BRUNSWICK COUNTY — A recently filed lawsuit continues years of tension between two neighboring Brunswick County towns who have been clashing over growth, utilities and annexation authority.
In 2024 and 2026, Belville annexed three properties at the behest of property owner Walter Burckhalter to improve the continuity of the town’s borders. Now, the properties may be stripped from Belville if the courts rule favorably in a recently filed lawsuit put forth by Leland.
Filed June 26, Leland claims Belville broke state statutes by annexing more than seven acres on Chappell Loop Road that are closer to Leland’s contiguous borders, but technically not Belville’s. General Statute 160A-58.1(b)(2) prevents annexation of non-contiguous properties — meaning they don’t touch the boundaries of a town — if it’s closer to another municipality other than the petitioned town. It’s only allowable if both municipalities have an interlocal agreement.
READ MORE: Improving voter turnout, decreasing costs: Belville leaders push for election, term limit changes
ALSO: Compass Pointe residents fill Leland Town Hall to oppose 150-acre annexation
The three properties at the center of the lawsuit consist of commercial businesses like Gatlin’s Straw and towing companies. Leland pointed out that two properties are 0 feet from Leland town limits and 65 feet from Belville, while the third property is 68 feet from Leland and 100 feet from Belville.
In addition to the statutes surrounding non-contiguous, or satellite, properties, state law dictates all annexations must be voluntary, as decided by the Annexation Reform Act of 2011. Burckhalter requested Belville annex the properties.
Belville Mayor Chuck Bost told Port City Daily he didn’t think the lawsuit had any merit and didn’t see Leland winning.
“There are a lot of things that are very confusing about that lawsuit,” Bost said. “And I think we’re on very, very solid ground.”
Bost was referring to the voluntary annexation nature because of Burckhalter’s request, stating the property owner has been clear about Belville annexing the land. According to reporting from North Brunswick News, who first broke the lawsuit last week, Burckhalter said he spoke with Belville and Leland officials but went with Belville because of less regulations.
The UNC School of Government reports, even if a satellite annexation is voluntary, it is still subject to the proximity rules outlined in G.S. 160A-58.1(b)(2).
Bost suggested a reason Leland wants all three annexations on Chappell Loop Road is because they are near a development already under construction. In 2022, Leland approved a 150-unit project called the Chappell Loop Tract, a 20-acre site also annexed from Brunswick County to expand the town’s borders.
Leland councilmember Frank Pendleton told Port City Daily Wednesday he believed the issue of the lawsuit was a matter of “precedent” and to ensure Belville was undergoing processes by the book.
“It’s that they’re not following the letter of the law,” he said, referring to the statute putting Leland closer to the properties.
Pendleton was clear the opinion expressed was his alone and not representative of the town.
Leland Councilmember Veronica Carter chose not to speak due to the ongoing litigation. Mayor Brenda Bozeman, Mayor Pro Tem Bob Campbell and council member Leland Hyer did not respond by press.
The lawsuit also denotes the three annexations would cause “irreparable harm to Leland” and create confusion surrounding municipality borders, jurisdiction and authority. Port City Daily reached out to Leland staff to ask for clarification on what “irreparable harm” meant but was told a response could not be provided due to the pending litigation.
Bost noted Leland’s goal is to grow and become a major metropolitan area and the annexation of more land would aid in that. But the state put a moratorium on Leland in 2023 due to unchecked growth — a move championed by Sen. Bill Rabon (R-New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus). Leland grew by 19 square miles between 2000 and 2023.
However, Senate Bill 876 passed July 2, 2026, allowing Leland to consider some annexations — including requests from property owners who applied during the moratorium and before July 1, 2026, but it doesn’t permit future petitions. The provision also states Leland could voluntarily annex properties within 3 miles of the town’s corporate limits only if the town owns the property; it does not refer to satellite, or non-contiguous, properties, which the town is arguing over with Belville.
Another stipulation in Senate Bill 876 includes proposed property annexation must not extend west of Maco Road NE or Ocean Highway East.
Bost added Belville has different goals than Leland. For starters, Belville wants to remedy its jagged and narrow borders. In 2000, Belville was about 4 square miles; it is now roughly 2 square miles. By comparison, Leland was about 4 square miles in 2000 and is now 23 square miles.
When considering population, Leland tripled in size between 2000 and 2010, and jumped 44.33%, between 2020 and 2024, making it the fastest growing municipality in the county.
“We don’t want much,” Bost said, commenting he and others hope to keep Belville a small town. “Just enough to make our boundaries kind of make sense. But I don’t think that’s what Leland wants.”
Bost pointed beyond the longstanding land battle between the towns, also referencing Leland’s attempts and suggestions for Belville to merge with the town in 2012.
“Actions speak louder than words,” Bost said. “We just don’t feel that they really, truly want us to exist.”
Belville and Leland previously had an annexation agreement, signed in the early 2000s, which stripped Belville of its annexation abilities for 20 years. During that time, Leland’s size grew rapidly by consuming more land, in part due to its arrangement with H2GO, which provides water and sewer utilities to some Brunswick County customers. Leland has leveraged utilities to annex properties after merging with H2GO in 2021.
The annexation agreement between the towns expired in December 2023; by February 2024, Belville annexed the two properties on Chappell Loop Road, despite Leland’s opposition, and on April 28, 2026 took up the third property — all following a public hearing. Leland included in its lawsuit a letter the town said it sent in opposition, to be considered at the public hearings in 2024 and 2026.
For the April annexation, the lawsuit states the Belville town manager received the letter five days before the public hearing, with Leland Town Manager David Hollis citing General Statute 160A-58.1(b)(2), which states:
“No point on the proposed satellite corporate limits may be closer to the primary corporate limits of another city than to the primary corporate limits of the annexing city.”
However, Leland commented in the lawsuit neither letter was read at Belville’s public hearings. The lawsuit quotes Belville Town Manager Athina Williams saying staff “advertised the public hearing and did not receive any comments or inquiries from anyone regarding this annexation,’ despite having received the letter April 23, 2026.”
The lawsuit demands remediation come in the form of Belville rescinding the previous ordinances codifying the annexations and reimbursing Leland’s legal costs.
Port City Daily reached out to Leland to understand the official reason for the lawsuit, why the 2024 annexations were not brought up earlier, the importance of the properties, and more. The town could not comment due to the ongoing litigation.
Tips or comments? Email Emily Sawaked at [email protected]
At Port City Daily, we aim to keep locals informed on top-of-mind news facing the tri-county region. To support our work and help us reach more people in 2026, please, consider helping one of two ways: Subscribe here or make a one-time contribution here.
We appreciate your ongoing support.
