Home construction plans continue in Hampstead's contested Edens Lane area
Plans are underway to build more houses on Edens Lane near another subdivision project which sparked controversy last year.
Developers are planning to build a small subdivision on two acres. The property is on the north side of the road and 400 feet away from U.S. 17. According to plans submitted by a representative on behalf of Hampstead Investment Group LLC, the space will be divided into four lots with capacity for four, three-bedroom homes.
Members of Pender County's planning board approved plans in early August for the project. The applicant made a request to build the homes using the "Limited Subdivision Three Lot Division - N.C. Department of Transportation Road" regulation. This allows for subdivisions with no more than three parcels to be on state maintained roads. The fourth lot meets requirements under the county's Unified Development Ordinance.
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"The planned Development District is intended to and encourages progressive land planning and design concepts and is intended to provide an alternative to a conventional development," Pender planning officials stated in the request.
The project is adjacent from the Bridgewater Landing subdivision, west of Edens Lane. In 2021, Hampstead residents voiced their frustrations after unauthorized land clearing to build homes was completed by construction workers associated with Logan Developers.
The work stopped after they were notified about two old cemeteries. One of them, known as the Old Woodside Cemetery, contained the remains for Black people buried before and after slavery.
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After public meetings, developers received permission to continue work after meeting requirements. During one meeting representatives said they would change plans so descendants can visit the gravesite.
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According to standards in the Pender County Unified Development Ordinance and state laws, Logan Developers met required standards to receive approval on a pending preliminary plat application. As a “by-right” project the county is legally obligated to issue approval since all applicable standards have been met.
Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Subdivision coming to Hampstead's contested Edens Lane area
