If you’ve driven Carolina Beach Road, Myrtle Grove Road, or Blue Clay Road lately, you’ve probably wondered what’s going in behind the tree line. New Hanover County actually answers that question in public. The county’s Planning & Land Use department keeps a running Residential Projects list showing subdivisions that have gone before its Technical Review Committee (TRC), along with each project’s address, zoning, unit count, and status. We read through the list as it stood on Nov. 4, 2026, and pulled out what matters for buyers, sellers, and neighbors in unincorporated New Hanover County.
What the County’s Residential Projects List Is
The list covers “performance residential” and other subdivision plans in the parts of New Hanover County outside the City of Wilmington and the beach towns. These are mostly projects that are allowed under existing zoning and go through staff-level technical review rather than a rezoning vote. Each entry shows a TRC meeting date and a status such as Approved, Under Review, Withdrawn, Review Expired, or Approval Expired.
A few things to keep in mind before you read too much into it:
- “Approved” means the preliminary plan cleared technical review. It doesn’t mean homes are under construction or on the market yet.
- Plans can be revised, resubmitted, or allowed to expire, and the list shows several that have.
- Projects inside Wilmington city limits, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach go through those towns instead and won’t appear here.
Where the Growth Is Concentrated
The Carolina Beach Road and Myrtle Grove Corridor
The south end of the county shows up again and again. Approved projects on the list include Sea Glass Harbor (69 units, 7129 Carolina Beach Road), McQuillan Pines (85 townhomes, 6900 Carolina Beach Road), SB Cottages (47 units, 7641 Carolina Beach Road), Pierson’s Pointe (48 units, 6221 Carolina Beach Road), Alton Orchard (55 units, 6200 Myrtle Grove Road), and Myrtle Sound (34 units, 5500 block of Myrtle Grove Road). Westgrove Residential (133 units, 5322 Carolina Beach Road) and ASMW Quadraplexes (16 units) were listed as under review.
For buyers, that means more new-construction choices between Monkey Junction and Snow’s Cut, often as townhomes or smaller-lot single-family homes. For current owners, it means more competition when you sell, especially if your home is similar in age and size to what builders are offering.
The Sidbury Road Area
Sidbury Road, near the Pender County line, is home to the largest approved plans on the list: Sidbury 187 (1,751 units, approved) and Avenue One (1,462 units, approved), plus Sidbury Station Phase 2 from earlier years. A separate Sidbury Holdings plan for 240 units was listed as under review. Plans this size typically build out in phases over many years, so the impact on traffic, schools, and shopping comes gradually.
Castle Hayne and Blue Clay Road
On the north side of the county, Blue Bay (172 units, 5735 Blue Clay Road) was listed as approved, while Lake Pointe (233 units, Blue Clay Road) and Swartville Residential (292 units, Castle Hayne Road) were under review. The Hilton Bluffs preliminary plan modification for 1,800 units on Castle Hayne Road was also listed as under review, after the earlier conditional approval was shown as revoked. If you own or are shopping in Castle Hayne or Wrightsboro, that’s the project worth following most closely.
Ogden, Porters Neck, and Market Street
Closer to the northern beaches, the list shows Bayshore Townhomes (72 units, 8100 block of Market Street) and Alexander Road Townhomes (12 units) as approved. Smaller infill projects like these tend to have a more immediate effect on the street they’re on than on the wider market.
What This Means for Buyers
- More options, more homework. New construction can offer builder incentives and modern systems, but you’ll want to compare HOA dues, lot sizes, drainage plans, and flood zone status against resale homes nearby.
- Look at the whole plan, not just your phase. If you buy early in a large subdivision, construction traffic and future phases may be part of daily life for a while.
- Check school assignments and road plans. New Hanover County Schools assignments can change as neighborhoods grow, so verify them for the specific address.
What This Means for Sellers
- Know your competition. If a builder down the road is offering rate buydowns or closing-cost help, buyers will compare. Pricing and presentation matter more when new homes are nearby.
- Highlight what new construction can’t offer. Mature trees, larger lots, an established neighborhood, and no construction noise are real selling points.
What This Means for Neighbors
Because many of these projects are allowed under existing zoning, the TRC review is often the main public checkpoint. Each listing includes a county planner’s email, and TRC agendas are posted ahead of meetings. If you live next to a proposed project, that’s the place to ask about buffers, stormwater, and road access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “approved” mean homes are being built?
Not necessarily. It means the preliminary plan passed the county’s technical review. Construction plans, permits, and infrastructure work still come before homes go up, and some approvals expire before construction starts.
Why aren’t Wilmington projects on this list?
The list covers unincorporated New Hanover County. Projects inside Wilmington and the beach towns are reviewed by those municipalities.
How can I find out what’s planned near a specific home?
Start with the county list and the TRC agendas, then check the City of Wilmington’s development pages if the address is in city limits. We’re happy to help you look up a specific property.
Thinking About Buying or Selling Near New Construction?
Whether you’re weighing a new townhome off Carolina Beach Road or wondering how a subdivision next door affects your home’s value, we can walk you through the details. Reach out to Aspyre Collective and we’ll help you make sense of what’s coming to your part of New Hanover County.
