Residents urge Leland council to curb on-site burning, cite health impacts

Several residents spoke during the public-comment period at the Leland Town Council meeting on June 19, pressing the council to act on recurring smoke from land-clearing burn piles and describing immediate health and quality-of-life impacts.

Brunswick Forest resident Yvonne Ticar told the council her neighborhood of more than 6,000 people is 24truly imprisoned in our homes at least 3 times a week22 because of smoke that penetrates houses through vents, attics and small gaps. She said nearby burn piles cause respiratory irritation and headaches.

Nurse practitioner Carol Beck described health risks for older adults and people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease. 22The elderly are more susceptible,22 Beck said, and added that the area27s primary hospital, Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center, is rated two stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a fact she said concerned her when thinking about increased emergency visits.

Other residents recounted personal impacts. Joseph Tkoff said he had to watch a relative 22gasp for air22 during smoky days. Gary Jones said he has increased his daily inhaler use since moving to Leland in 2019. Peter Sharp urged the council to pressure developers to haul debris away rather than burn it on site.

Resident Dave Frankel, who said he obtained documents from the North Carolina Forestry Service, told the council that a state statute allows developers to obtain burn permits but also 22is not construed as affecting or abridging the lawful authority of local governments to pass ordinances related to open burning within their boundaries.22 Frankel said town staff told him the town did not have copies of burn permits on file and questioned why the fire department had not been receiving permit notifications.

Doreen Stacker and other speakers called for an immediate ban on on-site burning, citing worker exposure as well as risks to residents.

Council members did not take immediate formal action during the meeting on the burning complaints; a number of speakers asked staff and council to pursue regulatory or enforcement options. Frankel asked the council to exercise what he described as existing local authority to regulate open burning.

Council staff and the mayor acknowledged the comments and said the remarks were on the record for follow-up. No ordinance, motion or staff directive related to banning or restricting burning was adopted at this meeting.

Community members who spoke identified locations including Brunswick Forest, Hazel Branch (Indigo Preserve), Blake Circle and other Leland neighborhoods, and said the problem is frequent and affects daily outdoor activity and the ability to use yards and porches.

Planning and enforcement questions raised by residents included whether the town receives state-issued burn permits, whether the fire department or town staff track compliance, and whether the council can adopt a local ordinance restricting open burning. Council members and staff did not provide a vote or formal direction at the meeting; the record shows the council received the public comments for follow-up and did not vote on regulatory changes during the session.