Leland Planning Board gives green light for development on west bank of Cape Fear River, imposes height restriction

LELAND, N.C. (WECT) - The Leland Planning Board voted Tuesday night to recommend the Leland town council move forward on a major development project proposed across the river from downtown Wilmington.

While the land set aside for the Villages at Battleship Point is technically New Hanover County, developers reached out to Leland leaders in an attempt to annex to property into the town limits.

On Tuesday night, planning board members also voted 4-3 to recommend council apply a new riverfront mixed use zoning district to the Villages at Battleship Point property if it is annexed into the town of Leland. The new riverfront mixed use zoning district would have a maximum height of 240 feet, which was under the 300 foot height proposed by developers.

Some board members wanted to wait for next steps by New Hanover County Commissioners.

“That was a very thoughtful process, I thought,” said Jim Lea with KFJ Development Group. “I’m very thrilled and happy they’ve done what they’ve done. At least we’re getting a hearing, at least we’re being heard.”

Developers want to build a high rise complex with condos, shopping, restaurants and a hotel but ran into stumbling blocks from the New Hanover County Commissioners in January. Following objections and requests for more time to consider the project from New Hanover County, developers took the proposal across the river to Leland.

Leland Planning Board met in February but tabled the project for further discussion. Most of the discussion at Tuesday’s meeting was about the height of the proposed development.

“We think it’s worthy of consideration and it could benefit the Town of Leland,” said Planning Board Chair Bob Penwell. “And that’s still under consideration.”

Leland Town Council will have the final decision on the proposed annexation and development at its next meeting in April.

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