Lincoln County commissioners gathered to decide whether a suburban Walmart can host commercial drone operations.
The board considered case CZ #2026-3 at its June 1, 2026 meeting. The request seeks approval for a 30-foot by 128-foot dedicated zone inside the parking lot at 7131 N.C. 73 Highway in Denver for drone launch, takeoff, landing, and storage.
Wing would conduct the flights. Packages under 2 pounds would reach customers in an average of 23 minutes. The location sits in Catawba Springs Township.
More than 200 residents signed a petition opposing the plan. Signers cited risks to privacy, noise from repeated overflights, and impacts on local wildlife.
Walmart already runs Wing drone deliveries from its Kannapolis store. Additional launches are planned for Charlotte, making the Denver site a logical next node in the network.
WBTV covered the meeting proceedings and the volume of resident input. DroneXL.co examined the operational details and community objections. The application remains active on Lincoln County’s official list of pending zoning cases.
The proposal involves creating a specific area for drones to operate safely without interfering with regular store activities. Officials from Wing presented data on their safety record and how they plan to minimize disturbances to the community. The board will vote on the zoning change in an upcoming session after gathering more public input. Community members voiced their opinions both for and against the initiative during the public comment period. Some see it as progress in e-commerce while others worry about the implications for personal space and property values. This kind of development could set a precedent for other counties considering similar drone programs. Lincoln County aims to balance economic growth with resident quality of life concerns. Discussions also touched on potential job creation from expanded delivery services and how regulations might evolve to address emerging technology uses in residential zones.
