Shaw Heights infrastructure update: county flags ownership, geotech and funding hurdles
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Summary
County staff said Shaw Heights — an unincorporated enclave surrounded by Fayetteville — faces complex water and sewer challenges including unclear utility ownership, aging mains and failing septic systems; staff recommended feasibility engineering, intergovernmental talks with Fayetteville PWC and targeted community engagement before committing funds.
Todd Tidwell, chief of staff, briefed the Cumberland County Board on Feb. 12 about the longstanding water and sewer problems in Shaw Heights, an unincorporated neighborhood functionally surrounded by the city of Fayetteville.
Key facts: Using 2020–2024 American Community Survey estimates for Census Tract 24.01, Tidwell said Shaw Heights contains roughly 1,474 residents in 663 households and about 864 housing units. He said median household income is approximately $33,365 and the poverty rate is about 40.2%; unemployment was reported at 9.5%. Prior neighborhood revitalization work identified high renter occupancy and septic-system challenges.
Why it’s difficult: Tidwell emphasized four structural complications: unclear utility ownership when county parcels abut city corridors; aging mains (the Murchison Road corridor includes segments previously identified as galvanized); a high rental concentration that complicates easement and tap‑fee decisions; and variable subsurface conditions that can drive construction cost and schedule. He cited earlier geotechnical findings showing fill depths from 1.5 to 9 feet over dead sands and seasonal high groundwater roughly 8–16 feet below the surface.
Options and next steps: Tidwell presented three delivery options — an intergovernmental partnership with Fayetteville Public Works Commission (leveraging an established operator), formation of a county water and sewer district under North Carolina General Statute 162A (to define service area and assessment authority), or longer-term sanitary district annexation alternatives. He recommended that the board authorize fact‑finding (verify utility ownership near and in Shaw Heights), reengage Fayetteville PWC for negotiation, and commission a feasibility and preliminary engineering study before any final design or funding commitment.
Funding context: Tidwell listed likely funding streams that require readiness documentation and a defined service area (state revolving funds for clean water/drinking water; USDA rural utility programs; Community Development Block Grant programs; and Section 108 loan mechanisms). He underscored that many of those pots require a clearly defined service boundary and confirmed asset ownership before a competitive application can be successful.
Board direction: Commissioners asked for scenario options (e.g., how different governance or delivery models would affect costs and community impact), community engagement that reaches owners and landlords, and an operational timeline. Staff said it would assemble an internal stakeholder group and expects to bring a more detailed implementation plan and funding options back to the board in March–April for direction and potential budget implications.
