Wilmington residents upset, city blindsided after developer cuts down several trees

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some neighbors in Wilmington are devastated after around a dozen live oak trees were cut down at a development happening on Wrightsville Ave. 

“These were absolutely outstanding legacy trees. Just beautiful,” nearby resident Nina Brown said. 

The development company behind the project—South Carolina-based Johnson Development Associates—was only able to cut down the trees because they had by right approval under an old city code. 

“In this particular case, because this property was voluntarily annexed into the city of Wilmington many years ago, it fell under an older code,” Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo explained. 

Neighbors say the loss of the trees erodes the beauty of the area.  

“They would have absolutely been wonderful in terms of the entrance to this place, would have made all the difference and now we just have clear cut,” Brown expressed. 

Mayor Saffo says under current code, it would have been much more difficult for the developer to remove the trees. 

Saffo says he and the rest of city council are disappointed that the developer never contacted the city before cutting the trees down.  

“They may have, very well, the legal right to do what they did, that doesn’t mean it was right,” he said. “And if they were good developers and people sensitive to understanding what’s going in the community and in this city, they would have at least let us know what they were planning on doing, so we would have had the opportunity to work with them.”  

Saffo says if the developer had let them know in advance, the city could have moved the trees for free using its tree fund. 

After the trees were cut down, the city issued a stop work order on Friday while officials assess the situation.  

Neighbors hoping that future developers will recognize the value of greenery.  

“It would also make the residents care a lot more about the new development, and see that the developers want to keep the trees, as opposed to being here and just figuring nobody cares now,” Brown said. 

WWAY reached out to Johnson Development Associates for comment, but we have not heard back as of Friday evening. 

A spokesperson for the city of Wilmington sent WWAY a statement on the matter that reads: 

“In response to concerns brought to the city’s attention, a stop-work order was issued on June 6 after city staff identified discrepancies between the trees removed and those shown on the original tree survey. Work has been paused while these discrepancies are reviewed and addressed. 

While the removal of mature trees is never taken lightly, the developer has committed to a substantial replanting plan. A total of 276 new trees will be planted, including 141 Southern Live Oaks, Darlington Oaks, Cypress, Southern Magnolia, Maples, and other native species to meet buffer, mitigation, street tree, and parking lot landscaping requirements. 

The Haven at Galleria was reviewed and approved under the city’s former Land Development Code; therefore, the enhanced protections and mitigation requirements in the current code do not apply.  As part of the approved site plan, seven oak trees (two 15-inch and five 22-inch) along Wrightsville Avenue were approved for removal. These trees were located within areas required for essential infrastructure, including underground gas and sanitary sewer lines, and the alignment of a new sidewalk. 

Under the current code, environmental considerations are deeply embedded in the city’s regulatory structure. These updates include stronger tree protection measures, rigorous floodplain and wetland conservation standards, and permanent preservation of sensitive natural areas. These policies exceed federal minimums and reflect Wilmington’s long-term commitment to climate resilience and ecosystem health. 

One of the most significant changes in the updated code is the introduction of a specimen tree category. A specimen tree is defined as a healthy, high-value tree that meets specific species and size thresholds. These trees are protected due to their ecological, cultural, or visual significance. A variance from the Board of Adjustment is required for their removal in all zoning districts other than General Industrial. If removal is approved, mitigation is required at a rate of 200 percent, meaning two inches of new trees must be planted for every inch of specimen tree removed or an equivalent contribution must be made to the city’s tree fund.”