Hilton Bluffs appeal delayed as developer agrees to revise traffic plan
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A proposed 1,800-unit development in Castle Hayne remains in limbo after a partial settlement reached Monday led to a continuance in an appeal before the New Hanover County Board of Adjustment.
The proposed Hilton Bluffs development has been the subject of months of opposition from nearby residents and conservation groups concerned about traffic and the potential impact on Sledge Forest.
Monday’s hearing took an unexpected turn when a settlement was announced between developer Copper Builders and one group of appellants represented by attorney Grady Richardson.
“We found out when we arrived this morning that there had been a settlement reached between Copper Builders and the other appellants,” said attorney Susan Keelin, who is helping represent the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Richardson represents 40 Castle Hayne residents who opposed the development’s original traffic plan, which included access points connecting to existing neighborhoods.
As part of the settlement, Copper Builders agreed to submit a revised site plan that removes those proposed access points.
“There is an agreement that Copper Builders has said we will, we shall, submit a new plan, and in that plan, we will not be using the access points in the traffic pattern that was under the originally approved, conditionally approved plan,” Keelin said.
The revised traffic pattern has not yet been released, leaving questions about where vehicles from the development will instead be directed.
“They’re promising that the traffic will go elsewhere. Where? We don’t know, so that’s the, you know, $64,000 question,” Keelin said.
Copper Builders founder Wade Miller called the settlement a positive outcome in a statement to WWAY.
“Our future neighbors earned our assurance that we won’t build roads connecting to their neighborhood streets, and they confirmed that the County’s approval of the home lots and conservation areas on our plans was correct,” Miller said.
He added that revising the plans is “only a modest modification to the plan. We’re rerouting traffic so it stays out of the existing neighborhoods, which is what people asked for.”
Opponents of the development say the agreement represents progress but does not address their broader concerns about the project.
“How are you going to move forward knowing this is still so open-ended? One step at a time, which is what we’ve done all along,” said Kayne Darrell, co-founder of Save Sledge Forest.
Darrell said community members remain committed to stopping the project.
“The dedication and commitment of this community to saving this forest, to protecting the people who live in this community, it’s been pretty amazing. We live in a pretty awesome place,” he said.
The Board of Adjustment continued the case until Sept. 22 to allow Copper Builders time to submit a revised development plan. If the new plan is not ready by then, the continuance could be extended.
The current stay permit expires at the end of July. The board did not issue a new stay because there is not yet a revised development plan requiring new permits.
