Pender County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pender County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Large-scale residential rezonings (REZONE 2026-99 and 2026-100)
Two rezoning requests totaling over 1,950 new homes — one 1,023-home subdivision in Long Creek Township and one 930-home 55+ community in Topsail Township — were set for public hearings. Together they could significantly reshape traffic, schools, and services in those areas.
Topsail Township rezone to Office and Institutional
A property owner wants to rezone roughly a quarter-acre to open a specialty trade contractor office. It's a small commercial land-use change, but nearby residents may care about what kinds of business activity move in next door.
Topsail Township commercial rezone of 0.31-acre parcel
An 11.36-acre portion of three tracts could shift from planned development and residential performance zoning to General Business, opening the door to commercial uses near Topsail residents.
Topsail Township Wastewater Treatment Facility Rezoning
Two linked public hearings were scheduled on a proposal to rezone about 32 acres in Topsail Township for a wastewater treatment facility and revise the related special use permit. This could open the door for expanded development capacity in the Topsail area.
Commercial rezoning in Topsail Township
Two linked public hearings were scheduled on a proposal to rezone about 32 acres in Topsail Township for a wastewater treatment facility and revise the related special use permit. This could open the door for expanded development capacity in the Topsail area.
Topsail Township Rezone from Residential to General Business
A small 0.31-acre parcel in Topsail Township was up for rezoning from Residential Performance to General Business, which would allow commercial uses. No outcome is on record.
8 PM Public Hearings: Special Use Permits and Zoning Map Amendments
The board was scheduled to hold public hearings at 8 PM on special use permits, zoning map amendments, and resolutions. These hearings directly shape what can be built where — but the specific applications are not identified in the available materials.
Appeals of development approvals (Appeal 2026-18)
The board was scheduled to hold a public hearing on Appeal 2026-18, an appeal of an administrative decision. This matters to anyone who thinks a county development approval was wrongly made — the appeal process is how neighbors challenge it. The June session showed the board applying a strict state-law standing test before hearing the merits.
Hotels in Industrial Districts
A text amendment would add hotels and motels as permitted uses in the Industrial Transitional and General Industrial districts. That could open more land countywide to lodging development.
Freestanding Sign Height Variance
A variance request would more than double the allowed height of a freestanding sign, from 25 feet to 50 feet — a change in the visual landscape wherever the sign would stand.
Rear Setback Variance for Manufactured Home
A request to let a manufactured home sit 19.37 feet into a required 30-foot rear setback — essentially asking to build much closer to the rear property line than zoning normally allows.
Variance Case VAR 2026-27
A variance request was scheduled for public hearing before the Board of Adjustment. Variances let property owners seek relief from specific zoning rules; the outcome isn't recorded in the available materials.
Salty Acres operations dispute
The operator of Salty Acres has appealed the Board of Appeals decision. The county attorney offered to seek an injunction this week to require the operator to cease operations, and the chairman said neighbors need relief.
Zoning text amendment on surfacing materials
A proposed change to Section 7.10.5 would give property owners and builders more options for driveway and site surfacing materials.
Commissioner District Redistricting
Eight residents showed up to comment on the plan to redraw commissioner districts, but the vote got tabled because the county manager was out sick. Expect it back at a future meeting.
Rocky Point Rezone (REZONE 2025-93)
Nearly 10 acres in Rocky Point got rezoned from General Business back to Residential Performance, meaning no commercial development on that tract.
Rocky Point rezone from commercial to residential zoning
A 9.79-acre tract in Rocky Point could shift from General Business to Residential Performance zoning. That would rule out future commercial use on the parcel and open the door for homes instead.
Appeal 2025-15 — Appeal of an Administrative Decision
An appeal of a county administrative decision was scheduled for a public hearing after being continued from November, when the owner's attorney argued a four-member board couldn't deliver a fair vote. The outcome matters to whoever requested the appeal and to county staff whose decision is being challenged.