Hilton Bluffs plan remains under review after Technical Review Committee meeting
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The revised Hilton Bluffs development plan remains under review after the New Hanover County Technical Review Committee did not reach a decision during its Sept. 2 meeting.
The proposed development calls for 1,800 homes with a single access road, an issue that has drawn concerns from opponents and county officials.
New Hanover County Fire Marshal David Stone previously said state law prevents him from requiring the developer to provide a second access road, despite acknowledging concerns about emergency access and fire safety.
The revised plan must still address outstanding issues before it can be approved by the Technical Review Committee.
Save Sledge Forest, a group opposing the development, released a statement following the meeting saying its appeal remains pending and that it is prepared to challenge an approval it believes does not comply with the law.
The group also criticized the decision not to require a second access road.
“We respect the Fire Marshal and the difficult position he has been placed in, but we respectfully disagree with his determination that the Fire Code does not give him the authority to require a second access,” the group said.
Save Sledge Forest pointed to Stone’s acknowledgment that serving 1,800 homes with a single roadway presents “significant fire safety concerns.”
The group also raised concerns about traffic generated by the development. According to Save Sledge Forest, Hilton Bluffs is projected to generate nearly 15,000 vehicle trips per day, with residents relying on a single road to connect to Castle Hayne Road.
“If 1,800 homes cannot be built here without compromising public safety, then perhaps 1,800 homes should not be built here,” Save Sledge Forest said in its statement.
The group said it remains committed to opposing the project and protecting Sledge Forest and surrounding communities.
Fire safety requirements remain
Under the revised plan, the development would still be required to meet additional fire safety standards, including sprinkler systems in every home and roads that meet state requirements.
Stone previously said roads would need to be 26 feet wide, exclusive of curbs, unless valley curbs are engineered to support the weight of fire apparatus.
Stone also said the developer attempted to secure a second access point through neighboring properties, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
The Technical Review Committee’s review is ongoing, and the revised plan has not received final approval.
