Wilmington Planning Commission discusses riverfront development

WILMINGTON — Wilmington’s Planning Commission meets Wednesday night to discuss rezoning 10 acres of land on the south side of downtown, near the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

If the project moves forward, the riverfront space now zoned for industrial use would be used for mixed use. The property could house new restaurants, shops, condominiums, and more.

The company that has applied to take on the project has proposed to expand the riverwalk.

The development would bring as estimated 16,000 additional vehicle trips a day to the area.

Joseph Schoo, who works across the street from the proposed site, said he see an increase in local traffic as a problem. He said, “I wish the city would take it and turn it into a riverfront park. I mean they don’t have any of them around here really and it’s all commercialized, just all commercialized, all new businesses.”

The current proposal includes planting a minimum of 150 trees on the property as well as preserving and relocating two oak trees already on the site.