When Preston Development Company (www.beaucoastnc.com/our-team bulldozed over 200 acres of woods in 2018 to squeeze in 800 houses despite outcry from Beaufort residents old and new, the town mourned the loss. Over 100 year old pine trees, old-growth hardwood, maritime forest- all a gorgeous habitat for black bears, owls and other birds of prey, raccoons and possums, deer, foxes, reptiles, amphibians, and more. A wetland area buffering Beaufort from storms and flooding, which are only increasing from intensity. Shade and cooling in the searing hummer heat, offsetting urban heat islands. Clean, fresh oxygen for us to breathe as concentrations of trees remove airborne pollutants to the benefit of community health. A beautiful woods that helped make Beaufort feel like home. The wildlife had nowhere else to go- now residents frequently face conflict with more and more animals searching their backyards for food and becoming roadkill. 

 

"Development" is nothing more than a euphemism for destruction of what we already have, on the empty promise that it will maybe benefit an entire community somehow, one day. Here in Beaufort, we've seen enough mass 'development'.

Despite clear-cutting a forest and having built a large cookie-cutter neighborhood with many homes empty for much of the year, the Beau Coast destruction is not finished. On March 9, 2026, the Board of Commissioners had little choice but to approve the final plats for Phase 4 (14 acres, Case #26-04) and Beau Coast West Phases 2 and 3 (28 acres, Case #26-05). More information can be seen  at https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/beaufortnc-pubu/MEET-Packet-d6989dc3f07743aa875395f8d27a69d1.pdf

 

These areas are still beautiful woods with delicate water streams running through them. A gorgeous, wildlife-rich area for remaining critters and for our families enjoying Freedom Park and feeling close to nature in our sweet town. Preston Development has told town staff and current Beau Coast residents that they have 'no immediate plans' to actually 'develop' the remaining Phases 2, 3 and 4.

We the below would like to see Beau Coast fully commit to protecting these remaining 48 acres of old-growth woods in perpetuity. New residents will adore and enjoy the thick buffer of nature, and current residents will rejoice at knowing at least part of this beloved area is protected for the benefit of humans, wildlife and environment alike.

 

Preston Development, please finally do right by Beaufort. These are trying times, and nature is our greatest defense. These are pennies in the bucket to you, and it means so much more to us.

 

PETITION SIGNERS- PLEASE DO NOT DONATE! When change.org asks for donations, the funds go to the website, NOT to this specific effort! Please direct any further inquiries or assistance specific to this cause to defendlandagainstdevelopment@gmail.com.