Pender County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pender County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.