Please continue to share this petition and spread the word. Most people we speak to in the community were not even aware this forest was slated for development.
These are excerpts from the outdated 2012 published Town plans for Mims Forest. The plan in its entirety can be found on the Town of Holly Springs website as a pdf.
Mims Forest is officially recognized as a historic property
The plan explicitly states:
“This property was once part of the historic, 180‑acre Mims Estate…”
“The families that dwelled in this house and farmed on this estate helped shape the Town’s history.”
“It is adjacent to the existing Mims House (nationally registered as the Leslie‑Alford‑Mims House).”
This confirms that the forest is not just “green space” — it is a documented historic landscape connected to a National Register property (listed in 1997).
The forest contains natural spring‑fed creeks and wetlands
The document repeatedly emphasizes the ecological uniqueness of the site:
“The site is mostly wooded, featuring streams, natural springs, and interesting topography…”
“17 acres | densely wooded | natural spring | streams | wetlands”
This is critical: Natural springs and wetlands are protected resources under state and federal law. Any disturbance requires updated environmental review — and the last review is from 2012.
The forest was valued for its mature canopy and ecological function
The Town’s own consultants described it as:
“17 wooded acres”
“Older, unique stands of trees”
“A signature conservation landscape”
This language is the opposite of what current development proposals imply. The 2012 plan envisioned preservation, but instead it offered destruction.
The public input process occurred between 2011–2012
The document states:
“The planning and design process took place over a 10‑month period from August 2011 to June 2012.”
“Approximately 50 Holly Springs residents participated…”
Holly Springs has doubled in size since then. The environmental pressures have multiplied. The ecological losses have accelerated.
A 2012 survey cannot be used to justify a 2026 decision.
In summary:
The Town’s own 2012 Mims Property Master Plan confirms that this 17‑acre forest is a documented historic landscape containing natural spring‑fed creeks, wetlands, and mature woodland that once formed part of the 180‑acre Mims Estate. The adjacent Mims House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, underscoring the cultural significance of the surrounding land. The public input used to shape the 2012 plan involved only ~50 residents at a time when Holly Springs had half its current population. Since then, the town has experienced massive canopy loss, wetland destruction, and ecological decline. A decade‑old survey cannot be used to justify destroying a historic forest in 2026. The preservation of this forest is of the utmost importance for the health of our community and its ecosystem.