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🦅📣 Weddington Town Council Denies Toll Brothers “Deal Lake” May 12!

The Weddington Town Council voted to deny Toll Brothers' "Deal Lake" conditional zoning application for 62 homes on Hwy 84/Weddington Road. The vote was a 2–2 split, with Mayor Bell casting the tie-breaking vote to deny the proposal.

In favor: Council Members Jeff Perryman and Brannon Howie Opposed: Council Member Darcey Ladner and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Smith Thank you to Council Members Ladner and Smith, along with Mayor Bell, for standing together to protect and preserve one of Weddington’s most environmentally sensitive areas, home to bald eagles and a rich diversity of wildlife that rely on the Aero Plantation lakes and surrounding habitat.

Thank you for your incredible support. With over 6,000 petition signatures, countless voices speaking out at town meetings, and hundreds of emails sent to the Planning Board and Town Council opposing "Deal Lake," your dedication truly made a difference. Your voices were heard!

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Toll Brothers Public Hearing "Deal Lake" Part 2

PLEASE ATTEND THIS VERY IMPORTANT PRECEDENT SETTING VOTE

Monday May 12 7:00 PM, Weddington Town Hall 1924 Weddington Road. A vote will be taken this night on the proposed residential conditional zoning application of  Toll Brothers for "Deal Lake"

Please email Weddington Town Council You are opposed by Monday, May 12.

Weddington Town Council Email

jbell@townofweddington.com

jperryman@townofweddington.com

bhowie@townofweddington.com

tsmith@townofweddington.com

dladner@townofweddington.com

Concerns:

Traffic: Increased congestion on Hwy 84, 1/2 mile from Weddington Schools

Schools: At or near capacity with possible redistricting with more developments approved

Stormwater: Stormwater management/wetland protection plan not provided required by Weddington Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Appendix 2B

Clustered Septic: Half onsite and half offsite clustered engineered panel block septic systems, grinder pumps, indicates problematic soils. Panel block more expensive, requiring more maintenance, prone to leaking. Perc testing not completed on each lot per Weddington UDO Appendix 2B!!!!

Groundwater Contamination: Unviable stormwater and septic plans, risking contamination of groundwater with some neighboring wells in close proximity 

Degredation Of Lakes and Streams: Erosion, uncontrolled runoff and septic contaminating nearby lakes where neighbors fish and swim; Impacts to Aero Plantation high hazard dam, potential for costly dredging repairs and mitigation due to excessive silt and debris build up

Environmental Impacts: Full environmental study not provided for an environmentally sensitive area 

Incomplete Application: Missing several items; Complete application is required by Weddington UDO Appendix 2B

Protection Of Tree Canopy: Diverse range of wildlife depends on the existing tree canopy, including nests of bald eagles, tricolored bats, blue herons, ospreys, red-tailed hawks, cooper’s hawks, barred owls and great horned owls; squirrels, deer, and foxes also depend on this area’s tree canopy

Preservation of Environmentally Sensitive Open Space: The 660-foot protected zone for the bald eagles nest, along with protected area for the tricolored bats, underscores the need for a conservation easement to ensure the long-term protection of these vulnerable species and their natural habitats and waive riparian rights to protect lake #1 and shore. 

Toll Brothers Taking A Toll On Weddington: Stop irresponsible developers! Bromley- Uncontrolled stormwater runoff filling the lake with silt and debris, necessitating a costly second dredging 

Enclave at Baxley: Ongoing infrastructure and quality concerns remain unresolved, prompting the HOA to seek assistance from the town

Luna: Recently clear-cut, including the removal of numerous heritage trees, in a blatant disregard of Weddington’s tree ordinance

https://www.townofweddington.com/development-projects-and-subdivisions (click on development page to see "Deal Lake" plans)

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Toll Brothers Public Hearing "Deal Lake" now named "Weddington Crossing"

April 14, 7:00 PM at Weddington High School - 4901 Weddington Road , go through the front entrance and walk into auditorium

Do NOT go to town hall for this public hearing meeting! 

Sign up for public comment on the "Public Hearing" page, make sure you sign up to speak before the meeting starts.  

Please sign our petition.

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Update April 9, 2025, 

Toll Brothers "Deal Lake" Public Hearing

Monday April 14, 7:00 PM

Venue has now been changed to Weddington High School!

Do NOT go to Weddington Town Hall! 

Please show up and speak up!!!! We need you all there

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Update April 6, 2025

Aero Plantation is opposed to Toll Brothers "Deal Lake" development due to many concerns listed below over the past 16 months. There have been four renditions of their plans, each one worse than the other. 

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Toll Brothers public hearing for "Deal Lake" has been scheduled for for April 14 7:00 pm, Weddington Town Hall. We were told that council member Mayor Pro Tem Tom Smith will not be in attendance, something that the council members knew about months ahead.   We have been told that it will be a 2-1 or 3-0 vote to approve the project, as the Mayor only breaks the tie. We have been lobbying to get the date and venue changed to where all town council members can attend all nights of the hearing and discussion and consideration. Many feel this the making of a "rigged vote". 

A special hearing has been called for April 7, 2025 6:30 pm Weddington Town Hall, to discuss a venue and possible date change. 

Many Weddington citizens have emailed the town asking for a change of date and a larger venue at Weddington High school, to where all town council members can attend. 

It should be noted that Toll Brothers proposed "Deal Lake" in November 2023 and have had over 16 months to prepare but they are still missing many items on their application. A complete application is required by Weddington's Unified Development Ordinance. 

 

On December 18, 2024, Toll Brothers proposed "Deal Lake" development application went before the Weddington Planning Board. Weddington Town Hall was packed with more than 50 people who were turned away. Many residents in attendance spoke out in opposition against the proposal. The Planning Board recommended the project, advancing it forward to be heard by the town council.

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Update December 13, 2024

On December 12, 2024, we sent an email to Weddington's Town Council advising them that Toll Brothers should not be placed on the December 18 Planning Board agenda as their application is not complete per Weddington's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). 

We received an email today rom Weddington's Town Planner Greg Gordos that stated he was putting Toll Brothers on the December 18 agenda. This will be the fifth developer in a row where our town planner has knowingly sent incomplete applications to the Planning Board. This needs to STOP! 

Toll Brothers is now on their fourth modified plan for "Deal Lake". New plans have been posted on Weddington's development page. https://www.townofweddington.com/sites/default/files/uploads/planning/projects/02741-0011_deal_lake_r-cd_sketch_plan_20241121.pdf

We met with Toll Brothers a couple of weeks ago where they presented their new plans. We looked it over and advised them that their septic plan looks problematic and our town's UDO requires septic approval before advancing to the Planning Board. 

We also advised them the new plan has incomplete stormwater plans that do not follow our UDO.  We suggested they should not attempt to go in front of the Planning Board in December as their application is not complete. They stated they felt they had prepared everything needed to advance to the Planning Board. 

Per our request, Toll Brothers has modified their plans, removing homes and septic fields away from most of the federally protected zone of the bald eagles nest . We have asked that Toll Brothers put a fence barrier in the field to further protect the eagles from disturbances.

Our neighborhood and the bald eagles continue to be at risk with unknown septic systems that may not work as this project has not  been overseen by Union County's Environmental Health/Septic Department. The developer has opted to hire their own engineer and soil scientist, utilizing an Environmental Option Permit, which allows them to basically permit themselves.

We are very concerned that these engineered wastewater systems could contaminate our lake waters where our neighbors fish and swim. The eagles also depend on clean water in order to hunt and fish. 

We have been trying to work with Toll Brothers over the past year but they have not submitted a viable plan yet that protects our neighborhood, the eagles and the environment. 

Toll Brothers, if approved for "Deal Lake" could set a precedent for other developers to build residential developments with controversial wastewater systems on land that does not perc. 

We will continue to say No Deal, until it's a good deal for Weddington residents, the eagles and our environment. 

On October 10, 2024, Toll Brothers updated their new plans, uploaded on Weddington's town website. 

After reviewing the new modified plans, it is not clear what Toll Brothers plans are for their wastewater. The new updated sketch map, leaves us with a lot of questions and concerns. 

We reached out to Toll Brothers to see if they would reconsider meeting with some members of Aero Plantation privately, to discuss their new plans and Aero Plantation's concerns. Toll Brothers has yet to hear our full concerns as at their last community meeting, they  limited each person to one question.  

After emailing Toll Brothers Division President Ryan Switzer on October 10,  to see if we could meet, Switzer emailed me back stating "Currently, we do not have any new information to share regarding the Deal Lake development." This is the same day where earlier, the  town of Weddington had uploaded Toll Brothers new updated sketch plan.

It appears Toll Brothers has zero interest in meeting with Aero Plantation, as they tried to shut us down at their second meeting and they don't want to meet with us privately to hear our concerns. 

We have opposed all plans as they have not been forthcoming in sharing the exact type and details of their wastewater systems, which could be within 200 feet of our neighborhood lakes and a federally endangered eagles nest, as well as in very close proximity to some residents private drinking wells.   

Toll Brothers went on record and were video recorded at their second community meeting calling out bald eagles "rats". Beyond their wastewater plans, we have major issues, yet to be shared with other aspects of their development.

Aero Plantation STRONGLY STANDS IN CONTINUED OPPOSITION against Toll Brothers "Deal Lake" aka "Eagle Crossing" development.

THIS IS A TOWN ISSUE DUE THE PRECEDENT IT COULD SET! 

PUBLIC HEALTH OVER DEVELOPER PROFIT! 

NO DEAL! 

UPDATE October 9, 2024

We are asking Weddington Town Council to reject Toll Brothers "Deal Lake" aka  "Eagle Crossing" due to putting Aero Plantation's residents, groundwater, private wells, lakes and wildlife at risk due to inadequate management of stormwater and wastewater, based on plans shared at their community meetings. 

Toll Brothers has not privately reached out to Aero Plantation since January to discuss our remaining concerns regarding their modified plans. On September 22, 2024, Aero Plantation emailed Toll Brothers with a request to meet privately to share those concerns but Toll Brothers did not respond back to our email.  

Since the beginning, Aero Plantation has been advocating that Toll Brothers build with one acre lots using on lot conventional septic systems for their development "Deal Lake" now "Eagles Crossing". 

Although Toll Brother's modified plan is now one acre lots, they still have plans to build 8+ homes in the field above our lake. The homes would be located in the 660 foot federally protected zone of the eagles nest, likely causing them to abandon their nest and move away. Aero Plantation's eagles have nested by our lakes for generations. 

No Deal to individual on lot engineered community wastewater treatment plant/systems requiring contracted wastewater operators!

No Deal to Community septic systems and community wastewater treatment plants that require contracted wastewater operators!

No Deal to engineered wastewater systems that could impact the health of our groundwater and private wells. 

Sewage leaks and spills due to unmaintained wastewater pretreatment systems, put Aero Plantation at risk for contaminating our groundwater and nearby wells, including our lakes, causing them to become eutrophic with algae blooms and fish kills. 

Our neighborhood residents' families swim and fish in our lakes.

Weddington's federally protected bald eagles who fish in our lake and nest by our lake, will be at risk including recently soon to be endangered tri colored bats. An abundance of local wildlife depends on our lakes and the healthy ecosystem it provides. 

If approved, Weddington will have changed the way we handle our wastewater in the future, stripping all over site/authority away from Union County's local health department and putting it on private engineers, utilizing "Engineered Option Permits", who work for the developers. 

PUBLIC HEALTH OVER DEVELOPER PROFITS!

IF IT’S NOT CONVENTIONAL SEPTIC DON'T PROPOSE IT.

IF THE LOTS DONT PERC IT WONT WORK! 

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FRIENDS OF WEDDINGTON!

**DO NOT DONATE to Change.org, as 100% of donations go to Change.org and NOT our fight.

• Please sign and share our petition! https://www.change.org/NoDealWeddington
• Join our Facebook group “No Deal Weddington! (Public) https://www.facebook.com/groups/nodealinweddington

(see NEW Toll Brothers sketch map below)

WEDDINGTON HAS FEDERALLY PROTECTED BALD EAGLES AND SOON TO BE "UNOFFICALLY"  ENDANGERED TRI-COLORED BATS. THE TRI-COLORED BATS WILL BE LISTED AS OFFICIALLY ENDANGERED IN SEPTEMBER 2024

A federally protected active bald eagles nest has been spotted on the Propst/Deal farm,  within 200 feet of Toll Brothers proposed new 82 home development "Deal Lake" now changed to "Eagle Crossing".

The eagle pair and the nest, including a new hatchling were reported to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January 2024. Toll Brothers will need a special permit to perform any work around the federally protected eagles, who have nested around Aero Plantation's lakes since the 1960's.

The bald eagle pair, affectionately named "Baron and Piper" and their now juvenile bald eagle "Jett" have been monitored by a long zoom camera lens to ensure the bald eagles are not threatened.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife advised Toll Brothers in January to not do any soil testing with large machinery near the federally protected zone of the bald eagles nest during the nesting periods between September and mid May.  The Propst/Deal farm owners sent down large farm tractors twice,  spraying chemicals and tilling the farm for crops, once in April and again in May, getting very close and disturbing the eagles nest!

TRI-COLORED BATS In 2022 the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)  proposed to list the Tricolored Bat (TCB) as endangered, with a target date of September 2024 to finalize the listing. April of this year, FWS issued a series of guidance documents, suggesting TCB endangered listing may be accelerated. These listings have significant impacts on projects involving tree clearing. See the guidance instructions in the link below.

The tiny bats, under a guidance of protection until September,  will be officially placed on the endangered list.

https://www.environmentallawandpolicy.com/2024/04/fws-prepares-for-tricolored-bat-listing-with-new-guidance/

The bald eagles nest, the tricolored bats roost and a heron's nest are on Aero Plantation's lake edge within 200 feet of the proposed Toll Brothers development "Deal Lake", now changed to  "Eagle Crossing".

We appreciate Toll Brothers efforts in modifying their existing plan, after overwhelming community feedback from their first community meeting May 2, requesting Toll Brothers build homes on one acre individual conventional septic lots, but they continue to DISREGARD THE ENVIRONMENT and wildlife with their new plan! 

Map shown below is the new proposed sketch map submitted by Toll Brothers in July 2024.

NEW "EAGLE CROSSING" SKETCH PLAN https://www.townofweddington.com/sites/default/files/uploads/planning/projects/02741-0011_deal_lake_r-cd_.pdf

See original sketch map at the very end of this petition. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toll Brothers had their second community meeting July 16, presenting a new plan. 

AFTER REVIEWING TOLL BROTHERS NEW PLAN, "EAGLE CROSSING", THE NEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN  CONTINUES TO THREATEN THE ENVIRONMENT BALD EAGLES, TRICOLOR BATS AS WELL AS SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR ALTERNATIVE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS IN WEDDINGTON! 

SEE LIST OF CONCERNS BELOW!

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW PLAN: 

• Toll Brothers has changed their existing development plan "Deal Lake" RCD 93 homes with a community wastewater treatment plant to "Eagle Crossing" , 82 homes, R40, one acre lot, individual septic lots. *TOLL BROTHERS HAS NOW INFORMED WEDDINGTON'S TOWN PLANNER THAT THEY WILL USE ENGINEERED WASTEWATER SYSTEMS!! NO DEAL! UPDATE, THEY HAVE SINCE RETRACTED USING ENGINEERED SYSTEMS. WE DON'T KNOW THEIR PLANS AND THIS IS VERY CONCERNING! 
• 4-5 bedroom homes, average price range for the homes is $1-1.5 million dollars,  65 homes on the west side of HWY 84, adjacent to Aero Plantation, 17 homes on the east side of HWY 84, adjacent to Weddington Hills.
• Existing zoning RC-D
• Requested zoning RC-D

Per Weddington’s Unified Development Ordinance, the developer must complete soil testing and individual lots must perc before they forward their proposal on to the planning board for review. 

CONCERNS WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN "EAGLE CROSSING":

• ENVIRONMENTAL AND WILDLIFE CONCERNS, Toll Brothers took the option of the 93 homes with a community  wastewater treatment plant off the table and now they have replaced that proposal with 82 homes. Several homesites on the field near Aero Plantation's lake are within the 200 feet of FEDERALLY PROTECTED zone of the Bald Eagles nest and the FEDERALLY ENDANGERED Tri-Colored Bats! 
• SOIL SUITABILITY, concerns that many of the lots will not perc. 
• STORMWATER IMPACTS, concerns for stormwater and silt running into  Aero Plantation’s lake, leading to contamination of lake waters where Aero Plantation neighbors fish and swim. BMP ponds could impact adjacent neighborhoods. 
• ARSENIC concerns in soil due to years of farming , chemicals and fertilizers being spread on farmland, which overtime to cause levels of arsenic in the soil to increase. 
• ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITVE AREA disregarded by new plan, with several homes sited on sketch map in protected zones of the bald eagles and tri-color bats. 
• RURAL VIEWSHED IMPACTS, concerns new plan does not consider the rural viewshed on both sides of HWY 84,  protected in Weddington's land use plan. 
• REDUCTION OF TREE CANOPY, concerns trees will be removed in areas protected by the towns UDO and land use plan, which could impact and harm surround wildlife, including the bald eagles and the tricolor bats.   
• PROTECTION OF MUNDY'S RUN BASIN, the need for detailed   environmental studies to identify any protected, endangered or at risk plant or animal species, including Carolina Heelsplitters, known to be in our area. 
• INCREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION  due to extra 82 homes on HWY 84. Currently Empire homes is proposing a 34 home development on HWY 84, near Weddington shopping center. Empire proposal: https://www.townofweddington.com/sites/default/files/uploads/planning/2024-06-06_weddington_rd_sf_concept.pdf  *218 undeveloped acres, located next to the Propst/Deal farm, recently purchased by developer Mel Graham, has the potential to add 200+ additional homes in the future on HWY 84. This could mean approximately 316 new homes on a two mile stretch of HWY 84 near Weddington schools, on roads that are due to be widened into four lanes on HWY 84 over the next 2-3 years! 
• COORDINATION OF REA ROAD EXTENSION WITH HWY 84 - 4 LANE WIDENING, concerns road work will coincide with neighborhood construction impacting and further increasing traffic congestion. 
• INCREASED SCHOOL OVERCROWDING, potential for school redistricting in Weddington
• WEDDINGTON UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE not being followed, with several broken ordinances. 
• CHANGE OF PLANS, concerns if the new plan's soil testing reveals reduced density due to perc issues that Toll Brothers will go back to the original RCD community wastewater treatment plant development plan and submit that instead, or some other "alternative" system and new plan. 
• ALTERNATIVE ENGINEERED WASTEWATER PRE-TREATMENT SYSTEM, we REJECT any alternative wastewater ENGINEERED pre-treatment systems, which also includes individual pretreatment septic systems on individual lots not approved or commonly used in our area.
• ENGINEERED WASTEWATER PRETREATMENT SYSTEMS where a contracted wastewater operator is required should not be used for residential development! 

We ask that Toll Brothers adhere to Weddington's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)  and Land Use Plan and that they are considerate to Weddington's environmentally sensitive lands, wildlife and neighbors in a manner that reflects the rural character and harmony of our town. 

We ask Toll Brothers to develop "Deal Lake" / "Eagle Crossing" with one acre or more lots with individual conventional septic systems.

IF THE LAND DON'T PERC IT WON'T WORK!

NO DEAL! 

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UPDATE: ORIGINAL PLAN DETAILED BELOW IS TABLED - FOR NOW!

SEE OLD PLAN BELOW

ASK WEDDINGTON PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS AND WEDDINGTON TOWN COUNCIL TO REJECT TOLL BROTHERS FUTURE PLANS FOR A PRIVATE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR THEIR 93 HOME DEVELOPMENT "DEAL LAKE"** DO NOT DONATE to Change.org, as 100% of donations go to Change.org and not our fight. 

Please sign and share our petition! https://www.change.org/NoDealWeddington

Join our Facebook group “No Deal Weddington! (Public) https://www.facebook.com/groups/nodealinweddington

See details/map  of  "Deal Lake" proposed development https://www.townofweddington.com/sites/default/files/uploads/1-resource_plan_-_yield_plan_rev.pdf

Sketch plan https://www.townofweddington.com/sites/default/files/uploads/planning/projects/02741-0011_deal_lake_sketch_plan.pdf

What we know:

Located off HWY 84/Weddington Road, a 182 acre farm with open pastoral views, owned by the Propst and Deal families, has remained preserved in time, untouched by five generations, as development has slowly crept in around it. 

Toll Brothers, a national tract home builder, went under contingent contract to purchase five parcels of the Propst/Deal farmland (167 acres) on HWY 84, for a proposed development “Deal Lake”, zoned as a residential conservation development (RCD). The Deal farmhouse and 15 acres of land it sits on, will not be included. 

Toll Brothers is in the preliminary planning stages for "Deal Lake"  and has not brought final plans before the planning board or Weddington's town council. Sketch plans were submitted to Weddington's Town Planner sometime in November. 

November 28, 2023: Toll Brothers held an “on-site visit” and design charrette meeting for adjacent property owners, passing out copies of their sketch plan. Adjacent neighborhoods to the proposed development are: Aero Plantation, Weddington Hills, Lake Forest Preserve, Stratford on Providence and Lochaven Estates.  *See attached sketch map.

"Community wastewater treatment plant/septic disposal field"

At the November design charrette, Toll Brothers passed out their "Deal Lake" sketch plans. When neighboring residents inquired as to why the plans showed "community wastewater treatment plant/septic disposal field", Toll Brothers stated that it shouldn't have been written that way, but in fact, it would be a community septic system. 

Toll Brothers was trying to promote this as a community septic system, because of the leach field component.  After two months and many direct questions from some Aero Plantation residents about their wastewater plans,  Toll Brothers' and their engineer have now stated it will be a "community wastewater treatment plant/septic disposal field", just as they originally stated on their sketch plans.  At a recent planning board meeting February 26, 2024,  Weddington's town planner stated "Toll Brothers, Deal Lake, has plans for a  "community wastewater treatment plant". *Update on March 6, Toll Brothers discussed with us over the phone, both wastewater treatment system options but couldn't tell us the specific details of either system, or which one they will decide to go with. 

Private Community Wastewater Treatment Systems 

Option 1: 

The community wastewater treatment plant/leach fields would be located on a 10 acre slope right above neighboring Aero Plantation's lake and near the active eagles nest. The wastewater treatment plant will pretreat over 30,000 gallons per day of  black and gray wastewater, where the treated effluent will go into subsurface drip pipes underground into leach fields, a method rarely used for residential development in North Carolina.  This system has never been approved in Weddington or Union County. 

Sketch plan details: “Community wastewater treatment plant/with septic disposal field” serving 93 homes,  4-5 homes bedrooms on slab, lots averaging 15,000 sq. ft., price range for the homes is $1-1.5 million dollars, 62 homes on the west side of HWY 84, adjacent to Aero Plantation, 31 homes on the east side of HWY 84, adjacent to Weddington Hills. The wastewater treatment plant will be housed in an above ground structure. The sketch plans indicate "grinder pump" lots.  Wastewater for the 31 homes on the east side of HWY 84 will be pumped under HWY 84 by force main. Per the sketch plan, homes will be clustered together while half of the remaining land will be left as natural conservation space, per the RCD guidelines. 10 acres is reserved for the wastewater treatment system on the conservation land. 

Option 2

Centralized large residential "Community Septic" - one large centralized community septic system with leach fields on a 10 acre slope above Aero Plantation's lake and near the eagles nest. 30,000 gallons of black and gray wastewater would go into a large community septic tank and then dispersed into leach fields in close proximity to our lake. This type of system is rarely used in North Carolina for large residential subdivisions. A system of this size has never been approved in Weddington or Union County.  

We want to be very clear, based on our research over the past three months, neither of the wastewater treatment systems Toll Brothers has discussed with us, are acceptable for Weddington. We oppose a community wastewater treatment plant/sanitary disposal field AND a large community septic system. We oppose any and all private alternative wastewater treatment systems that are not public sewer or conventional septic systems on individual lots. 

Deal Lake’s homeowners association and a third party operator will be responsible for management and operations of the private community wastewater treatment system.  The plant operator will be required to do on-site visits, monitor, repair, clean and truck out sewage as needed. The private wastewater treatment management system will be indicated on each homebuyers deed. 

More than half of Weddington's citizens are on conventional septic systems. The rest of Weddington is hooked into sewer.

Both private wastewater treatment options Toll Brothers is proposing, allow for homes to be placed on much smaller 1/3 acre 15,000 square foot lots compared to one acre lots for conventional septic. 

The developer's profit margins are higher developing with either of those two options versus developing with conventional one acre septic lots. 

At the moment, the Mundys Run basin area, down HWY 84, does not have the sewer infrastructure needed to service that area. 

We have Eagles

An active eagles nest has been spotted on the Propst/Deal farm, in very close proximity to the treatment plant site and Aero Plantation's lake. The eagle pair and the nest have been reported to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Toll Brothers will need a special permit to perform any work around the federally protected eagles, who have resided around Aero Plantation's lakes since the 1960's.

New Rules 

New rules took effect January 1, allowing owners to utilize an Engineer Option Permit (EOP). An EOP allows an engineer to fast track their permitting and inspection processes, giving them full authority to approve all permits and inspections, accepting liability for the treatment plant. Toll Brothers has opted for an EOP. New rules:  Wastewater Treatment and Dispersal Systems  https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oswp/docs/rules/15A-NCAC-18E-Color.pdf

Before the new EOP rule, the processing time for applications, permits and inspections, overseen by either the health department or the Department of Environmental Quality, would have taken 6 months to one year. The EOP fast track option could cut down the wait time to two months +/-.  New EOP Rules: https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oswp/docs/rules/GS-130A-336.1.pdf

Reasons to reject Toll Brothers proposed development are:

• Environmental impacts due to system malfunctions and sewage leaks, putting residents and adjacent neighborhoods at great risk. Disruption and harm to wildlife, noise pollution due to the treatment plant, loss of nighttime sky, air pollution due to odor, negative visual impact for neighbors adjacent to the treatment plant. 
• Health risks due to system malfunctions and improperly treated wastewater effluent, releasing antimicrobial pathogens, viruses, drugs and PFA’s into the groundwater, lakes, and in close proximity to neighboring wells. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in lake causing algae blooms and fish kills.
• Negative impacts on property values
• Increased traffic congestion due to an extra 93 homes on HWY 84.
• Increased burden on overcrowded public schools. *218 acres of land, located next to the Propst/Deal farm, recently purchased by developer Mel Graham, has the potential to add 200+ additional homes in the future on HWY 84.
• A wastewater treatment plant is not harmonious to Weddington’s land use plan.
• Homes clustered together on both sides of HWY 84, appearing as high density, not fitting with Weddington's rural character.
• If approved, it will set precedent for other treatment plants to be approved in Weddington.

We have met privately with Toll Brothers as well as having three conversations with them over the phone. We have advised them on two different occasions that they should develop "Deal Farm" with conventional septic systems, on one acre lots; where each home and lot has it's own specific septic system and leach field in the home's back yard. 

A large community centralized septic system on 10 acres is not the same as a septic in someone's back yard. If one septic system system has an issue that's in one person's back yard.

If a large community septic system has an issue or starts leaking untreated sewage into the groundwater, thats 93 homes waste in one central area, leaking into the ground, into the groundwater and into Aero Plantation's lake. 

The same applies for a community wastewater treatment plant. If the plant malfunctions and starts leaking untreated sewage, that is 93 homes waste going into the ground, into the groundwater and into Aero Plantation's lake. 

Some History 

 In 2008, IB Development LLC submitted an application to construct a private wastewater treatment plant for a luxury home development "The Woods", on 218 acres, 200+ homes, priced at $1.5-3 million dollars.

In June 2008, Janice Propst and I founded a grassroots group "Friends of Weddington" to fight against the private wastewater treatment plant. Weddington’s townspeople rallied their support behind us, packing Weddington High School's auditorium, where Weddington Town council took a vote and rejected the private wastewater treatment plant as it was "not harmonious to Weddington's land use plan". 

The Woods' land, located beside the Propst/Deal farm, was never developed. It was recently purchased by Mel Graham, whose website states they facilitate land deals with Toll Brothers.

What is next and what YOU can do:

Plan to attend upcoming Town of Weddington planning board and town council meeting for review and  final vote on "Deal Lake".   Dates to be determined and will be posted on the town of Weddington website. 

https://www.townofweddington.com/

Stay connected

• To stay current and read more details on our fight, join us at our Facebook group No Deal Weddington! (Public)
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/nodealinweddington/edit
• Don't forget to share this petition with family, friends and co-workers https://www.change.org/NoDealWeddington
• Instagram @Baron_PiperEagles for daily wildlife and Weddington
• Join us at our "No Deal" blog https://nodealweddington.blogspot.com/  
• Check back here at our petition for updates as well

FRIENDS OF WEDDINGTON, WE MUST CONTINUE TO STAY UNITED TO PRESERVE WEDDINGTON TODAY, TOMORROW AND INTO THE FUTURE!

Original sketch map, 93 homes with a community wastewater treatment plant.

Eagle photo by Weddington resident Chad Emerine