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TO: Wilmington City Council and Planning Commission 

FROM: Concerned Residents and Stakeholders

SUBJECT: Urgent Request to Delay The Haven at Galleria Project

Our city council,  Mayor Saffo and the city planners have permitted and approved the Haven at Galleria which was once the tree lined gateway to Wrightsville Beach.  This development can take up to 4 years to construct and may be the largest in the city. Upon completion, 645 mid-rise apartments will loom over Wrightsville Ave. and  9,000 square ft of commercial space will add 3,750 vehicle trips/day.  Yes 3,750 cars in our already congested area!!!    Not only will the impact on the alternate route roads;  Eastwood, Stokely, Allen's Lane and our beloved Airlie Road (a national heritage highway)  affect our neighborhoods but public safety is of great concern.  The lack of public information regarding this project is beyond disappointing and Johnson Development should be held accountable.  The kicker is THE TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDIES ARE OUTDATED from OCTOBER 2022 and they do not include any projects in the surrounding areas.  More cars will contribute to our already miserable traffic congestion.  An awful aside is these imposing 5 story buildings are not complementary to our area.  The removal of heritage trees has not only destroyed the canopy landscape but crushed the character of the place we choose to call home. We can't just sit and watch.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!  Through a unified community voice via this petition.

We, the undersigned residents and stakeholders of Wilmington, NC, hereby petition the City of Wilmington as of 6-26-25 to:
1. Immediately Delay all further approvals and progression of The Haven at Galleria project.
2. Mandate a new, comprehensive Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) that accurately reflects current (mid-2025) traffic volumes and patterns, and critically includes the cumulative impacts of all planned, approved, and ongoing developments and transportation projects in the vicinity, including Center Point, Mayfaire, the flyover on Eastwood & Military Cutoff; and the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge replacement.
3. Ensure robust public transparency throughout this revised process, including accessible dissemination of the new TIA and ample opportunity for public review and input before any further decisions are made.
4. Update Tree Protection code, especially for native Live Oaks, to prevent removal of all Heritage trees.
5. Remove Loophole on Mixed Use Zoning allowing apartment projects to gain extra density and only have 1% commercial.
6. Scheduling a Public Hearing where residents voices can be heard. Only 1 meeting in 2018 and it was with a different developer for a different project. 

Our Position: The Haven at Galleria should not move forward until these steps are taken. This delay is essential to protect public safety, the environment, and ensure responsible planning, and restore trust in the development process.

ACTION STEPS:

• Join our mailing list at GalleriaWatch.org for Galleria updates and future events as change.org does not share your email address with us.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT DONATE.  Donations made on Change.org do NOT go to  Galleria Watch.  Money donated on this site goes to support change.org only. If you have already donated and want a refund, email help@change.org.
• Contact your elected officials—let your voice be heard! 

Together, we can protect the future of our community.