Wilmington Planning Commission Meeting - June 3, 2026
Wilmington Planning Commission Meeting - June 3, 2026
The Wilmington Planning Commission met on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The commission considered a single rezoning request for 320 Military Cutoff Road, approved prior meeting minutes, and received updates on subcommittee work and upcoming staff items.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (May 6, 2026): The minutes from the previous meeting were approved unanimously by a voice vote (motion by Commissioner Pollock, second by Commissioner Jones).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition of the rezoning item. Written comments received prior to 3 p.m. on the meeting date were distributed to the commission but none were submitted.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning at 320 Military Cutoff Road (Z-PC-2026-0003): Staff Planner Hillary Taylor presented a request to rezone two parcels totaling 6.69 acres from O&I CD (Office & Institutional Conditional District) and RB (Regional Business) to O&I (Office & Institutional). The site currently houses a Korean Baptist church facility and a vacant rear parcel. Staff found the request consistent with the Create Wilmington Comprehensive Plan, supporting compatible infill commercial development and a mix of uses along major corridors. The applicant, Cindy Wolf on behalf of the church, explained the rezoning would eliminate a split-zoning issue and provide flexibility for future church improvements (e.g., parking, playground, stormwater pond) without requiring repeated conditional district amendments. Commissioners asked about the history of conditions, the church’s zoning history, and the potential uses allowed under O&I (including commercial mixed-use). The applicant noted the property had been combined into a single parcel via a deed of combination. No opposition was expressed.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Rezoning (Item 1): Commissioner Collier moved to approve the rezoning, stating consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and public interest. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Potl. The roll call vote was 5–0 in favor (Commissioners Jones, Collier, Woodruff, Pollock, and the Chair; the Chair initially miscounted as 6–0 but corrected to 5–0). The rezoning is approved and will advance to City Council unless appealed within 10 days.
- Commission Update: Commissioner Pollock reported on a subcommittee meeting (with Commissioners Jones and Collier and city staff) to discuss planning processes and roles. The subcommittee will remain available for future collaboration on long-range planning and code updates.
- Staff Update: Staff announced that two city-initiated items (adoption of the Greater Downtown Plan and the clean maintenance amendments) were postponed from the June 2 City Council meeting to the June 16 meeting due to a full agenda. A report will be given at the July commission meeting.
- Commission Request: Commissioner Pollock requested that the meeting timer and voting system used by City Council be implemented in Planning Commission meetings for better time management. Staff will investigate the technical feasibility.
- Next Meeting: The next Planning Commission meeting is confirmed for July 8, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call to order the June City Wilmington Planning Commission. If you are able to stand, please stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I'd like to point out that Commissioners Lennon and Cofer are uh not with us tonight uh with some excused absences. So on that note, um Mr. Attorney, um, do we have a quorum? Yes, Mr. Chair. Okay. Thank you very much. Um the planning commission advises city council on applications for rezoning, land development code amendments, street closures, long-range plans and policies. The 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 relative adoptive plans and policies. In regards to staff applicant presentations, all matters requiring commission action shall be presented to the planning commission by the planning staff and the applicant. In situations where the planning staff is the applicant, there will only be one presentation. City city staff will make the first presentation and 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. In 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 10-minute time will be allowed for public comment in favor of an item, and a 10-minute time will be allowed for public comment in opposition to an item. A staff member will track the 10-minute time periods and will notify the speaker at the five-minute mark, the one-minute mark, and verbally call time when time expires. All groups, organizations, neighborhoods, or similar associations desiring to comment are asked to appoint one spokesperson to present their concerns or point of view to the commission on each agenda item. The public has been encouraged to submit their comments in writing via web-based form located on the City of Wilmington's website. All comments received prior to 3 p.m. today were forwarded unedited to the planning commission. Um I don't recall having any comments. Um can you verify if there were any comments for today's or tonight's items? There were no comments. Thank you. Um comments received would will be delivered to the city council when the item advances. All comments received will be made available to the public if requested. Uh in regards to voting, all votes will be roll call votes after proper motions are made and consistency statements read into the record. The chair will state the outcome of the vote and the action. In regards to appeals, rezoning equ rezoning requests that receive an unfavorable recommendation from the planning commission may be appealed by the applicant to the Wilmington City Council. Appeals 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 the June 16th, 2026 meeting. With that, I'd like to um ask if there are any questions and or a motion to uh approve the minutes from the May Planning Commission meeting. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the May meeting. I have a motion from Mr. Pollock. Second. Have a second from Commissioner Jones. Um take a vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. The May meeting minutes are approved. Um, I guess we'll start with uh old business. Is there any old business? Um no old business.
openpublica.com