The Edenton Town Council will consider several proposals that could reshape housing options and small-business growth in Edenton during a special meeting Monday night, with several public hearings scheduled on development applications across town.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Monday, March 23, 2026, in Council Chambers at 504 S. Broad St. Residents may also attend remotely via Zoom. The agenda packet appears below this story.

At the center of the agenda are proposals to add new homes through infill development and subdivisions, while advancing a business incubator project to support local entrepreneurs.

Housing proposals lead agenda

Four of the five public hearings involve residential development proposals that have previously surfaced in council and planning discussions as part of the town’s push for population growth and housing diversity.

Town leaders have spent several years revising land-use policy and zoning rules to encourage a wider range of housing types, particularly smaller-lot homes and infill development that uses existing streets, utilities and neighborhoods.

Edenton’s joint land-use plan with Chowan County calls for expanding homeownership opportunities, supporting innovative housing types, and encouraging development that attracts both retirees and younger residents. In recent years, town officials have worked to align zoning regulations with those goals.

In 2025, council and planning staff advanced updates to the town’s development ordinance, including the creation of the R-3 Residential zoning district. The district allows smaller lot sizes and more compact neighborhood designs than traditional residential zoning, opening the door for cottage-style housing, duplexes and small infill projects.

Several neighborhoods have also been the focus of past redevelopment efforts. The North Oakum Street area, for example, was part of a multi-year revitalization initiative that targeted vacant and deteriorating properties for rehabilitation and new construction. That effort included partnerships with preservation groups and housing organizations and led to regulatory changes that made it easier to build on smaller, nonconforming lots while preserving neighborhood character.

More recently, council has reviewed a range of housing proposals of varying scale, including discussions surrounding a large multi-family apartment project along Paradise Road. Those conversations highlighted ongoing community interest in how growth should occur and how new housing fits into Edenton’s historic setting.

Against that backdrop, council members will now consider three new residential proposals.

Oakum Street: Four-home infill subdivision

Edenton resident John L. Sellers is seeking two approvals for a 0.31-acre vacant parcel at 706 N. Oakum St.:

• A rezoning from R-5 Residential to R-3 Residential
• A Major Special Use Permit to subdivide the property into four lots for single-family homes

The zoning change would reduce minimum lot size requirements, allowing the property to be split into buildable parcels across the street from the John A. Holmes High School campus.

Town planning staff and the Planning Board have recommended approval, finding the request consistent with the 2018 Edenton-Chowan Land Use Plan designation for medium- to high-density residential development.

Town documents describe the project as infill housing that fits the surrounding residential pattern while creating additional homeownership opportunities.

Sellers came to council in 2025, requesting permission to build townhomes on the property.

Queen Street: Tiny-home “cottage court”

A second rezoning request would allow a compact six-home development on a vacant 0.48-acre lot at 307 E. Queen St., formerly a Class C trailer park.

Applicant James Chesson is seeking to rezone the parcel from R-5 to R-3 to allow what marketing materials describe as a pastel-colored “cottage court” development known as The Cotton Seeds at Cottage Court.

204 Whitemon Lane, Edenton

Whitemon Lane: Major subdivision at town’s edge

A third housing proposal would subdivide roughly 18 acres of agricultural land at 204 Whitemon Lane into new residential lots.

Applicant Paul Latcher of Elizabeth City is requesting a Major Special Use Permit for the subdivision. Planning materials indicate the project would create six lots, though earlier documents listed four — a discrepancy town staff is expected to clarify.

The property sits along the edge of town, an area that has seen growing development interest in recent years because of its proximity to major highways and available undeveloped land.

Water service would be provided through Chowan County.

The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval with standard conditions, including developer-funded infrastructure and stormwater compliance.

Business incubator proposal

The fifth public hearing centers on a commercial development designed to support small businesses.

Joshua Rivenbark, applicant for Rivenbunn LLC, is seeking a Major Special Use Permit to construct a 50-by-200-foot metal building at 114 and 116 Mexico Road, near the Virginia Road intersection.

Plans call for:

• Rentable incubator space for startup and small businesses
• Minimum 2,000-square-foot leasable units
• Rehabilitation of an existing building
• Outdoor storage for trailers, RVs, campers and boats

The 1.67-acre site sits within a commercial corridor surrounded by automotive and equipment businesses. Staff found the project consistent with the town’s economic development goals outlined in its land use plan.

Town leaders have increasingly emphasized pairing housing growth with economic development efforts, including initiatives aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and revitalizing commercial corridors.

The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval with conditions.

Recycling grant decision

Before the public hearings, council members will consider accepting a $30,000 preliminary state grant for recycling operations.

The award from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality would help fund the purchase of a skid steer to mechanize sorting at the town’s transfer station.

Public Works Director David Myers said employees currently sort recyclables by hand — a labor-intensive process costing roughly $30,000 annually. The equipment would also assist with storm debris removal and yard waste handling.

The town must formally accept the award and submit paperwork by April 2 or risk losing the funds.

Closed session

The meeting will conclude with a closed session to discuss economic development matters under state law.