'Fight every step of the way': Myrtle Grove residents oppose townhome project

Residents say they're resolved to fight a rezoning that would nearly triple the density allowed on a narrow strip of land in the heart of Myrtle Grove.

Developers counter the project, which proposes 84 townhomes and 10 single-family homes on the nearly 15-acre tract at 5304 Masonboro Loop Rd., brings the density needed to address a shortage of housing in New Hanover County.

Welcome to the Port City's latest dispute pitting developers against residents, a surging population against a decreasing number of affordable homes and the need for more infrastructure against environmental preservation.

Earlier this week a community meeting to discuss plans for the Masonboro Loop project drew more than 50 residents. It became contentious at times with residents talking over members of the development team and disputing information presented.

Zimmer Development Company is asking New Hanover County to rezone the land from its current single-family residential zoning to a zone that allows for higher density residential development. If approved, the rezoning would allow nearly three times the current density.

Zimmer Development Company is behind several Wilmington-area projects, including Mayfaire and Belle Meade apartments along Carolina Beach Road.

At Wednesday's meeting, area residents expressed concerns about an array of issues, including how the project would impact traffic on an already congested Masonboro Loop Road and how it would affect existing stormwater and drainage problems in surrounding areas.

More:A sprawling parking lot no more: Former Galleria by Wrightsville Beach to be redeveloped

Stay Connected: Like the Growth and Development Facebook page for all of the latest development news in the Cape Fear region.

Howard Fineman has lived in Masonboro Harbour, a neighborhood directly across Masonboro Loop Road from the proposed development site, for 18 years.

In recent years, he said he's become a "prisoner to traffic" as the number of cars have climbed. Fineman said he avoids driving Masonboro Loop Road altogether during morning and afternoon rush hour and he's worried that adding more housing will only make the traffic worse.

"Our top concerns are traffic," he said. "You have no idea how dangerous Masonboro Loop Road is."

The recent construction of Trinity Landing, a more than 220-unit senior housing complex just down Masonboro Loop Road, has already increased congestion.

Like Fineman, Randall Millis worries about more traffic. But Millis, who lives within 500 feet of the proposed project, also has concerns about the project's impact on existing neighborhood infrastructure, including a sewer lift station near the intersection of Greenville Loop and Masonboro Loop Roads.

"It always smells when you go by there. It's always overrun, and they've worked on it I don't know how many times over the years," he said. "How's that going to impact the sewer and stormwater drainage?"

At Wednesday's meeting, a traffic and stormwater engineer addressed some concerns from the neighborhood, but attendees questioned the traffic counts presented while others said they felt the development team wasn't fully prepared for the meeting.

"I don't think they realized the kind of pushback they were going to get," Millis said.

Adam Tucker, Zimmer Development Company's director of development, told those at the meeting that plans weren't "set in stone."

"This is the first step in the process," he said after the meeting. "What we presented tonight is a first pass, a sketch plan. Little engineering has been done to this point."

Cathy Foley's neighborhood backs up onto the piece of land being eyed for the project. Just days after learning about the proposal, Foley went house to house in her neighborhood gathering signatures on a petition opposing the rezoning. 

By Wednesday's meeting, Foley said she had more than 300 signatures from those in surrounding neighborhoods. For Foley, the added density is a huge concern. If the land was developed in its current single-family zoning, Foley said she would be more supportive of the change.

She's heard from neighbors who have said they will move out of the neighborhood if the project is approved.

"Had there been a townhouse development directly in back of me when I was buying this house, I would not have purchased the house," she said. But Foley added that she felt the developers had heard and understood her concerns and those of her neighbors.

Tucker reiterated that the proposed townhomes are aimed at addressing the area's shortage of middle-market housing and were deemed by Zimmer Development Company as compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

He said the development team will take concerns about traffic, stormwater and density into consideration as they adjust the proposal. They intend to hold a second community meeting before formally submitting their plans to New Hanover County's planning department.

From there, the plans need approval from the county's technical review committee. The land rezoning will need approval from the New Hanover County Planning Commission and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.

Fineman told developers that area residents would remain in opposition to the proposed townhome project and the increased traffic and density it would generate.

"We all sit here and we know that Zimmer has deep pockets, but we've got deeper resolve," he said to applause from his neighbors. "The vast majority of us agree that we're going to fight every step of the way."

Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at 910-343-2096 or edill@gannett.com.