New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Meeting - June 1, 2026

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on June 1, 2026, addressing several procurement and zoning matters. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of funding and contracts for the Echo Farms Tennis Court Construction project, supported by grants totaling $353,000 from the United States Tennis Association and the Greater Wilmington Tennis Association. The board also ratified a $116 million memorandum of understanding with the New Hanover Community Endowment to support a general obligation bond for county schools. Additionally, the board considered multiple rezoning requests, including a denial of a conditional rezoning to remove the Special Highway Overlay District (SHOD) for a convenience store sign that was noncompliant with county standards, citing an existing agreement to bring the sign into compliance. Another rezoning request to convert a split-zoned parcel from commercial to residential was unanimously approved. The meeting concluded with a quasi-judicial hearing approving a special use permit for a 130-foot wireless communication tower with concealment shades, despite opposition citing environmental and community concerns. The board emphasized adherence to procedural requirements and the need for expert testimony in such hearings.