Plans to develop the West Side of The Cape Fear River near The Battleship North Carolina have been a topic of discussion for years. Recently, The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners took a unanimous vote to approve The Western Bank Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Commissioner Dane Scalise emphasized the importance of preserving the western bank in response to community feedback advocating for conservation efforts.
Following a postponement from the previous commissioner’s meeting in August, public input was solicited regarding the fate of The Western Bank of The Cape Fear and the Northeast Cape Fear Rivers. Concerns have been raised by residents who fear that land development could exacerbate existing flood issues over time.
Acquiring federal grants to purchase the land from private owners is the next step for the commissioner’s staff, with a focus on preserving as much of the land as possible. Commissioner Scalise detailed the upcoming efforts to secure funding from the federal government to address environmental contamination issues associated with the brownfield property. The goal is to facilitate voluntary acquisitions from current private landowners to further the conservation objectives for The Western Bank.
