By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – The builder of the City View development planned for the west bank of the Cape Fear River was put on hold after making a special request Wednesday night that would have moved the project closer to becoming a reality.
Developer John Evans made a request of the Metropolitan Planning Organization to upgrade the status of USS North Carolina Road and Battleship Road from local road to connector road status so he could build the proposed condo-retail development.
The MPO voted to table the request for two reasons: one, the MPO is a transportation board and approving Evans' request would essentially be a land use decision, which it's prohibited from doing.
But most importantly, the MPO tabled the request because city and county planners are working on what's being called a Riverfront Zoning District along the west bank of the Cape Fear River.
Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo says the City View project will be good for Wilmington, but thinks uniform zoning should be in place for all project along the river.
Michael Murchison associated with the Historic Wilmington Foundation says his group endorses projects that are attractive and hopes his group will be a part of the planning process.
City View would include 400 dwelling units, retail outlets and office space on a plot of land just south of the Battleship North Carolina.