss of nearly eight acres of mature, mixed pine-hardwood forest and the environmental consequences that come with it.

“Replacing it with impervious surface will only exacerbate the flooding potential,” Gregory said.

Representatives from the adjacent Gordon Acres neighborhood requested infrastructure commitments from the developer, including a utility tie-in and fire hydrant. They also expressed frustration that the developer ultimately abandoned plans for connecting roads that could have improved safety and circulation.

Sarah DeVries, a neighborhood representative, said the lack of interconnectivity leaves her community with “all the negative impacts and none of the benefits.”

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns but ultimately sided with the need for more housing. The board approved the rezoning with several added conditions, including:

A required fence and stormwater notification for buyers of two flood-prone lots.

Continued collaboration with the county attorney and planning staff to ensure proper disclosures.

Conditions related to stormwater compliance and maintenance enforcement under state and county guidelines.

“In New Hanover County, we talk about this in our budget season, $581,000 is the average home price, so we don’t have much opportunity to have something at $375, and i did some math on my phone, and it’s about $2,000 a month on a 30-year mortgage, so that allows a person to be a homeowner and not live in a high density apartment complex, so I’m in favor of single-family housing,” Commissioner LeAnn Pierce said before the vote.

Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of the rezoning, with Commissioner Stephanie Walker casting the lone dissenting vote.