Public concern grows over proposed Hilton’s Bluff development in Castle Hayne
CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) — Saturday at Northern Regional Park in Castle Hayne, a group called “Save Sledge Forest” will host a town hall to inform the public about a major proposed development that could change their community.
The proposed development, called “Hilton’s Bluff,” would cover more than 4,000 acres of land currently known as Sledge Forest in Castle Hayne.
The community’s concern began to rise when an out-of-town developer applied for a Performance Development Application—a process that does not require rezoning or public input.
Kayne Darrell, an advocate for preserving Sledge Forest, was particularly surprised by the lack of public review in the development process: “It really raised some alarms because it doesn’t allow for public input. It does not go for review in front of either the planning board or the county commissioners/our elected officials.”
When we reached out to New Hanover County for comment on the proposed Hilton’s Bluff development, the county provided a statement saying in part that:
“The development’s preliminary master plan had been discussed at the October 2nd Technical Review Committee (TRC) meeting, which gave the developer initial feedback on their plan.”
However, residents in the area say they didn’t become aware of the proposal until late October, since the application process did not require public notification. This lack of communication sparked the creation of the “Save Sledge Forest” group.
Kayne Darrell, co-founder of Save Sledge Forest, believes it’s critical for the community to have a voice in the decision-making process: “I feel like the ‘by rights’ of an out-of-town developer and out-of-town ownership of this property should never supersede the rights of the community and our health and safety or our well-being, really.”
One of the biggest concerns raised by residents is the impact of the development on local infrastructure. Darrell points out that the development would add 4,000 new homes and an additional 30,261 cars to already congested roads in the area.
“When we heard about this development, which is 4,000 homes and an addition of 30,261 cars added to our already congested roads… we kind of said enough is enough. It’s time to slow down, slow this runaway train down and listen to the community.”
Darrell says that the voices of the local residents are key:
“I’m a firm believer in the power of the people, and I hope that we can garner enough support and continue to grow this movement until our voices won’t be ignored.”
As mentioned, the “Save Sledge Forest” group is holding a public meeting Saturday at Northern Regional Park (4700 Old Ave, Castle Hayne, NC 28429 Shelter #2) from 3:00-5:00 PM.
Residents are encouraged to attend and learn more about the proposed development.
