Some Echo Farms resident voice concerns about variance request for proposed project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some residents in the Echo Farms community in Wilmington are pushing back against a variance request for a piece of property near the community’s main entrance.

Plans filed for a small property at one of the entrances to the Echo Farms community are raising concerns for dozens of residents.

Located at the intersection of Echo Farms Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road, a Florida developer is asking for a variance or changes.

The changes include being able to build within 200 feet of existing residential properties, build a cut-through road, and not build a bypass lane as part of the project.

Resident Paul Hibbert said this would cause issues on roads not designed to handle a major increase in traffic.

“Anybody coming up Carolina Beach Road can not get into the property here,” Hibbert said. “They gonna have to turn left, come in here, round the roundabout and then in through this new road. When they leave, they’re gonna have to do the opposite or drive through the neighborhood.”

The property is also located across the street from Echo Farms Park, which includes tennis courts and a swimming pool, along with two nearby school bus stops.

Rachel Kleiches is the president of Echo Farm’s resident association.

She said there are concerns about the safety of their kids with this project.

“We’re not against commercial development,” Kleiches said. “We’re against the idea of this increase of traffic in an already heavily populated trafficy area. Our concerns are really for the safety of our community, the safety of the kids running across the street from a public pool.”

Internet Optics LLC, the owners of the property, sent WWAY a statement which read:

Internet Optics, LLC wants to clarify our role in this matter. We own the property along Carolina Beach Road, but we are not the developer and we are not the restaurant operator. The project is being pursued by a prospective buyer with significant experience and a track record working with top-tier, nationally recognized restaurant franchises. In our view, a restaurant on a signalized, highway-frontage corner parcel that is zoned Highway Business is an appropriate use consistent with how this corridor is planned and regulated.

We also hear and respect the concerns being raised by some nearby residents—particularly around traffic and cut-through impacts.  The developer is prioritizing an access plan that reduces reliance on Echo Farms Boulevard, while still going through the City’s normal review, mitigation, and approval process.

Finally, this location directly aligns with the City’s “Walk Wilmington” direction and the reality on the ground. Echo Farms Park is a major community destination directly across the street, yet there are no food or beverage options on-site—not even vending machines. A well-managed, franchise restaurant at this location can serve park users and nearby residents, help meet an existing convenience need, and potentially reduce additional driving for basic food and beverage trips—while still being subject to the City’s standard oversight and traffic/operational requirements.

WWAY also reached out to the project developer, Tanner Postal Commercial Real Estate, for comment, but has not heard back.

The variance will be discussed during the New Hanover County Board of Adjustment’s meeting on Thursday.