A new development is planned for Castle Hayne, which will create a mix of residential and commercial space, but a rezoning is first required.
The development, called Moore’s Crossing, is planned for the 3500 block of Castle Hayne Road and on 27.55 acres of land at the intersection of Chair Road and Castle Hayne Road. That site is also near the interchange of Interstate 140 and Castle Hayne Road, according to the rezoning application.
The proposed development is divided into three sections. One section is for residential/multi-family and would be located on the Chair Road side of the property. Another section is for retail and would be located at the end of the part of the property where Chair Road meets Castle Hayne Road. The final section is for commercial, food and retail and would be located on the Castle Hayne Road side of the property.
The existing zone is zoned R-20 residential and the property is unoccupied according to the rezoning application. The proposed planned site plan would allow for mixed community and general retail use.
According to the rezoning application, the applicant stated that creating grocery and retail stores closer to northern New Hanover County residents would be beneficial and could help reduce or eliminate the number of car trips.
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The 13 lots in the proposed development are located at 617, 3609, 3601, 3541, 3531, 3521, 2601, 3515 and 3501 Castle Hayne Road. Sites are also listed at 2511, 2519 and 2535 Chair Road and 3600 Emerson Drive.
According to documents attached to the rezoning application, the Josh Moore family cemetery is located on property adjacent to the proposed development, but the developer plans to replace the existing easement from Chair Road with its own paved easement from Emerson Drive.
According to John Lennon, who is involved in the planning of the construction project, the proposed cemetery entrance would not be an access point for the planned construction project, but would only be intended for cemetery visitors and emergency vehicles.
Lennon and Burrows Smith, representing the applicant, attended a community meeting at St James AME Church, Castle Hayne on 30 July. According to the community meeting registration form, 47 people attended the meeting. As a result of the meeting, no changes to the plans have been proposed at this time.
For residential use, mobile homes, duplexes, mobile home parks and a mobile home community would not be permitted under the proposed planned development conditions. For public institutional use, an animal shelter or helipad would not be permitted. Sales of mobile homes and manufactured homes, vehicle sales and towing services and vehicle storage yards would not be permitted for commercial use. All industrial, manufacturing and transportation uses would also be prohibited.
The Planning Board is scheduled to review the proposal on Sept. 5. A hearing date for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners has not yet been set.
