Once-denied development in Brunswick County receives approval upon resubmittal
When a developer first presented plans to build 2,950 homes in rural Brunswick County, Ash residents spoke out against the project.
Their efforts proved successful when the project was denied by the Brunswick County Planning Board. After resubmitting the project with a few changes, residents continued to voice their concerns.
Their efforts were not as fruitful the second time around and the Ashton Farms Planned Development finally received board approval.
Ashton Farms is a planned development proposing lots for 2,750 single-family homes and 200 townhomes, as well as 20.5 acres of commercial land on over 1,250 acres of land. As proposed, the development would create an overall density of 2.35 dwelling units per acre. The land is zoned for medium density residential use, which allows suburban development and a limited number of commercial uses, with a maximum density of 5.8 dwelling units per acre.
Explainer: From voting to land use, here's how the Brunswick County Planning Board works
The plans also note land for a fire/EMS station within the development, addressing a common concern that such public services are not adequate for the growth hitting the county.
The residential community is planned along Russtown, Longwood and Whiteville roads near Ash.
The mixed-use development was denied by the planning board following a public hearing in November 2023 in light of several concerns from residents and planning board members. The development was highly contested by residents who created an online petition in opposition last fall, which gathered over 2,300 signatures.
Residents voiced concerns that the development would negatively impact wildlife habitats, traffic and stormwater control in the area. The board ultimately denied the development application in November, citing concerns that the project was not appropriate for the property and area of the county.
While the resubmitted plans for the development do not reflect a change in lot numbers or site acreage, the developer did address several issues initially raised by the planning board at the time of the November denial. County planning staff said the revisions included adding a 30-foot buffer around the property’s wetlands, increasing the capacity of the project’s stormwater ponds and dedicating 5% of the homes (118 units) to workforce housing.
According to Matt Nichols, a Wilmington attorney representing the applicant, while the roads in the development will be privately built and maintained, they will be open for public use. Among other potential public benefits in the development are a public parking lot at the development’s trailhead and a site designated for a future emergency medical services station for the county, he added.
According to the staff report, the project is expected to generate more than 27,000 additional vehicle trips to the area per day at the time it is fully built out. Nichols said that full build out would take 10 to 15 years.
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The board approved the development by a vote of 4-1. Board member William Bittenbender dissented, having earlier cited concerns about the added traffic to the area.
The Brunswick County Planning Board takes final action on applications for major subdivisions, major site plans, planned developments and rezonings. The approval or denial of these applications occurs early in the planning process, after county staff and the technical review committee has considered the application and offered feedback but before other state and federal authorizations are received.
The board approves the conceptual plan for these developments based on whether the project meets the minimum criteria required. The approval of the planning board is not an authorization to construct. The project must obtain all necessary federal, state and county approvals and permits prior to construction.
Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Project bringing thousands of homes to rural Brunswick, NC approved
