Design Adjustment Committee Meeting – September 17, 2025
Design Adjustment Committee Meeting – September 17, 2025
The Design Adjustment Committee of the City of Wilmington met on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. The only item on the agenda was a request for design adjustments for a courtyard development at 2718 Worth Drive. The committee unanimously approved the requested waiver. No public comments were made.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (August 13, 2025): The minutes from the August 13, 2025 regular meeting were presented. No corrections were suggested. Vice-Chair Vielkanowitz moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Seidel. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).
Discussion Items
- 2718 Worth Drive – Request for Design Adjustments for Courtyard Development (DAC-2-925): The applicant, Cindee Wolf, requested a waiver to allow off-street parking to be located between the primary street frontage and the dwelling units, which is not typically permitted under Section 18-435 of the Land Development Code. The site is approximately 1.10 acres, zoned R-5, and currently vacant. The proposal is a 12-unit residential courtyard development, with approximately 40% impervious surface requiring a stormwater management permit. The applicant argued the waiver was reasonable because the parking area is set back more than 110 feet from the street, oriented away from Worth Drive, and will be screened with landscaping. A revised site plan was submitted the morning of the meeting to address emergency access, without changing the parking location. Staff Planner Zac Smith presented the case. Committee members asked questions about parking count (8–9 spaces), street parking availability, emergency access, fire hydrant distances, and stormwater mitigation. The applicant stated that soil testing is underway and stormwater will be addressed through the Technical Review Committee (TRC) process. The committee discussed the importance of preserving an existing live oak tree as a focal point. Mr. Seidel expressed support for the request, noting that the proposed buffering and landscaping, along with the housing options provided by the development, were beneficial to the zoning district.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Approve Waiver: Mr. Seidel made a motion to approve the request as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Henley. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). The committee granted the waiver for off-street parking to be located between the primary street frontage and dwelling units, contingent on further details to be reviewed during the TRC process.
- Next Steps: The applicant will proceed with the TRC review, which will address detailed site plan elements such as stormwater management, fire hydrant placement, and final parking configuration.
Meeting Transcript
I'll send my goon back for you. Oh. I got it. I don't run the test because I'll just keep it on the S. How do we express that normally? Checking one, two, three, four, testing one, two. Travis right now. So my content yes, the board is uh all the following. Yeah, we're uh yeah, I'll put it all over there when uh we uh think we all testing one two three four. I don't think we can take well and have a few menu modern. Oh, it's clear now. Oh well. You know, there is a house move right there. Oh, there is a house. Well, here's the newest. So I guess it's a blue. Oh, it's over there. Never mind. Yeah, now that would probably work because we could get out the special time. But still we do probably push through and see what we could have. Oh, then we can actually play uh we all back the other. Yeah, you have to give more pretty much cost more test one to test one two. Call the meeting of the design adjustment committee to order. Um, before we get started, I have to read an introduction. The design adjustment committee's purpose is to establish clear and measurable review criteria for the consideration of major deviations from the city's technical standards and specifications manual, building design and material standards and subdivision standards. The committee does not consider housing type, 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 they are like a court hearing, and the committee's decisions are constrained by the standards and the ordinance and based upon the facts presented. All variance requests require a four-fifths vote of the committee to grant the variants. Appeals of the committee decisions are to superior court. The parties in 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 the affected person, or has had any ex parte communication about the matter, please disclose that information to determine if a recusal is necessary. City staff will introduce the proposed project to the committee, and committee members may ask questions. The applicant may present additional information about the project and members may ask questions. If anyone wishes to provide evidence at today's hearing, witnesses must be must sign in at 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 the 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 member of the public to please stand up and raise your right hand. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor of approval of the minutes. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? And of course I did not vote. Um first item on the agenda is a 2718 worth drive. Is there a staff presentation?
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