Echo Farms re-development moves forward

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – The Subdivision Review Board heard an appeal on the re-development of Echo Farms and the board unanimously approved the decision to move forward as planned.

This decision is the latest in the controversial re-development plan of Echo Farms.

Residents voiced their discontent on the technical merits of the proposal, but the board felt it was up to city standards.

“It was very black and white, that was our decision,” Deb Hays, Subdivision Review Board commissioner, said. “It did not have any peripheral matters attached to it.”

The approval did come with some conditions, but the redevelopment will move forward.

Most of the residents, wearing their orange in support, believe that the decision was the wrong one but have not given up.

“We still have hope,” Warren Jackson, a resident of Echo Farms, said. “It just seems the process is not a fair process.”

They still believe that the plan does not consider city standards and are concerned that this could be the start of more issues.

“This is bigger than echo farms,” Jackson said. “If we can ignore our land use plans and the city can just decide that we’re going to gut a neighborhood and not follow our procedures and policies then no one’s neighborhood is safe.”

Nothing is set in stone, members of the board says that the decision doesn’t necessarily change much.

“Our decision tonight just allows them to move forward with the engineering it doesn’t secure them anything in terms of going out and building anything tomorrow.” Richard Collier, Subdivision Review Board commissioner, said.

The next step for the redevelopment is for the group to present their plans to the Technical Review Committee.

There they will work to decide which changes, if any, need to be made on a technical aspect.