http://katiemooreteam.com/blog/archive_202210/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ LELAND — Town council members in a booming Brunswick town will move ahead with a 325-acre development with no protest from nearby neighbors. A jagged parcel of land between Leland’s Brunswick Forest, Wedgewood, Magnolia Greens and Hearthstone neighborhoods gained annexation, zoning and development approval on Oct. 20. Consent of a site plan is needed to start construction on the project, named Savannah Branch. The development is proposed by Renaissance LLC, overseen by Dewitt Carolinas, which constructed Pier 33 in downtown Wilmington. Renaissance Lifestyle are behind the luxury waterfront community Compass Pointe in Leland. The new development would include 331 single-family homes, 550 apartments and 350,000 to 400,000 square feet of retail space. Constructed in phases, the project would not reach full completion for another 10 to 12 years, according to town staff.Based on the current tax rate, town staff estimate Savannah Branch would generate $1.5 million in tax revenue per year for the Town of Leland at buildout.Developers would be required to construct water, sewer and street infrastructure, which would be transferred to town ownership when construction wraps. Under the development agreement, the developers will be allowed to construct wood bridges as means of vehicles ingress and egress along with other specifications for infrastructure construction. Council members unanimously approved all three agenda items at their October meeting without discussion.In July, Leland’s planning board members expressed concern over flooding due to how the property is zoned. Multiple FEMA-designated flood zones cut the property in half, and would require permits and additional studies if structures were proposed within them.“I want to make sure there’s some conservation in that area,” planning board member Debbie Willis said during the July meeting. Her observations were echoed by board member and Brunswick Forest homeowner Barabara Akinwole.“To be perfectly honest with you, we thought it was always going to remain natural,” Akinwolse said. Because the development has yet to be submitted to the technical review committee, a site plan with flood mitigation has yet to be finalized. Still, Leland’s planning board also demonstrated unanimous support. They recommended council apply the multi-family and general commercial zonings to the property.The land’s current zoning is industrial use, aside from small portions dedicated for commercial use. The multi-family offerings will require lot size minimums of 10,000 square feet and a density of 16 units per acre — double the allowance for industrial developments.According to Leland’s Future Land Use Map, half of the property is deemed high development potential, while the other half has moderate potential or is oriented toward natural resource development. Staff justified their recommendation to council by comparing the application to the Leland 2045 Plan, the town’s future land use guide. It has six major themes with multiple goals under each category; Planning Supervisor Andrew Neylon addressed two during staff’s recommendation presentation to council. He told council the development would promote growth where infrastructure already exists and incrementally expand the town’s boundaries. The flexibility of the multi-family zoning district would allow for resilient development around environmental hazards, he added.The annexation would be contiguous, considering the property connects to the town’s corporate limits to the north. Therefore, Leland would not be restricted by SB 911, a state law reducing the amount of distance from which Leland could annex to 1.5 miles from its corporate limits.Reach journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning. http://katiemooreteam.com/blog/3952/no-questions-asked:-leland-council-approves-325-acre-annexation-zoning/ Tue, 25 Oct 2022 12:32:57 -0500 SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Voting for the 2022 election is underway.Constituents will choose candidates this midterm season to fill one U.S. Senate seat, 14 House seats, several state offices, including the general assembly, supreme court and court of appeals, local judges and prosecutors, as well as county offices, including sheriff and commissioners, and local school boards.Before heading to the polls, sample ballots can be accessed here to help individuals research candidates ahead of casting their votes. Port City Daily has been running candidate questionnaires recently, all available here (the paywall has been dropped) so voters know where those in the running stand on important issues across the state and counties.While absentee ballots began in early September and close Nov. 1, polling locations become accessible in the tri-county region on Thursday, Oct. 20. Voter registration — check your status here — will close Oct. 14, but same-day registration will allow an individual to file and vote in one fell swoop at an early voting site through Nov. 5. Constituents can update their address and voter information or register anew.A registration application will need to be filled out and handed to an election official, with proof of residential address in the correlating county (a current and valid photo ID or document — recent utility bill or electronic bank statement — featuring the name and current address of the voter).College students can present a school ID and document containing the student and school name, as well as an on-campus housing address — the board of elections may also have a roster of students from on-campus housing submitted by the university of college.However, for folks who are not submitting for same-day registration, an ID is not required to vote.Below are locations open for early voting in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties. Once early voting closes Nov. 5, only registered voters will be able to submit ballots in their precinct on Election Day, Nov. 8, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To check your polling location, click here.New Hanover CountyLocationsNortheast Library, Board of Elections, 1241-A Military Cutoff Rd.CFCC Health Sciences and Learning Center, 415 2nd. St.Carolina Beach Municipal Building, 1121 Lake Park Blvd.CFCC North Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Rd.Senior Center, 2222 S. College Rd.HoursOct. 20-21, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Oct. 22-23, closedOct 24-28, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Oct. 29-30, noon – 5 p.m.Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Nov. 5, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.Brunswick CountyLocationsLeland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, LelandBrunswick Center at Southport, 1513 N Howe Street, Unit 1, SouthportBrunswick Center at Shallotte, 3620 Express Drive, ShallotteSouthwest Brunswick Branch Library, 9400 Ocean Highway West, CalabashHoursOct. 20-21, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Oct. 22, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.Oct. 23, noon – 4 p.m.Oct 24-28, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Oct. 29, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.Oct. 30, noon – 4 p.m.Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Nov. 5, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.Pender CountyLocationsPender County Cooperative Ext., 801 S. Walker St., BurgawPender County Annex Building, 15060 US Hwy 17, HampsteadAtkinson School Gym, 200 N. Town Hall Ave., AtkinsonHoursOct. 20-21, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Oct. 22-23, closedOct 24-28, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Oct. 29, closedOct. 30, noon – 5 p.m.Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Nov. 5, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. http://katiemooreteam.com/blog/3949/early-voting-opens-oct-20-here-is-everything-you-need-know/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 01:32:44 -0500 Now in its 35th year, our annual Readers' Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from hotels and airlines to cruises and islands. Plus: Odes to the properties that keep you coming back, meditations on beloved cities, and more. The numbers prove what we already knew: Enthusiasm for travel has never been higher, as demonstrated by the nearly quarter of a million of you who filled out this year’s survey. The best cities in the United States (large and small) are a testament to the staying power of perennial favorites, through thick and thin—with some newcomers to consider. Here are the best cities in the U.S., as voted by Traveler readers.View the Readers' Choice Award winners for the best cities in the world here.If you enjoyed this article and want to have access to more of the incredible work that our editors do, there’s no better way than to subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe today to get one year of Condé Nast Traveler for $10 and gain access to the coveted print and digital editions, including the Readers’ Choice Awards issue guaranteed—bringing everything a global traveler needs to know right now to your phone, tablet, and computer.Good things come in small packages, and nowhere is that more evident than in these 10 dynamic, reader-favorite cities. Whether you're on the lookout for a cutting-edge arts scene, inventive new restaurants, or eye-catching architecture, you're bound to find what you're after.Ivana Djudic/Unsplash10. Wilmington, N.C.In recent decades, Port City has become a favorite spot for Hollywood filmmakers, serving as the backdrop for projects like Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, We’re the Millers, and Iron Man 3. It’s not hard to see the appeal: With architecture dating back to the 1730s in its National Register Historic District, scene-setting live oaks, and a pedestrian-friendly Riverwalk, Wilmington feels a bit like a lower-key Savannah. Southern charm abounds in spots like the Airlie Gardens, which bursts to life in the spring with more than 75,000 azaleas, while the World War II–era Battleship North Carolina—accessible via water taxi—is a favorite among military history buffs, who can stroll through its living quarters, mess halls, gun turrets, and the rest of its nine levels.Click here for more... http://katiemooreteam.com/blog/3947/conde-nast-traveler's-the-best-cities-in-the-u-s-:-2022-readers’-choice-awards/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 08:44:59 -0500 CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (WECT) - The Carolina Beach Mural Project just completed its 12th mural of the year. Originally, the goal was to create two murals a year, but they have exceeded that original plan.The 12th and latest mural was created by Maddie Deiters, a 15-year-old artist who wanted to show Carolina Beach what she believes the best day ever looks like. The mural consists of five Polaroids that showcase what the best day looks like based on community input.Deiters asked locals to submit photos of their best day in Carolina Beach. Over 80 photos were submitted and only five were selected to be painted on the mural. Deiters said it was hard to chose just five photos because every submission looked like the best day ever.Maureen Lewis, founder and president of Carolina Beach Mural Project tells me what her vision was for this project.“Public art inspires people and it makes the community feel a little more cohesive, and for the visitors it’s just another thing that they enjoy. We call it cultural tourism, so perhaps you’re not really into the beach but now there’s another reason to come to Carolina Beach.”She said that the murals add a pop of color to areas and create an overall happy vibe around town.There are plans to create more murals around town, but for now, ”Best Day Ever” is the last mural to be painted for the year.The process to add a mural to the town’s walls isn’t quite that simple. The paintings need to represent Carolina Beach in some way, whether it’s the history or cultural tourism. The artists also need to have ties to North Carolina. This was the most important requirement because the Mural Project wanted to represent the state of North Carolina in the best way they can.The Mural Project commissions North Carolina artists through events, sponsorships and donations. They are asking people to donate to the program in order to continue creating meaningful pieces of artwork around town.There is a map to help locate the 12 murals, as some are harder to find than others. Click HERE to see a map off all 12 murals and the original story. http://katiemooreteam.com/blog/3944/carolina-beach-mural-project-adds-a-pop-of-color-to-town/ Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:30 -0500 NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Seasonal flu vaccines are available at no charge over the next two weeks in New Hanover County.The county’s Health and Human Services Public Health will offer drive-thru flu vaccines Oct. 4 to 7 and Oct. 10 to 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Anyone 6 months and older eligible for a flu shot can visit the Health and Human Services parking lot at 1650 Greenfield St. and receive service without having to get out of their cars.“We want this process to truly be as simple as possible for our community,” public health director David Howard said in a release. “As the weather starts to turn cooler and activities move indoors, it’s important to have that layer of protection to reduce your risk of serious illness. Flu vaccines are critical in that regard, and we encourage everyone in the community to get one as soon as possible.”Proof of residency is not required, and an appointment is not necessary. http://katiemooreteam.com/blog/3941/drive-up-flu-shots-available-through-nhc-health-dept/ Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:54:38 -0500