Wilmington City Council approves ordinance for affordable housing plans, votes on plans for intersection improvements

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington City Council met on June 7 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss intersection improvements, supportive housing and potential rezonings.

The Wilmington City Council voted to adopt the FY 2022-23 recommended budget on first reading by a vote of 6-1, with Luke Waddell being the only dissenting vote. A vote on the second reading will take place at the June 21 council meeting. The new tax rate would be 0.3950 in the budget, allowing the average homeowner to see an increase of $38 on their annual property tax bill.

The city council unanimously voted to approve the ordinance that will appropriate $162,687 from the sale of Optimist Park to fund permanent supportive housing. Last year, $250,000 in funds from the sale were used to support construction at an affordable housing development called Eden Village.

The city have voted unanimously to approve to award a $625,376 contract for intersection improvements at Racine Drive and New Centre Drive. Besides funding already allocated to the project, $503,440 will be given from the Transportation Bond’s Contingency: Bike/Ped project funds, and $70,000 from Pedestrian/Bike Improvements funds. This will pay for new pavement, sidewalks, signals and other improvements to make the intersection safer for pedestrians.

Also on the agenda: the city council passed unanimously a rezoning for a 72-unit senior affordable housing development on 4.82 acres of land at around 209 Middle Sound Loop Road and a rezoning for an indoor recreational facility on 1.89 acres at 1441 Eastwood Road.

A resolution was heard and passed unanimously to remove the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director from the city’s wage scales.

Additionally, the WMPO Board is now required to evaluate the Executive Director’s performance and establish their annual compensation.

You can find the full agendas and minutes for council meetings on the city website. Meetings are streamed live via GTV8 and can be watched in person at Wilmington City Hall on 102 North 3rd Street.

Copyright 2022 WECT. All rights reserved.