Design Adjustment Committee Meeting - June 18, 2025: Minutes, Three Waivers for Parkway Subaru, and Calendar Update
Design Adjustment Committee Meeting - June 18, 2025
The Design Adjustment Committee of the City of Wilmington met on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. (called to order at 1:32 p.m.) in the City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. The committee considered one new business item: a request for design adjustments for driveways and parking aisle widths for a Parkway Subaru dealership at 5926 & 5936 Market Street. The meeting also included approval of prior minutes and an update to the 2025 meeting calendar. All votes were unanimous (5-0). The meeting adjourned at 1:57 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes – May 21, 2025: The minutes were approved unanimously (5-0) without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided testimony. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers.
Discussion Items
1. 5926 & 5936 Market Street – Design Adjustments for Parkway Subaru
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Summary: The applicant, Cindee Wolf of Design Solutions, requested three waivers from the City’s technical standards to develop a car dealership on an 8.21-acre vacant site previously used as a manufactured home development, zoned RB (Regional Business). The site has existing access from Market Street and Cardinal Drive. The project team revised the site plan after Technical Review Committee (TRC) feedback, eliminating two driveways, improving circulation, and preserving more trees.
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Waiver 1 – Maximum Private Driveway Length: The technical standard limits private driveways to 500 linear feet if accessing a through street. The proposal includes seven private driveways (labeled 1A through 1G) with lengths ranging from 550 to 1,085 feet. The applicant argued that the hardship is due to the site’s depth and that the rear area is used only for employee and inventory storage, not public access. Committee members questioned fire apparatus turnaround requirements, and staff clarified that driveways under 150 feet do not require turnarounds. The motion to approve cited site circulation. Passed 5-0.
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Waiver 2 – Property Line Offset and Driveway Separation:
- 2a. Property Line Offset: The standard requires a 75-foot offset from property lines along major thoroughfares. The applicant proposes using an existing driveway less than 75 feet from the property line. The revised plan eliminates two of four existing driveways, reducing conflict points. Approved 5-0.
- 2b. Driveway Separation: The standard requires 250 feet between driveways; the applicant proposes approximately 150–178 feet. The separation from Cardinal Drive exceeds the 230-foot standard. The committee noted the reduction in driveways as a positive change. Approved 5-0.
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Waiver 3 – Parking Lot Drive Aisle Width: The standard minimum is 24 feet; the applicant proposes 20 feet. The narrower aisles are in the rear employee/inventory storage area. The applicant stated this allows preservation of existing trees along the southwestern boundary. Heather Latham (project manager) confirmed the rear lot is for employee parking and inventory, not public access, and is not currently gated. The committee found the request reasonable due to limited public access and tree preservation. Approved 5-0.
2. Other Business – 2025 Calendar Update
- Vice-Chair Vielkanowitz noted that the August meeting was moved to August 13, 2025, due to City Council Chambers renovations. The amended calendar was approved unanimously (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: May 21, 2025 minutes approved 5-0.
- Waivers Granted: All three design adjustment waivers for 5926 & 5936 Market Street (Parkway Subaru) approved 5-0.
- Calendar Updated: Next meeting set for August 13, 2025; amended calendar approved 5-0.
- Next Steps: The applicant will proceed to TRC and detailed design/permitting.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. We'll bring the design adjustment committee meeting to order. First, I'll read an introductory statement that the meeting of the design adjustment commission will now come to order. Today's June 18th, 2025. Attorney Mike Satterfield will be advising on legal procedural questions, and Brian Chambers and Amy Bradshaw are here to serve staff to the committee, service staff to the committee. The purpose of this meeting is to establish clear and measurable review criteria for the consideration of major deviations from the city's technical standards and specifications manual, the building design and material standards, and the subdivision standards. The DAC does not consider the housing type, cost of the proposed unit, occupants, building materials, unit size, number of bedrooms, or the architectural design of the structures. These hearings are quasi-judicial evidential evidentiary hearings, meaning it's like a court hearing and the committee's decision decisions are contained by the standards in the ordinance and based on the facts presented today. All variants request require a four-fifths vote of the committee to grant a variance. Appeals of the DA the decisions of the design adjustment committee are to the Superior Court. A written notice of appeal must be filed with the city clerk within 30 days of the design adjustment commission's decision. Appeals are set for hearing before the Board of Adjustment within 30 days or as soon as practicable. The parties to these cases are entitled to an impartial board. If a board member has a fixed opinion on the matter, a financial interest in the outcome, a close relationship with an affected person, or has any ex parte communication about the matter, please disclose the information to determine if recusal is necessary. City staff will introduce the proposed project, and the committee members may ask questions. The applicant may present additional information about the project, and the members may ask additional questions. If anyone wishes to provide evidence at today's hearing, witnesses must sign in on the clipboard in the back of the room and be sworn in. Because witnesses are to provide sworn testimony. Please focus on the facts and standards, not personal preference or opinion. When a witness comes forward to give testimony, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the and address for the record and speak clearly. At this time, staff will administer the oath for all any individual who intends to speak as witness testimony. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. All right. The first item on the agenda is the approval of the last meetings. The approval of the minutes from the last meeting. I'll make a motion we accept a minutes. All right, thank you. I'll second. Second. Any other discussion? Not hearing any. All in favor of that motion, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none. That motion passes. We've got one item on the agenda today. Um looks like it's 5926 and 5936 Market Street. Um there be a staff introduction. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Uh, this is a request for design adjustments uh at 5926-5936 Market Street. Uh this is a proposed uh vehicle sales dealership uh and associated parking. Site contains approximately 8.21 acres and is zoned RB regional business. Um the site ones contain a manufactured home uh housing development. Uh it's currently mostly vacant. Uh they're requesting three uh waivers today from the technical standards. Uh the first being relief from the maximum length of a private driveway, the second being relief from the standard property line offset for a private private driveway, and the third relief is from the standard drive aisle width for a private parking lot.
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