Home Care In Winnabow, NC

With the acquisition of a Leland-based law firm, a South Carolina real estate firm is expanding into North Carolina.

Nelson & Galbreath, with offices in Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Charleston and upstate South Carolina, as well as in Atlanta, just closed on its purchase of Rhodes Law Offices at 503 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 201 in Leland. That firm’s owner, J. Randall Rhodes, will remain with the new firm for a year, according to Nelson & Galbreath spokesman and builder services managing attorney Forest Ellis.

When he opened his practice in 2007, Rhodes was one of the first real estate law offices in Leland, Ellis said, adding that now, Rhodes was looking at retirement and had listed his firm for sale with a brokerage. The brokerage contacted Nelson & Galbreath about the opportunity.

Nelson & Galbreath were also approached by Ryan Homes, a national homebuilder with whom it works frequently. Ryan Homes has plans to develop projects across Brunswick County and into New Hanover County and encouraged Nelson & Galbreath to expand into the area as well.

“We work with a division president of Ryan Homes in Horry County who is overseeing their expansion into North Carolina,” Ellis said. “One of our partners has expansion goals for us; Brunswick County was a natural next place. Randy [Rhodes’] firm was ideal for us since he had established relationships with builders and the local real estate community, and a staff already in place.”

Rhodes’ current paralegals will remain with the firm, Ellis added.

Nelson & Galbreath specialize in residential real estate closings, working both with builders and with real estate agents.

“Between 35% and 40% of our business is focused on Realtors and helping them and their clients,” he said. “A larger portion is working as one of the preferred attorneys for homebuilders. Having a preferred attorney firm makes the logistics simpler for builders: they can drop off keys and documents in one place, knowing that the firm understands their process. We work with several homebuilders of different sizes, and we focus on tailoring our services to the needs of each builder.”

Until the firm hires an attorney to serve the Leland office, attorneys and other staff from Nelson & Galbreath’s Greenville, South Carolina office will shuttle back and forth as needed. Ellis will be among them. He is a University of North Carolina Wilmington graduate and, before attending law school, worked as a Realtor in Wilmington from 2002-2008 with Laney Real Estate, Maus, Warwick Mathews and Prudential Commercial.

Nelson & Galbreath will hold a meet-and-greet event in Brunswick Forest on May 21. In the meantime, the firm is updating its online presence and the signage for its new office.

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WINNABOW, N.C. (WECT) - Efforts for the unincorporated area of Brunswick County known as Winnabow face a new setback after the Local Government Commission voted against a request to issue a statement from the LGC for community’s attempt to incorporate into the Town of Winnabow.

Members of the community have gained support for the request to incorporate Winnabow, but members of the Local Government Commission (LGC), including State Treasurer Dale Folwell, believe the reasons for incorporating are unfounded. One of the biggest concerns residents shared on a Facebook page titled The Town of Winnabow is the threat of annexation by the Town of Leland.

While Leland has grown over the past several years and much of its growth comes from annexation, those annexations were voluntary. Since state laws changed several years ago, involuntary annexation has become extremely difficult for a municipality.

“These fears of annexation into Leland are unfounded because no North Carolina town can forcibly annex any area without the will of the people. This misinformation is being used to fuel fears of residents in the area to inappropriately influence them to sign a petition for the incorporation of Winnabow,” the Town of Leland wrote in a statement in January 2022.

It’s not just the fact that Leland would struggle to get the support needed to annex parts of Winnabow, but the requirements under state law for annexation wouldn’t be met for the town to attempt an annexation.

“Any town-initiated annexation of an area must meet very strict geographic requirements, adhere to multiple notifications and extended timelines, and can only occur after a referendum vote in which a majority of the people in the area to be annexed vote in favor of the annexation. The area in and around Winnabow does not meet the geographic requirements necessary to even consider or begin a Town of Leland initiated annexation,” according to Leland’s statement.

It’s not just the fact that the threat of annexation is minimal that the LGC has concerns with the request. The LGC is tasked with overseeing more than 1,000 government units in the state, including debt management and annual audits. LGC staff said the plans for Winnabow wouldn’t be fiscally sound.

“LGC staff is recommending that the commission vote against the incorporation over concerns about lack of effective fiscal management practices and knowledge of state statutes related to local government finance and operations, insufficient appropriations for some budget line items and the prospects for financial viability,” Folwell said in a press release.

Although the LGC did not show support for the plans to incorporate, Folwell said he’s open to the conversation.

“I’m always interested in sitting down with people of Winnabow to see what pressures they see that may have led them to file this application,” he said.

Copyright 2022 WECT. All rights reserved.

LELAND, N.C. (WECT) - Leland is arguably one of the fastest-growing communities in the Cape Fear. You may be wondering what’s bringing all these people to the once-quiet town.

Retirees say there are many reasons from friendly faces to less pressure on their wallets after leaving the workforce. The cheaper housing is only the tip of the iceberg when you tally up the savings, but there are other things attracting retirees to Leland.

“Philadelphia — you look around and people just put their heads down because... You’re kind of afraid of everybody, you know, or you don’t know how they’re going to react,” said Donna Udry, who moved here in 2017.

A friendly atmosphere checked off only one box on a list of must-haves for Udry and her husband. Once they found out about Leland’s low property tax rate, that just made retirement even better.

“That was a big thing because now we’re living on a fixed income,” said Udry.

It’s a factor that has sealed the deal for a lot of retirees. One woman from Long Island says she found the perfect house in a small neighborhood here. It offers more square footage and a bigger yard than she had when she lived in New York, giving her more bang for her buck.

“[The same house] would have been at least twice as much,” said Barbara Baumgarten.

Baumgarten moved here less than two months ago and, like many others, came from a more populated area up north.

“The taxes I pay a year here are pretty much what you’d pay per month in New York on Long Island,” said Baumgarten. “You just can’t beat that, especially at this point. I’m trying to enjoy life a little bit more. I really don’t want to spend most of my money on taxes.”

While Leland isn’t Boston or Philadelphia, city officials say it still provides entertainment and a relaxing atmosphere for retirees.

“The proximities to downtown Wilmington and its features, including concert venues and theaters and arts and fine dining, its proximity to the beaches,” said Leland’s economic and development director Gary Vidmar. “It’s just a whole quality of life that we have to offer.”

While the beach or fine dining is great, retirees say the low taxes is a major selling point. A recent study found Leland is the ninth best place in the state to retire to because of its lower taxes.

Vidmar says over the last decade, the town has seen about a 70 percent increase in population, according to the 2020 census.

Copyright 2021 WECT. All rights reserved.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY — The Brunswick County Planning Board will consider three more planned developments when it convenes Monday. Each month, the rapidly growing county’s board typically faces a stacked agenda of rezonings and, often, proposed construction to review and sign off on.

This month the officials will consider three major development projects — two in the southern and one in the northern parts of the county. They also will tackle four rezonings, varying in size across the county.

Below is a quick look at the projects up for deliberation.

Osprey Isle near Ocean Isle Beach

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The largest project covers just over 157 acres. Osprey Isle, located at U.S. 17 and Plantation Drive, will consist of 81 single-family lots and 264 semi-attached lots.

The property is made up of five parcels — partly zoned for residential and also commercial low-density — owned by four different property owners in Shallotte, Wilmington, Ocean Isle Beach and Whiteville. Walter Warren, of Myrtle Beach engineer firm Thomas & Hutton, submitted the application.

The plans include 115 acres of dedicated open space — significantly over the required amount of 31 for this project — and 4.8 acres of recreational area.

The 345 lots are expected to generate just over 3,300 trips per weekday, according to a traffic study.

All homes will be built outside of the AE Flood Hazard Zone, the staff’s positive recommendation notes.

Bell Swamp Connection in Winnabow

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Bell Swamp Connection will consist of 90 townhomes on about 10 acres and 139 single-family lots across nearly 39 acres. It equates to an overall density of 4.7 units per acre.

Bell Swamp Connection is slated to exist on the road of the same name, near U.S. 17, and on property currently zoned as commercial low density, allowing for 13.6 units per acre. Each lot will have two driveway parking spaces, and the plans show 20 acres of dedicated open space and 2 acres of recreational space. It will add about 1,800 cars to roadways.

The main parcel for the property is owned by FEP, LLC in Wilmington, although Paramounte Engineering is seeking the planned development approval.

Anderson Tract near Calabash

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Just over 58 acres in Calabash are set to become the site of hundreds of townhomes.

Engineering firm Norris and Tunstall of Ash is seeking approval for Anderson Tract, a proposed development off Hickman Road. The land is zoned for up to 5.8 units per acre under medium-density residential zoning.

Originally the project was approved in September 2021 for 295 townhomes on 67 acres, the entire acreage of the parcel. The developers are back again, asking for more townhomes on less land: 336 on 58 acres, a density of 5.77 units per acre.

Two cars will be able to park in the driveway of each lot, and the drivers will generate about 1,700 trips per weekday, a traffic study estimates.

The construction will leave nearly 26.5 acres of open space and set aside 3 acres for recreational purposes.

A High Point LLC, RS Parker Development, owns the land.

Rezonings

There are also four rezonings on the agenda. Per procedure, no conditions or details are proposed. The board must simply consider whether the zoning is appropriate — based on the types of allowable uses, permitted density and more. It considers the county’s long-term vision, surrounding areas and other factors. All planning board decisions are final for rezonings unless appealed to commissioners.

Near Leland, a rezoning of 20.5 vacant acres off Chappell Loop Road could set the stage for a high-density residential project. Wilmington’s Dan Weeks H+W Design is applying for the rezoning out of neighborhood commercial. The property is owned by Sara Gibbs, whose address is in New York.

By Ash, 20 acres of a 414-acre lot off Longwood Road could switch from medium-density residential to rural residential. J. Phillip Norris is seeking the rezoning on behalf of property owner Ashton Farms, LLC.

Off Southport-Supply Road, 2.4 vacant acres near Supply could convert from high-density residential to commercial low density. Owen E. Metts is the applicant located in Wilmington. The property owner is O.A.O.A., LLC also in Wilmington, an entity registered by Metts.

Near Shallotte, 1.58 acres at 5579 Old Georgetown Rd. near Shallotte could become commercial low density, a change from its current zoning as medium-density residential. Terry Wethington is applying for the rezoning on behalf of The Electric Company and wrote in the application it would “accommodate the current use.”

The Brunswick County Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. in the David R. Sandifer building, 30 Government Center Dr. NE in Bolivia. View the agenda packet here.

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LELAND, N.C. (WECT) - Emails obtained from the Town of Leland show new details about a potential development including the investment of up to $100 million on over 1,400 acres along Hwy 17 next to Brunswick Forest.

The Town of Leland is working with REV Entertainment and Brunswick County to develop “a world-class development concept with sports and entertainment as the anchor,” town officials announced Wednesday.

An email from Leland Director of Planning and Inspections Ben Andrea states that a representative with REV Entertainment and the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball organization to attract a minor league professional sports/entertainment venue to the area, and that the group is now proposing a smaller version of their Arlington, Texas development as part of the Jackeys Creek development.

A presentation from REV Entertainment outlines their model to use sports as a catalyst to spur further development.

Residents like Joey Upchurch are excited about what the possible complex could bring to the community.

“As a kid, this was our stadium right here, this ball field, we didn’t have stuff like this, we had to travel to Myrtle Beach or to Kinston or places like that,” Upchurch said.

REV could invest up to $100 million in entertainment, restaurants and hotel venues adjacent to the stadium. A timeline shows a public announcement in the first parts of 2023, a finalized conceptual design by April or May, a groundbreaking in Spring 2024 and an opening day in 2026.

“I was kind of skeptical because of you know, the growth that has happened here in the past and the infrastructure can’t keep up with something like that. But then when I really started digging into it and and learned about some of the facts, and some of the benefits that it would have to this community, man, it’s a no brainer.”

Based on notes from the town manager, the planned development will probably happen regardless of whether or not baseball stays a part of it. The baseball stadium could be a publicly owned facility that is privately operated via a lease agreement. Paying for the stadium may require a county-wide municipal bond, and a referendum for that bond could end up on the Nov. 2023 ballot if approved by the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners.

“If our taxes do raise slightly, guess what, they’re going to raise anyways down the road,” said Upchurch. “So, I’m willing to pay extra taxes if it benefits my children and their children.”

The lease revenue would offset the debt service on the bond along with the increased value created around the stadium.

Other residents have expressed concerns about traffic on that part of Hwy 17 and northern Brunswick County.

Town emails say the increase in traffic would be mitigated by roadway improvements as the development is built over time. Improvements could include interconnections with existing roadways in neighborhoods and commercial areas and additional connections to Hwy 17 and Hwy 133. These would be coordinated with the N.C. Department of Transportation and local agencies and be needed regardless of whether baseball is part of the picture.

Town officials plan on announcing more information at a press conference with REV Entertainment, Brunswick County, and Leland in late February or early March.

The date will be announced through Leland’s website and social media.

Copyright 2023 WECT. All rights reserved.