Concern about overdevelopment is nothing new in New Hanover County, but recent plans for a major housing community in Castle Hayne have drawn opposition for many reasons, one being that it’s proposed for the last expanse of old growth forest in the area.
The kicker, Castle Hayne resident Kayne Darrell said, and why she and fellow organizers Andy Wood and Marion Kreh have been educating the public, is because there’s no requirement for public input or review by the county’s planning board or the commissioners. This is because the development is considered “by-right,” meaning the project already has the zoning it needs to continue to the technical review process.
The "Save Sledge Forest" movement has garnered massive support from the community, with over 3,000 people backing a petition to protect the forest and advocate for public input. Darrell said more than 250 people came out to a town hall recently to learn about the development and the risks it poses.
About the developer's plans
The developer, Copper Builders, LLC, is proposing a 4,000-home development on approximately 4,000 acres of land located down Sledge Road, which is next to General Electric’s plant in Castle Hayne, according to site plans. The thousands of homes would take up nearly 1,000 acres of the property as wetlands cover the rest of the tract. Spread throughout the property, the developer has also proposed a golf course, miles of trails and a mini horse ranch.
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The property is currently owned by SJM Hilton, LLC, which has ties to the original landowner W.F. Sledge. Sledge was a Whiteville resident retired from the lumber industry and was one of the top owners of undeveloped land in New Hanover County, according to a 1980s report from the StarNews.
Copper Builders, LLC is based out of Charlotte and Raleigh, and according to their website, homes they build typically fall between $700,000 and $2 million. The StarNews reached out for comment, but did not receive one in time for publication.
Lengthy list of concerns
The Save Sledge Forest group has raised multiple concerns, the most obvious being the destruction of 1,000 acres of irreplaceable old growth forest that would likely have to be clearcut to fit 4,000 homes.
According to group organizers and local environmental experts, the forest is home to a biodiverse community of plants and animals, some of which include pine trees as old as 350 years and cypress older than 500 years.
“We moved up here for a reason,” Darrell said, explaining why she and most people in the community moved to the Castle Hayne area. “We don’t want this to look like Ogden and Market Street.”
Another concern is that the development would disturb the remaining 3,000 acres of wetlands on the site, causing major impacts from flooding as the area is already located in a floodplain. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coastal wetlands act as nature’s giant sponges, as one acre of wetlands can store as much as 1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
Being near GE, Darrell said the group also has concerns that a contained hazardous waste site could be a threat if it is disturbed. The Environmental Protection Agency lists the GE property as a Superfund site, which means the site previously had hazardous waste dumped on it, but has since been contained.
“We do not want to disparage GE. They are doing everything that is required of them to contain this,” but she said that she fears that having that many homes close by could be potentially dangerous.
There’s also concern that the area doesn’t have the proper infrastructure for the project as Castle Hayne Road faces congestion, and its widening project remains unfunded. The group is also concerned that the area’s schools, hospital and emergency services cannot handle 4,000 more families.
As of now, the development only has one access, which is Sledge Road. Darrell said she’s concerned about the developer creating access from other quiet cul-de-sac roads that back up to the property.
“It’s twice the size of Landfall ... which has three accesses,” Darrell said.
What are community members saying?
Many left comments on the petition, citing their reasons for wanting to protect the forest from development.
“Our wetlands are not just scenic; they are essential. They reduce flooding, protect water quality, and serve as vital habitats for countless species,” one supporter wrote. “Overdevelopment has already wreaked havoc here ... It’s short-sighted, irresponsible, and results in irreversible damage.”
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Darrell said she realizes that the county commissioners’ hands are tied, but she wants community members to reach out to make sure they are aware of the concerns.
“To me, to circumvent this public input process, is unconscionable ... it not only affects the character and integrity of these quiet neighborhoods,” Darrell said, “the health and safety is at risk with the traffic issues.”
What's next?
Darrell said nobody is asking the landowners to just give the land to the public, but she said there are conservation groups that have taken a strong interest in the property. She also said that she feels like the community would also offer up money to save it or that the New Hanover Community Endowment could be an option.
"Again, we're not asking them to give us anything. We're just wondering 'what kind of legacy do you really want to leave?'
"We, the citizens of this community are the ones that are going to be left with those negative impacts and the consequences, not the out-of-town developer, not the out-of-town family who's selling us out to the out-of-town developer," Darrell said. "We're going to be left with the aftermath."