By BC News Staff Writer
BOLIVIA, NC — Brunswick County officials have announced a series of three town hall meetings this month, inviting residents to review a sweeping proposal to modernize the county’s land-use regulations.
The meetings will focus on the latest draft of the Land Development Ordinance, formerly known as the Unified Development Ordinance, which serves as the legal backbone for how land is utilized and developed throughout the county’s unincorporated areas and the City of Northwest.
Each session is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will feature a comprehensive 60- to 90-minute presentation by N-Focus Planning, the consulting firm spearheading the rewrite. According to county officials, the presentation will provide a summary of public feedback received to date and explain specific legal constraints placed on local zoning by North Carolina state law.
Navigating State Mandates
A significant portion of the presentation is expected to address recent legislative hurdles. The project, which launched in the summer of 2024, has faced delays following the passage of Senate Bill 382 (Session Law 2024-57).
The state law restricts zoning amendments that would result in “down-zoning” without written consent from all affected property owners. This includes reductions in density, permitted uses, or changes that create new nonconformities in non-residential districts. County leadership has voiced concerns that these state-level restrictions hinder the ability to manage local growth and have slowed the modernization effort.
The county will present the same information at three locations to ensure accessibility for residents across the region:
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Tuesday, May 26: Town of St. James Homer E. Wright Event Center, 4136 Southport-Supply Rd SE, St. James
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Wednesday, May 27: Town Creek Park Community Building, 6420 Ocean Highway East, Winnabow
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Thursday, May 28: BSRI Senior Center at Shallotte, 3620 Express Dr, Shallotte
Following the formal presentations, planning staff and consultants will be available for one-on-one questions.
The push for the new LDO is intended to align county code with the Blueprint Brunswick Land Use Plan and ensure the county remains in legal compliance with modern development practices.
Before the community tour begins, planning staff will brief the Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting on Monday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. The Board is expected to receive the official draft later this summer before considering adoption.
Residents seeking more information or wishing to view the current draft can visit the county’s project website.
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