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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Design Adjustment Committee Meeting – August 13, 2025

Board of Adjustment — Wednesday, August 13, 2025

BodyWilmington, North Carolina

SessionBoard of Adjustment

DateWednesday, August 13, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 16:42

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:05

I guess I should turn the mic on.

0:07

I'll bring the design adjustment meeting to order.

0:12

Um to open up the meeting.

0:14

I just need to read an introduction.

0:19

The meeting of the design adjustment committee today is today is uh August 13th.

0:28

Attorney Mike Siderfield will be advising the committee on legal and procedural questions.

0:32

Brian Chambers and Amy Bradshaw are here to serve the staff to as staff to the committee.

0:38

The design adjustment committee's purpose is to establish clear and measurable review criteria for consider the consideration of major deviations from the city's technical standards and specifications manual.

0:52

Building design and material standards and subdivision standards.

0:57

The DAC does not consider the housing type, the cost of the proposed unit, occupants, building material, unit size, number of bedrooms, or the architectural design of the structures.

1:11

These hearings are quasi-judicial evidentiary hearings.

1:14

That means it's like a court hearing and the committee's decisions are constrained by the standards in the ordinance and based on the facts presented.

1:23

All requests require a four-fifths vote of the committee to grant the request.

1:28

Appeals to the DAC decisions are to the Superior Court.

1:31

A written notice of appeal must be filed with the new Hanover County Superior Court within 30 days of the DAC's decision.

1:39

The parties to these cases are entitled to an impartial board.

1:43

If a board member has a fixed opinion about the matter, a financial interest in the outcome, a close relationship with an affected person, or has any ex parte communication about the matter?

1:53

Please disclose that information to determine if a recusal is necessary.

1:58

City staff will introduce the project to the DAC and DAC members may ask questions.

2:04

The applicant may present additional information about the project, and the members may ask additional questions.

2:11

If anyone wishes to provide evidence at today's hearing, witnesses must sign in at the on the clipboard at the back of the room and be sworn in.

2:21

Because witnesses are to provide sworn testimony.

2:24

Please focus on the facts and standards, not personal preference or opinion.

2:29

When a witness comes forward to give testimony, please come to the podium, state your name and address for the record, and speak clearly.

2:37

At this time, staff will administer the oath for all individuals who intend to provide witness testimony.

2:44

If I could have all staff applicants and members of the public to please stand up and raise your right hand if you intend to be speaking today.

2:58

Thank you.

3:01

All right, thank you.

3:02

Um the first order of business is the approval of the previous meeting minutes.

3:09

Did everybody on the committee have a chance to review?

3:12

And are there any recommendations to the minutes?

3:16

Modifications.

3:18

And if none, do I have a motion to approve?

3:22

I make a motion to approve.

3:24

All right.

3:25

Is there a second?

3:26

I'll say all in favor of that motion, please say aye.

3:30

Aye.

3:31

Any opposed?

3:33

Hearing none, that motion passes.

3:36

Um according to the agenda, we have one item of new business.

3:42

Um project name 917 Pine Street.

3:46

Is there a presentation by staff?

3:51

1917 Pine Street, sorry.

3:54

Yes, 1917 Pine Street.

3:56

Uh good afternoon, Chairman, committee members.

3:59

Uh today we'll be doing an evidentiary evidentiary hearing uh for design adjustments at 1917 uh Pine Street.

4:09

The area shown highlighted in green is in an unimproved is an unimproved portion of Pine Street, an existing 60-foot public right-of-way.

4:18

Uh currently there are four lots and one home which have access to the unimproved portion.

4:24

Uh the existing home currently accesses the right-of-way, and four undeveloped lots will be accessing the right-of-way in the near future.

4:33

The technical standards and specification manual specifies minimum standards for minor streets and residential areas and subdivisions, including five-foot sidewalks on both sides of the street.

4:45

The applicant proposes to install five-foot sidewalks on only one side of the street and has provided an alternative street cross-section showing the proposed revised layout.

4:56

The applicant has provided justification for the request on attachment three of your package.

5:06

And I'd like my case uh entered into the record.

5:10

Uh the applicant and representatives are here as well to answer any of your questions.

5:14

Okay.

5:15

Thank you.

5:16

Does anybody have any questions of staff?

5:21

I didn't see that the uh width of sidewalk was provided.

5:26

Um does the applicant propose five foot sidewalks, or is there six-foot sidewalks along the back of curb?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████52%

Procedural██████████████████████████████████39%

Public Engagement████████9%

Summary of Proceedings

Design Adjustment Committee Meeting

The Design Adjustment Committee (DAC) of the City of Wilmington held a public meeting on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Thalian Hall (102 North 3rd Street), not at the Skyline Center as listed on the agenda. The committee considered one new business item: a request for design adjustments to sidewalk standards at 1917 Pine Street. Vice-Chair Denys Vielkanowitz called the meeting to order, with all five members present. The meeting adjourned at 1:47 p.m.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting. The agenda listed the minutes as from June 13, 2025, but the minutes referenced a regular meeting on June 18, 2025. No changes were suggested, and the motion to approve carried unanimously (5-0).

Discussion Items

1917 Pine Street – Sidewalk Design Adjustment (DAC-1-825): The applicant, Darren Ivey, requested a design adjustment to allow sidewalks on only one side of Pine Street (the east side) instead of both sides as required by the city's Technical Standards and Specifications Manual (TSSM). The site is a 0.59-acre property zoned R-7, and Pine Street is an unimproved 60-foot public right-of-way. Staff planner Todd Rademacher presented the request, noting that the adjustment was needed to preserve two large oak trees on the west side, the lack of existing lots on that side, and low anticipated pedestrian traffic on the dead-end street. The applicant emphasized tree preservation as the primary reason. During committee discussion, members supported the single-side sidewalk to protect trees. They also addressed concerns about driveway access and curb type, suggesting that vertical curbs be used except at driveways (where valley curbs would be allowed) to prevent vehicles from parking on the sidewalk. The committee agreed that final details on sidewalk width, alignment, and curb type would be resolved through the Technical Review Committee (TRC). The applicant confirmed that the design engineer had discussed a mix of curb types with the TRC previously. The committee also noted a discrepancy in the proposed road slope (1% vs. required 2%), but determined that all technical aspects would be addressed by the TRC.

Key Outcomes

Vote on 1917 Pine Street: Mr. Seidel made a motion to approve the design adjustment with conditions: the applicant shall provide a sidewalk on the east side of the street only, consistent with the TSSM, and the TRC will finalize the sidewalk width, location, and curb types. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Vielkanowitz and passed unanimously (5-0).
Next Meeting: The committee announced that the next regular meeting will be held on September 17, 2025, at a new location: Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington.

Meeting Transcript

I guess I should turn the mic on. I'll bring the design adjustment meeting to order. Um to open up the meeting. I just need to read an introduction. The meeting of the design adjustment committee today is today is uh August 13th. Attorney Mike Siderfield will be advising the committee on legal and procedural questions. Brian Chambers and Amy Bradshaw are here to serve the staff to as staff to the committee. The design adjustment committee's purpose is to establish clear and measurable review criteria for consider the consideration of major deviations from the city's technical standards and specifications manual. Building design and material standards and subdivision standards. The DAC does not consider the housing type, the cost of the proposed unit, occupants, building material, unit size, number of bedrooms, or the architectural design of the structures. These hearings are quasi-judicial evidentiary hearings. That means it's like a court hearing and the committee's decisions are constrained by the standards in the ordinance and based on the facts presented. All requests require a four-fifths vote of the committee to grant the request. Appeals to the DAC decisions are to the Superior Court. A written notice of appeal must be filed with the new Hanover County Superior Court within 30 days of the DAC's decision. The parties to these cases are entitled to an impartial board. If a board member has a fixed opinion about 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 that information to determine if a recusal is necessary. City staff will introduce the project to the DAC and DAC 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 at the on the clipboard at 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 record, and speak clearly. At this time, staff will administer the oath for all individuals who intend to provide witness testimony. If I could have all staff applicants and members of the public to please stand up and raise your right hand if you intend to be speaking today. Thank you. All right, thank you. Um the first order of business is the approval of the previous meeting minutes. Did everybody on the committee have a chance to review? And are there any recommendations to the minutes? Modifications. And if none, do I have a motion to approve? I make a motion to approve. All right. Is there a second? I'll say all in favor of that motion, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, that motion passes. Um according to the agenda, we have one item of new business. Um project name 917 Pine Street. Is there a presentation by staff? 1917 Pine Street, sorry. Yes, 1917 Pine Street. Uh good afternoon, Chairman, committee members. Uh today we'll be doing an evidentiary evidentiary hearing uh for design adjustments at 1917 uh Pine Street. The area shown highlighted in green is in an unimproved is an unimproved portion of Pine Street, an existing 60-foot public right-of-way. Uh currently there are four lots and one home which have access to the unimproved portion. Uh the existing home currently accesses the right-of-way, and four undeveloped lots will be accessing the right-of-way in the near future.

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