Sam Shore of the Cape Fear Council of Government explains the rezoning request by campground owner Lynn Hinnant before a vote by the Lake Waccamaw Town Council on Tuesday evening. The council approved Hinnant’s request for commercial zoning as well as a special use permit for boat storage. Staff photo by Diana Matthews
Sam Shore of the Cape Fear Council of Government explains the rezoning request by campground owner Lynn Hinnant before a vote by the Lake Waccamaw Town Council on Tuesday evening. The council approved Hinnant’s request for commercial zoning as well as a special use permit for boat storage. Staff photo by Diana Matthews
Two unanimous votes Tuesday evening by the Lake Waccamaw Town Council opened the way for owner Lynn Hinnant to expand Lake Waccamaw Campground “over to the old Dupree property,” he said.
The council held a public hearing before granting Hinnant’s request to rezone parcels of land he recently bought across Waccamaw Shores Road from his campground. Formerly zoned residential but undeveloped, the approximately 0.8 acres next to his One Stop store will now be commercial.
The council also voted to allow boat storage on the property. That change required an evidentiary hearing with sworn testimony. The only witnesses were Hinnant and Sam Shore of the Cape Fear Council of Governments.
Council members asked questions for about 15 minutes before the vote. Shore testified that the town’s planning board had recommended a set of conditions for the special use. The property is to be fenced, with a long driveway allowing boat trailers to get in and out without blocking Waccamaw Shores Road. There is to be a buffer between the lot and the nearest residences. Hinnant will cease to use his current waterfront storage area for boats once the new site is prepared. That lot will remain zoned commercial, however, and Hinnant may establish another business use for it that doesn’t require a special-use permit.
Councilmember Rosemary Dorsey asked to add the conditions that there would be no stacking of boats and that Hinnant will not install more than one small storage building inside the fenced lot. The council passed the motion with those provisions.
Hinnant said after the meeting that he hopes in November the council will grant his next request and rezone the campground from commercial to the “marina-campground” category. He bought the long-established campground last year and said Tuesday after the meeting that, “I’m really not zoned for the use that I have right now.” Hinnant said campgrounds are not considered a compliant use for commercial property, and he wanted “to get it where it’s an allowable use.” Hinnant is also requesting a text amendment to the marina-campground zoning rule, but said after the meeting that he won’t know the exact wording until CFCOG writes the amendment. The planning board will recommend either in favor of or against the amendment, setting the stage for another public hearing and a final decision by the council.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting:
Finance Officer and Town Clerk Meredith Parker announced that Fire Chief Brandy Nance had achieved a $35,000 grant to buy defibrillator equipment for the fire and rescue department.
Town Manager Damon Kempski announced that the fire department had received an ISO rating of 4 on its most recent inspection. "The surrounding jurisdictional region received a 4.9," he said.
Kempski said he “couldn’t be more proud and pleased with the actions” by the town’s paid firefighters, volunteers and police officers for their work during Hurricane Ian. “Everyone did an exceptional job,” he said, prompting applause from the audience.
Kempski reminded the council and community that “Safe Nite for Kids” will take place Oct. 31 from 6–8:30 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Homes Arena. The free event is sponsored by the Town of Lake Waccamaw, Columbus County Parks and Recreation and the Boys and Girls Homes of N.C. Kempski said organizers are “hoping for a large turnout.”
The board voted unanimously to allow Trillium to run a mobile mental health outreach weekdays from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at Elizabeth Brinkley Park.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story misstated the amount of acreage rezoned commercial and Lake Waccamaw's in-town ISO rating.
