Castle Hayne community raises concerns over proposed land sale agreement

CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) – A proposed development in Castle Hayne is raising concerns among residents. The “Hilton’s Bluff” development would span more than 4,000 acres of land, much of it known as Sledge Forest.

Discussions regarding the proposed development have been ongoing since November, with the biggest concerns revolving around the conservation of the land and the potential increase in traffic on already crowded roads.

In response to these concerns, the developers sent an update letter to county commissioners two weeks ago, attempting to address some of the community’s questions. Copper Builders, the company behind the development, also announced that they have entered into an agreement to sell 1,160 acres of land to the conservation nonprofit “Unique Places to Save.”

However, not everyone is convinced by this proposed conservation effort.

Kayne Darnell, a spokesperson for the group “Save Sledge Forest,” questions the benefits of the agreement. “They should be purchasing that 900 or so acres of upland, buildable land that houses Venus flytraps, orchids, and longleaf forests. Instead, they’re focusing on non-buildable land. So my question is, does this agreement really benefit anyone other than Copper Builders?”

Marion Kreh, a longtime Castle Hayne resident who has lived in the area for 32 years, worries that the proposed development could change the very essence of the community that drew her there in the first place.

“The reason I moved here was for the quiet, the trees, and nature. We have a lot of young families, and they don’t sit in front of TVs all day. They actually play outside with their bicycles…”

The proposed sale of the land is not a done deal. The nonprofit “Unique Places to Save” has applied for a grant to purchase part of the property.

WWAY News reached out to Unique Places to Save and the developers for comment but has not yet received a response.