More than 1,800 homes approved for Leland planned development

Almost 700 acres of rural land just outside Leland will soon be home to more than 1,800 new housing units.

The Brunswick County planning board Tuesday approved the Malmo Tract planned development, located across the highway from the Compass Pointe and Windsor Park communities.

The project will add 618 multifamily units, 513 single family units, 196 townhomes, 110 duplexes and 240 single family build-for-rent units off Malmo Loop Road and U.S. 74/76.

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The property is owned by D. Logan, president of Logan Homes, according to county property records.

Nearby residents have opposed the development, citing concerns over increased traffic and potential flooding issues in the already rapidly growing area.

"Traffic is going to get so much worse than it already is, it's inevitable," said Cindy Bessner, a Compass Pointe resident.

The development would add more than 15,000 vehicle trips per 24-hour weekday volume to the area, according to the staff report. More than 250 acres of the development site are made up of wetlands. 

The development was originally set for approval with a stormwaters system that would accommodate a 25-year flood event. However as a condition of approval the board required the stormwater system to be overengineered to meet the requirements of a 100-year flood event. 

Reporter John Orona can be reached at 910-343-2327 or jorona@gannett.com.