After intense debate, Brunswick approves expansion of housing subdivision
Dozens of concerned homeowners voiced their opposition to a 124-home expansion of a housing development near Ocean Isle Beach, but members of the Brunswick County Planning Board approved the project unanimously.
There were few empty seats at the board's Sept. 11 meeting. When the board considered the project titled "Enclave at Cameron Woods" -- a proposed expansion of national homebuilder Lennar's Cameron Woods development -- several residents waited for their turn to talk.
"As homeowners, we are concerned," neighbor Jennifer Kirkbride said.
The project proposes an additional 124 single family homes on 48.5 acres of land on Jenrette Road. Cameron Woods was previously approved for 379 homes and 92 townhome units on 238.55 acres of land. The expansion brings the development's total to 503 single family homes and 92 townhomes on 287 acres.
Concerns from residents of Cameron Woods and the nearby Ocean Ridge Plantation development largely centered around continued construction, added traffic, wildlife preservation and home owner's association resources.
When first proposed, developer Lennar looked for these new homes to be part of the current Cameron Woods' HOA, but many current homeowners opposed. In a community meeting in August, existing residents shared they would prefer the new homes form a separate HOA and have their own amenities. Existing residents voiced concerns that their existing amenities, such as a pool, clubhouse and fitness center, could not support additional residents.
Walter Warren and Sean Knudsen attended the Sept. 11 meeting representing the developer. Warren said the current plan is for the addition to have a separate HOA, a sentiment that had been expressed to current Cameron Woods residents via a community-wide written announcement.
Still, current residents were not convinced, and preferred to see that intention reflected in plans submitted to the county, a request that is not required of the developer, according to Marc Pages, principal planner for the county. At the meeting, Knudsen reiterated that the developer plans to have the new homes form a separate HOA without access to the existing Cameron Woods facilities and amenities.
Charly Doerschuk, a Cameron Woods resident, said she was concerned about the additional traffic, especially in the event evacuation from the community was warranted. The site for the new homes is set to be accessible only by Jenrette Road, adding an estimated nearly 1,200 vehicle trips per weekday, Pages said.
Fitz Read, an Ocean Ridge homeowner, was concerned about construction traffic, but county staff said the to-be-developed site is accessible by Jenrette Road and construction there shouldn't impact Ocean Ridge roads.
Planning Board Chair Eric Dunham said the planning board cannot consider potential civil matters, such as an HOA dispute, when considering new development. The seven-member planning board approved the development unanimously at the recommendation of county planning staff.
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Water and sewer services for the development will be provided by Brunswick County. The streets of the development will be private.
Approval by the planning board does not authorize construction, as several other permits and authorization are required, including stormwater, utilities and fire marshal requirements.
Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick OKs Cameron Woods development expansion despite concerns
