NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Commissioners were unanimous Monday about the potential sale of land to a conservation nonprofit that will be in charge of activating and managing 60 acres as a nature preserve. But before the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust can buy the property, it has to raise the funds.
“It will permanently be protected against development,” land trust executive director Harrison Marks assured the county of the 3990 Independence Blvd. property.
READ MORE: NHC commissioners to weigh $3M sale of 60 acres to conservation group
The five-member New Hanover County Board of Commissioners signed off on allowing county staff to devise a purchase and sale agreement.
Known for conserving properties that have ecological, recreational and historic impact, the land trust wants to buy the property for $3 million and has until December 2027 to close on the sale; that gives the organization almost two years to raise the funds. The organization’s land buys are funded through a mix of private donations, public grants and settlements. It has become a steward of more than 91,000 acres, annually monitored and even restored for habitats.
If the trust raises enough money before December 2027, it could mean closing on the property sooner, Marks added.
Plans for the 60-acre Flossie Bryan tract consist of including unpaved nature trails, conserving existing longleaf pines and converting loblollies into longleafs, as well maintaining pollinator and carnivorous plant gardens. A parking lot, surrounded by natural native plants, and an entrance from Independence Boulevard will need to be created first so the preserve is accessible to the public. Also, Marks said the group would like to include an educational building and office. The tract includes wetlands and headwater tributaries of Barnards Creek.
After his presentation to the board, Commissioner Rob Zapple asked Marks to repeat one notion: that the acreage will “forever, forever” escape development hands.
“That’s correct — that’s been our history. That’s the nature of what we do, to protect land in perpetuity,” Marks confirmed. “Additional benefits of maintaining the greenspace is protecting water quality, not increasing runoff.”
Marks told commissioners the group also aims to honor Flossie Bryan, who bequeathed the land to the county to become a nature park.
More than 20 years ago, Bryan’s will was challenged in court by her heirs. The county and heirs eventually settled in a joint ownership land deal, with the county acquiring two-thirds of the property and the heirs having the other one-third. The court maintained if a sale happened, proceeds would be split along the same lines and the property would be rezoned to its “highest and best use” before any sale would be allowed.
Conversations about preserving the 60 acres began with the county and land trust in the last year or so. In spring 2025, New Hanover spent $3.8 million for its portion of the property, as paid for from its Revenue Stabilization Fund to not impact tax rates. The tract had been threatened by a Charlotte developer looking to purchase it and build hundreds of residences, but withdrew the application in 2024 among public pushback.
The acreage is valued at $11.6 million, but both the land trust and county told Port City Daily Friday the lower-cost sale of $3 million to the trust would be worth it. The county would not have to manage or upkeep the property into the future, relieving it of further financial obligation.
Port City Daily asked Marks Monday if he had an idea how much those costs could potentially be but didn’t hear back by press; this will be updated upon response.
“We haven’t decided whether we will name the entire property or building or trails after Flossie Bryan,” Marks told commissioners at their meeting.
Commissioner Dane Scalise, a proponent of the project, thought the preserve deserved Bryan’s moniker wholly.
“It wouldn’t have happened without her gift,” he said from the dais. “I would hate for us to pass on an opportunity to make it prominently known … yes, a building would be great, but, in my personal opinion, the entire project should be named for her.”
Commissioner Stephanie Walker agreed. She also wanted to ensure community input would be included moving forward, to which Marks conceded.
“A lot of people here have come to us with great ideas,” Walker said.
UNCW geology professor Roger Shew shared a presentation with officials last year, showing the site could go beyond greenspace preservation and walking and biking trails, for a broad use of educational and job training endeavors — such as farming, water monitoring, and agrivoltaics, or the practice of using the same land for agriculture and solar energy production. He added community members could gain technical expertise through various projects including silviculture, the science and practice of managing forests to meet societal needs.
Chair LeAnn Pierce expressed gratitude for the land trust’s cooperation, noting excitement about the deal and potentially opening the door for opportunities on other properties.
Port City Daily asked the land trust if the county had broached other specific parcels with the organization to date, but didn’t hear back by press.
The commissioners’ agreement with the land trust will return to the board in 10 days of public notice, per N.C.G.S. 160A-279, authorizing private sales for public purposes.
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