By: Shea Carver

In 1984, the year encore was launched, our fair city inhabited 50,733 people—almost a quarter of today’s New-Hanover-County citizens, which top off at 189,922. In its 25 years of growth, Wilmington has been through a slew of updates and enhancements. “Major annexations have increased population and land area,” Kaye Graybeal, director of Development Services in the Planning Division of Wilmington, said, after conferring with her colleagues, Senior Long Range Planner Christine Hughes and Planning Manager Ron Satterfield. In fact, as found on the city’s data projections from 2007, Wilmington embraced a 16-percent increase in ‘99 and a 20-percent jump in 2001, all effective from annexations in and around the Port City. Yet, these aren’t the only causes of population expansion.

“Wilmington hasn’t grown in an isolated bubble,” Graybeal explained. “Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties have grown as well, which affects Wilmington since it is the regional hub.” She speaks a truth we can all relate to now that we physically see the new housing developments, shopping facilities, restaurants and retail spaces in North Brunswick and South Pender counties. Each counties’ short distance to Wilmington manages to attract visitors within its 49.3 sqaure miles regularly.

Circa 1984 Wilmington was facing a different scenario. Sure, growth was happening, reviltalization of downtown was in place, thanks to the Downtown Area Revitalization Effort in the ‘70s, and as previously noted on pages 22-25, the arts community was beginning to thrive. Still, there was land to develop and opportunity that could make the sleepy historic and beach town a destination for better living. Today, Wilmington’s progression has been so successful, its undeveloped land is minimal. “The city is nearly built-out construction-wise,” Graybeal said, “so we’re not seeing the sort of ‘Greenfield’ development we saw in the 1980s.”

Currently, our City Development Services Department is focused on redevelopment, improving our landscapes and streetscapes, as well as its infrastructure. “We have a future land use plan, [put in place in] 2004, and are working on an annexation master plan—taking a more comprehensive approach to growth and development, with increased focus on regional planning. In 1984 the approach was more piecemeal and ad hoc.”

Today, Wilmington’s city planners are working diligently to make more logical and calculated moves that will continue to prosper and, more importantly, be sustainable into the future. This includes focusing on more small-area and neighborhood planning, which zones in on community needs over individual wants. According to Graybeal, “The desires of individuals who are part of a vocal minority (or special interest groups speaking on land-use issues) [may not be] accommodated—such as those speaking on behalf of large residential lots, lack of connectivity of roads, cul-de-sac development and commercial driveway closures.”

Focused on “infill development and transitioning, efficient land uses, [as well as] efficient use of resources,” the City tirelessly continues measuring and improving everything from sufficient water resources, to open-space conservation. Through the updates, citizen out-roar is not at bay. Christine Hughes noted, “A common gripe is relayed in the form general NIMBY-ism (‘Not In My Back Yard’). There is also a general acceptance of the way property is developed now: accepting what seems good enough is the enemy of being great.”

The team always attempts to present compelling, quality development to citizens, along with education and outreach, but also tries to make it clear that not a lot can be changed when it comes to existing inefficient development patterns. Such challenges aren’t easily met, especially when considering outdated development regulations and zoning maps.

According to Graybeal, “Inefficient land patterns are set: poorly connected streets, excessive driveways onto thoroughfares, extremely low residential densities, center turn-lanes, limited pedestrian accessibility, low-quality aesthetics (site and architectural design)—all these things are existing, and it is difficult to redevelop and/or to retrofit them once accepted and in place.”

Instead, they have moved forward by devising a clear plan—something relatively new to land use, especially when integrated with transportation, and something that “takes time to reach consensus and embrace change,” Graybeal said. In fact, it isn’t always a welcoming retreat for some.

Of all concerns the City notes one issue that primarily falls from most citizens’ lips: Wilmington’s roadways. As told to Graybeal from Mike Kozlosky and Joshuah Mello, both of whom work for the Transportation Planning Section, “The City has made significant progress in the past few years toward improving traffic, and is working with the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to ensure the completion of transportation projects in the region.”

From the fruition of the MLK Parkway to the Wilmington Bypass, the men assert how each have assuaged congestion in Wilmington. However, who can overlook the fact that in-town traffic still makes up crowded roadways? It begs the question: What plans are in place next?

“The City is currently upgrading the traffic signal system, working on the widening of Randall Parkway and Independence Boulevard, and coordinating with NCDOT on intersection improvements at Independence Boulevard and Wrightsville Avenue,” Graybeal relayed. Also on the drawing board are plans to widen North and South Kerr Avenue, which will include bicycle and pedestrian facilities—something for which our peddle-friendly locals have been heavily rooting.

“The City is working to [improve the] construction of sidewalks and multi-use paths,” Kozlosky and Mello communicated. “The multi-use path on Eastwood Road, which is part of the City’s Cross-City Trail initiative, and the Military Cutoff Trail both opened in 2008. Phase One of the Cross-City Trail, along South 17th Street and Independence Boulevard, from Croquet Drive to John D. Barry Drive, is currently under construction. Phase Two of the Cross-City Trail, between Converse Road and Randall Parkway, will be under construction in January 2010. At full build-out, the Cross City Trail will link E.L. Wade Park with the Heide-Trask drawbridge into Wrightsville Beach.”

They are also implementing a neighborhood traffic plan, which will include a “bicycle boulevard,” helping downtown’s Ann Street become more peddle friendly. Improved pedestrian crossing is in the works at Ann and South 3rd streets, and will utilize a “‘Fit Communities’ 2009 Initiative grant to implement some of the other recommendations along this corridor.”

To say Graybeal and her entire team of coworkers are busy taking our coastal abode to its optimal level of functionality, ease and enjoyment is an understatement. Aside from updating our land’s higher densities and more intense uses, along with ensuring high-quality redevelopment, they’re also working on Cape Fear Commutes 2035—a long-range transportation plan that will look 25 years into the future, assessing the needs of the Cape Fear region, including the evaluation of potential highway, rail, bus, ferry, aviation and bicycle and pedestrian pathways. “Nothing’s off-limits,” Graybeal insured.

And as long as encore’s around, we’re sure to be covering it.

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Mayor Saffo Assesses Wilmington

In celebrating a quarter of a century serving our community, encore sent a few questions to Mayor Saffo last week about the progress of our city and its citizens. Saffo, born and raised in Wilmington, was kind enough to take a few moments to reflect on what makes our town a beautiful place to play and work.

encore: Judging by your daily interaction and city organizing, how do you think, politically speaking, Wilmington has evolved over the past 25 years?
Bill Saffo: There has been growth of independent voters who have no party affiliations that are only looking for responsible government in getting things accomplished.

e: Are there major political improvements you can recognize that have helped Wilmington’s growth?
BS: Our elected delegation to the state legislature has helped, and the U.S. House have been able to bring monies for such things as our port, our university and the completion of interstate 40, all of which has done much for our local economy.

e: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate citizen participation with our city’s progression, and what do you think locals should do to become more a part of their community?
BS: I rate it a 10. Wilmington has many, many citizens who are actively participating in public service and in the nonprofit sector. As mayor I have been amazed at the amount of volunteers who give so much of their time to help out so many causes to make our city a more beautiful place to live and work.

e: What do you feel is the most progressive change Wilmington has seen over 25 years?
BS: Wilmington is not just a melting pot of people from all over the country but a melting pot of ideas.

e: What’s the number-one priority on your list right now to maintain Wilmington’s continued comfort and growth for its citizens?
BS: Creation of jobs.