Imagine Pender Comprehensive Plan

Pender County, the 5th largest county in North Carolina with a population of over 68,000, is one of the fastest growing communities in the state governed by the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA). Spurred by growth from the Wilmington region, Pender County has experienced significant growth pressures and new development over the last decade, creating many community challenges: growing traffic congestion, over capacity schools, limited water and sewer service in growth areas, a tax base largely reliant on residential property taxes, and stormwater management challenges to name a few. In 2024, this largely rural coastal county decided to tackle these growth management challenges with an update to its comprehensive plan. Clarion Associates led the team that included Rose and Associates, the Cape Fear Council of Government, Anchorpoint Planning, and Tate Consulting to support a five-phase process over 18 months to update the plan. Guided by two rounds of public engagement administered in fun and engaging ways at key workshops and through online activities, this plan supports a focus on:

• Sustainable and Managed Growth to align utility expansion and land use planning to guide growth.

• Expanded Economic Development that increases the acreage of land available for economic development opportunities and promotes a healthy fiscal balance of land uses, including harnessing the potential of cultural and historic resources found across the County.

• Community Unity and Civic Engagement that continues to engage all members of the community in land use decision-making.

• Supported Agricultural and Working Lands that in partnership with landowners, uses land use planning tools to support the viability of farming and agricultural businesses and maintain rural character.

• Environmental Conservation and Preservation to protect water resources and reduce stormwater, drainage, and floodplain impacts county-wide.

• Attainable Housing Choices to support the development of housing choices in strategic locations that provide new options for worker households.

• Enhanced Quality of Life and Community Health that promotes a high quality of life for Pender County residents and provide access to key amenities and important services.

The plan was adopted and was certified by the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission in the fall of 2025.