Brunswick County announced on May 11 that it will hold three community meetings this month to discuss the proposed new Land Development Ordinance, which is set to be presented to the Board of Commissioners this summer.
The upcoming meetings aim to inform residents about changes in local development rules and gather feedback from the public. These sessions are significant as they address updates needed for compliance with state law and alignment with the county’s land use goals.
Each meeting will start at 6 p.m. and feature a formal presentation by consultants from N-Focus Planning, who will explain the latest draft of the ordinance. The same information will be shared at all three events, covering an overview of the plan, feedback received during earlier public input processes, and details about what types of changes are allowed or restricted under current state laws governing planning and zoning authority. Staff from Brunswick County’s Planning department and consultants will answer questions one-on-one after each presentation.
The scheduled meetings are: Tuesday, May 26 at Town of St. James Homer E. Wright Event Center; Wednesday, May 27 at Town Creek Park Community Building in Winnabow; and Thursday, May 28 at BSRI Senior Center in Shallotte. Additionally, planning staff will provide an update during the next regular Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, May 18.
The modernization project was initially planned for completion by summer but has been delayed due to legislative changes enacted by North Carolina’s General Assembly last December. Session Law 2024-57 (Senate Bill 382) introduced restrictions on local governments’ ability to alter zoning regulations without property owner consent if such changes would result in down-zoning—a reduction in permitted uses or density—which is governed under NC General Statute 160D-601 (d). This law represents a major shift statewide and limits how counties like Brunswick can adjust their ordinances for future development needs.
County officials have communicated concerns about these legal constraints to state representatives, saying that such legislation restricts Brunswick County’s ability to determine its own land use decisions and has slowed progress on updating its ordinances.
Residents who cannot attend may contact Director Kirstie Dixon or Deputy Director Marc Pages with questions regarding the project.
