Columbus County land-use rules present different paths for developers as one RV park faces technical delays and other breaks through a year-long legal stalemate.
By BC News Staff Writer
COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC — The regulatory landscape for recreational developments in Columbus County has seen significant activity this spring, with local boards delivering two very different outcomes for proposed RV campgrounds in the region.
While a newly proposed park near Tabor City hit an immediate administrative roadblock last week, a separate, highly contested riverfront project in Pireway finally cleared a major hurdle after more than a year of delays and legal friction.
Tabor City Proposal Halted over Site Plan Details
On May 19, 2026, the Columbus County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to deny a special use permit for the proposed Tapia RV Park. The project, brought forward by landowner Pedro Tapia, outlines a plan for a 37-site campground situated southeast of Tabor City at 8485 Swamp Fox Highway East (NC 904).
According to county officials, the denial does not represent a permanent rejection of the campground concept itself, but rather a failure to meet strict technical requirements. Board of Adjustment Chairman Darren Mills informed the applicant that the submitted documentation lacked necessary layout details and precise engineering data required under the county’s current zoning rules.
Tapia, who recently relocated to the area from New Jersey, designed the park to target traveling families, incorporating amenities such as a guest swimming pool and a splash pad. Following the hearing, Tapia indicated that the project is on temporary hold while a revised, comprehensive site plan is engineered to address the board’s requirements for a future reapplication.
Pireway Project Breaks Through After Year-Long Battle
The administrative delay for Tapia’s project stands in sharp contrast to a separate campground proposal further south in the Pireway area, which only recently advanced after a grueling regulatory and legal saga.
In late March 2026, the Columbus County Planning Board issued a favorable recommendation for a campground proposed by Hubert and Malette Godwin at 55 Riverview Lane, located just off River Road near the Waccamaw River.
The Godwins originally began developing the 5.72-acre property under older county guidelines that allowed up to 14 recreational vehicles without a special use permit. However, subsequent changes to local land-use laws reduced that limit to just two vehicles, forcing the landowners to seek formal county approval to bring the site into compliance.
The project faced intense neighborhood opposition and repeated board delays starting in March 2025, culminating in an initial permit denial by the Board of Adjustment in September 2025. The dispute escalated further when the landowners filed a lawsuit against Columbus County in Superior Court, alleging that the proceedings had been improperly influenced.
Despite the friction, the planning board’s March vote represents the first major breakthrough for the Pireway project, though neighboring residents continue to voice heavy concerns regarding localized flooding risks along the Waccamaw River basin.
Looking Ahead
As outdoor hospitality and RV travel continue to draw interest across the Carolinas, both projects highlight the tightening grid of county land-use regulations. For developers like Tapia, the path forward requires returning to the drawing board for technical adjustments, while the Godwin project serves as a reminder of how protracted local zoning disputes can become.
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