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Ordinance Amending the Official Zoning Maps of the City of Wilmington to Rezone Property Containing 2.08 Acres Located at 3606 Market Street from O&I, Office and Institutional District, to CS, Commercial Services District
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Department: |
Planning & Development |
Meeting Date: |
7/15/2025 |
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Contact Name: |
Patrick O'Mahony |
Public Hearing: |
Yes |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-3260 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
July 4, 2025; July 11, 2025; StarNews |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Ordinance; Attachment #2: Case Summary; Attachment #3: General Rezoning Application; Attachment# 4: Aerial Map; Attachment #5: Land Use and Zoning Map; Attachment #6: Growth Strategies Map; Attachment #7: Walk Wilmington Map; Attachment #8: Planning Commission Recommendation; Attachment #9: Draft Planning Commission Minutes |
PURPOSE:
The applicant proposes to rezone the subject site from O&I, Office and Institutional District to, CS, Commercial Services District.
BACKGROUND:
The site contains approximately ±2.08 acres and is currently zoned O&I, Office and Institutional district. The site is currently occupied by NourishNC, Inc. and is used as a warehouse for food storage and distribution in support of their non-profit organization activities, which is a legal non-conforming use. The site was previously approved as a “Social Services” use, which was permitted within the O&I zoning district in the City’s previous Land Development Code (“LDC”). As part of the City’s 2021 LDC update, Social Services uses were grouped under the “Office” use classification.
The site is primarily surrounded by commercial and institutional uses. A restaurant is located to the north of the site across Market St., US Army Corps of Engineers offices to the south, a motel to the west, and vehicle sales to the east. Access to the site is currently provided from Market Street.
The Comprehensive Plan identifies this site as within a Suburban Commercial Retrofit Area of Opportunity, an Urban Mixed-Use Center, and a Transit-Oriented Mixed-Use Center. While the plan promotes mixed-use, pedestrian-scale development in these areas, the CS zoning designation is intended to accommodate intense commercial uses that are generally inconsistent with the desired development pattern outlined in the plan. The proposed general rezoning would allow by-right uses that would not be appropriate in this location such as manufacturing, industrial laundry services, and outdoor storage. An unconditioned rezoning request at this location does not adequately ensure the future development of this property will be compatible with adopted plans and the existing development pattern.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding this general rezoning on June 4, 2025. No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the request. No public comments were submitted in advance of the meeting. After discussion, the commission voted 7-0 in favor of recommending approval of the request.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
N/A
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends denial of the requested rezoning to CS, Commercial Services district, based on inconsistency with the Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan, particularly policies 1.2.1 and 1.5.2.