Is Royal Farms still coming to Castle Hayne? | MyReporter
A Baltimore-based convenience store chain, Royal Farms, has submitted plans for two locations on Castle Hayne Road.
The company, known for its fried chicken and fries, operates nearly 300 stores across seven states, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and North Carolina.
Where will the stores be located?
According to New Hanover County spokesman Alex Riley, one of the locations -- designated by the developer as Royal Farms 482 -- will be located at the intersection of Castle Hayne and College roads, immediately south of the existing roundabout.
The other location -- designated by the developer as Royal Farms 551 -- will be located at the intersection of Castle Hayne Road and 23rd streets. There the developer has plans to remove the existing buildings at 2817 23rd Street.
What is the timeline?
Aliyah Atayee, Royal Farms spokesperson, said they have no information to provide regarding a timeline for the new location. Both projects must be reviewed by the county’s technical review committee.
Riley explained that both project areas are in commercial zoning districts that allow convenience stores with fuel pumps by-right.
"That means they require review by the county’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) for approval, but do not require any other board level of approval," Riley said in an email.
Riley said for Royal Farms 482, the developers approached North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) to request a revision of their Traffic Impact Analysis to allow full access onto Castle Hayne Road, but the WMPO and NCDOT have since re-confirmed their initial determination that access to Castle Hayne Road would be limited to "right-in/right-out only." At this time, the developer is still working to update plans and address TRC requirements.
Royal Farms 551 was initially reviewed by the TRC in February 2023. Riley said the developer is currently working to update plans to re-submit for review, but the county does not have an estimated timeline for when those corrections will be submitted.
Do you have a question about an issue in the Cape Fear Region? Email it to [email protected], and we will get it answered.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: An update on the Royal Farms coming to Castle Hayne, NC
