Rezoning is required when a property owner proposes to use his land for purposes other than permitted by the current classification as described in the Brunswick County Unified Development Ordinance. Rezoning requests are reviewed for recommendation by the Planning Staff and Planning Board with final determination by the Board Of Commissioners. Special use requests have final determination at the Planning Board level.

First, schedule a meeting with a staff member. This may be done by contacting the Planning Department: plan@brunsco.net, 910-253-2025 or 800-621-0609.

Information Needed:

• Address of property in question and property owner's name.
• Parcel number of property (available from the Tax Office).
• Proposed land use.

When the specific request is determined, a formal application is submitted to the Planning Department not fewer than 30 days before the Planning Board meeting.

The application should include the following:

• Legal description of property.
• Completed application form.*
• Preliminary plans, plats.
• Filing Fee: <5 acres = $300.00 or >5 acres = $500.00
  

* After a staff member has reviewed the application for completeness, a date will be scheduled for public hearing by the Planning Board.

Before the case is heard by the Planning Board, staff reviews the application in conjunction with various other County and State agencies. Planning Staff prepares an analysis and recommendation. Anyone interested in a particular request may call the Planning Department to address their questions. Public notice concerning the request, as well as the time, date and place of the Planning Board meeting, is sent to adjacent property owners.

At the Planning Board meeting, the Planning Department staff will present the case. The property owner or his agent, who must be present at the meeting, can explain plans for the property including a description of its proposed use. Additional maps, and plats may be used in this explanation.

Area property owners and other interested parties present are allowed to speak .

Following discussion of the case, the Planning Board will decide upon a recommendation to the Board Of Commissioners. The Planning Board may recommend the request be approved as submitted, approved with conditions, denied, or deferred to later meeting.

After Planning Board action, rezoning requests are considered by the Board Of Commissioners.

The procedure for the Board Of Commissioners meeting begins with a first reading where no public comment is accepted. At this meeting, a date is set for a second reading with public hearing. (For a public hearing, notification is made through advertisement in local papers. Public notice will again be sent to adjacent property owners.) At a regular scheduled meeting following the required Planning Board Hearing, the Board will move for final action on the request. The request may be approved as submitted, approved with conditions, denied, or deferred to a later meeting. If the request is approved, the property owner may proceed with development plans, taking into consideration any supplementary conditions that might have been imposed by the Board.