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Sledge Forest in Castle Hayne is the last, large expanse of old growth forest in New Hanover County. It is more than 4000 acres and is slated for “by-right” development, which allows for NO public input (even from those most affected) and requires NO review and/or approval by our County Commission and Planning Board.

Please visit www.savesledgeforest.org to learn more.  

This massive residential development: 

• Will destroy 1000 acres of forest to build 4000+ homes, while the required infrastructure could cause disturbance, disruption, and potential destruction of over 3000 acres of irreplaceable wetlands.
• It will inundate Castle Hayne Rd, an already congested, F-rated road, with an additional 30,000+ car trips per day. 
• This area is surrounded by a floodplain and we know that the catastrophic impacts caused by flooding is often due to clear-cutting and overdevelopment. 
• The area’s schools, hospital, emergency services and roads cannot handle 4000 more families without the proper infrastructure in place first.
• There is an EPA Hazardous Waste site that is being monitored on the adjacent property.  Could it be a potential threat if disturbed?
• Should a “By-Right” development be allowed to supersede the rights, health & safety, and well-being of the rest of the community?  

We believe the 4,000+ acres that make up Sledge Forest in northern New Hanover County is a local, natural treasure. The NC Heritage Program considers it of National Significance and it should be protected. Remaining mostly untouched through 6000 years of habitat evolution, it is recognized as harboring some of the last best examples of the region’s worldwide significant habitats and biodiversity. It is a community of plants & animals containing 350 year old pine trees more than 60’ tall, and cypress trees dated more than 500 years, with a vast array of rare and imperiled wildlife that needs Sledge Forest as their home.  

Does the destruction of our county’s last, large expanse of old growth forest by this proposed development seem ill-conceived and unacceptable to you?

This single project could:

1. Double the population of Castle Hayne
2. Double the number of cars on overburdened Castle Hayne Rd. 
3. Add an undetermined number of students to our overcrowded schools
4. Change the quiet, rural character of an area zoned Rural Agriculture
5. Threaten our drinking water supply if the containment of the toxic plume from GE's Hazardous Waste Site is disturbed

Does this seem like the wrong plan for the wrong area?

Do you believe it would be better for all of us if, instead of clear-cutting and building 4000 homes here, the 4000+ acres of Sledge Forest was put under conservation protection in perpetuity, to be enjoyed and revered by present and future generations of New Hanover County?

If so, please sign our petition, email your representatives, and join our movement to Save Sledge Forest.

Find out more at sledgeforest.org

DONATE HERE to Save Sledge Forest - do not click the "Take the Next Step" button (that donation goes to change.org NOT Save Sledge Forest!