New Hanover County loosens building permit freeze

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Some big time retailers are back in business along Wilmington’s northeast interceptor.

New Hanover County commissioners have loosened the building permit freeze and have agreed to issue up-fit permits.

Those up-fit permits were holding a number of retailers up, such as the Pottery Barn planned for Mayfaire Shopping Center.

The up-fit permits will basically allow buildings that already have their structural shells up to be completed. This means the inside of a specific store can be finished to a specific retailer.

Inspection officials for the county say the waste for each store had already been calculated for passage through the northeast interceptor *before* the moratorium was put in place on May 10.

That’s why they’re being allowed the up-fit permits.

Officials say, so far, they’ve had a number of commercial businesses apply for the permits.

New Hanover County Inspector Jay Graham said, “Large up-fit permits such as Pottery Barn have not come in so far. But there has been activity that I’m aware of on the Pottery Barn up-fit.”

The up-fit permits only apply to commercial construction.

County inspectors say their next step is consider whether to allow homeowners to remodel or add on to residential property.

New homes and new commercial buildings are still banned from being built in the county.

No word on when the entire moratorium will be lifted.