The Wilmington Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers, Skyline Center, 929 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC. All six present members (Chairman John Lennon, Vice-Chair Danny Adams, Commissioners Collier, Jones, Pollock, and Woodruff) participated; Commissioner Cofer was excused. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.
No members of the public spoke or submitted written comments for either public hearing.
Staff Planner Grace Lamay presented a proposed amendment to City Code Chapter 18, Sections 18-43 and 18-44(c) to allow semi-permanent structures (e.g., shipping containers) as accessory uses in the Central Business District (CBD). The amendment would:
Applicant Joe Apkarian, owner of Eagle’s Dare, explained that he received four zoning violations for a shipping container used as a secondary bar and storage. After the Board of Adjustment recommended pursuing a text amendment rather than variances, he submitted this proposal. He noted the container is designed to complement the main building and that similar architecture is increasingly common.
Commissioners discussed:
Staff Director Linda Painter suggested adding a condition requiring the narrow portion of the structure to face the primary street frontage (or the street with higher functional classification on corner lots) and placing the long side as close to the interior lot line as possible.
Staff Planner Haley Hopkins presented a request to rezone a 0.349-acre vacant lot (Parcel ID R05105-001-018-000) from MH (Manufactured Housing) to R-15 (Moderate Density Single-Dwelling District). The site is at the intersection of East Westwood Drive and Lance Drive. The applicant, Cindee Wolf of Design Graphics (on behalf of the property owner), noted that the Westwood subdivision historically consisted of individually owned 15,000 sq ft lots originally used for mobile homes but now transitioning to single-family homes. The applicant intends to build a single-family home and possibly an accessory dwelling unit. Surrounding properties include vacant lots and established R-15 zoning. Staff found modest support for the request under the Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan and recommended approval.
Good evening, like to call this uh April first City of Wilmington Planning Commission meeting to order, and we'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you all. This is the biggest crowd we've had in four months. Um I will note for the record, um Commissioner Cofer contacted me today and is not able to make it, so he is excused from this evening's proceedings. That being said, Mr. City Attorney, do we have a quorum? Yes, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much. The Planning Commission advises City Council on applications for rezoning land development code amendments, street closures, and long-range plans and policies. Commission holds legislative hearings, meaning that anyone wishing to speak on a request may do so. The commission issues a recommendation based on consistency of the request with the intent and purpose of the land development code and consistency of a request with the Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan and other relevant adopted plans and policies. In situations where planning staff is the applicant, there will only be one presentation. City staff will make the first presentation. The applicant will make the second presentation. To maintain an orderly meeting, all presentations shall proceed without interruption unless the commission desires to intervene with questions or comments. For public hearings, the chair will open the public hearing for those physically present wishing to speak about an item. Those in favor of an item shall be heard first, followed by those opposed to an item. A ten minute time window will be allowed for public comment in favor of an item, and a ten minute time will be allowed for public comment in opposition. Staff member will track the ten minute time periods and will notify the speaker at the five-minute mark, one minute mark, and verbally call time when the time expires. Public has been encouraged to submit their comments in writing via a web-based form located at the city of Wilmington's website. All comments received prior to 3 p.m. today were forwarded unedited to the planning commission. All comments received will be delivered to city council when the item advances. And all comments received will be made available to the public if requested. Ms. Bradshaw, we received any since we did not. Thank you. All votes will be roll call votes after proper motions are made and consistency statements read into the record, and the chair will state the outcome of the vote and the action. Rezoning requests that receive an unfavorable recommendation from the planning commission may be appealed by the applicant to the Wilmington City Council. Appeal should be in the form of a letter submitted to the city clerk within 10 days of this hearing. Any item that is appealed will tentatively be heard by city council at their May 19th, 2026 meeting. With that, we'll move on to the minutes from the last meeting. Any members of the commission have any comments in regards to the minutes? If not, do I hear a motion to approve? Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes as written. Second. It's been motioned by Commissioner Collier, seconded by Commissioner Pollack. All those in favor? Aye. Very good. Um we will the old business item we will discuss at the conclusion. Um very good. Under new business, we will begin with item number one, which is a land development code amendment to an amend city code chapter 18, section 18 through 43 and 18 through 44 C for revisions to the CBD district specific standards. And Ms. Lamay will be the planner presenting. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the planning commission. I'm Grace Lemay, Planner One for the City of Wilmington.