The Planning Department provides guidance and direction in the adoption of policies and regulations to encourage orderly growth and development and long-range community development in New Hanover County. These public policy choices include: residential, commercial, and industrial land use development standards; transportation, service delivery; and capital improvements. This work involves the collection and evaluation of data, research and analysis of options and alternatives, and the selection and implementation of projects and programs.
The department serves as a professional staff to the County Planning Board. Additionally, it makes recommendations and suggestions to the Board of County Commissioners, citizen advisory groups, and other agencies on comprehensive land use policies and plans, zoning recommendations, special permits, hazard mitigation, and subdivision regulations. The department is directly responsible for the administration of the Subdivision Ordinance, Special Use Permits, site plan approvals, street mapping and addressing in the County, zoning ordinance amendments, and map changes.
The Planning staff provides assistance to other County departments to aid in developing service delivery strategies and needs assessments for future plans. Community Development Grants and other housing programs and water quality initiatives for the unincorporated areas of the County are also administered resulting in improvements for many neighborhoods and homeowners.