Commissioners approve $1 million match for Wilmington park acquisition over dissent on transparency
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Summary
The board voted 3–2 to allocate $1 million from the county tree fund as a match to a city and endowment purchase of roughly 25 acres off Greenville Loop Road for a park. Dissenting commissioners cited unanswered questions on wetlands mapping, a phase‑1 environmental study and the LLC seller's ownership.
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted 3–2 to provide a $1,000,000 match from its tree fund to support the City of Wilmington's planned acquisition and future development of roughly 25 acres off Greenville Loop Road as an active park.
County manager Chris (speaker 18) told the board the recommended match is a dollar‑for‑dollar contribution as required by an endowment grant and that the county would have no ongoing operational or building responsibility for the park. He described the purchase agreement price at roughly $9,750,000 with an endowment grant covering the bulk of the cost and the city responsible for development ("It's a dollar in and a dollar out," he said).
Commissioner (speaker 3) and others expressed support for partnering with the city to preserve green space, noting appraisals had been obtained and that the city had approved the purchase. But Commissioner Zappel (speaker 5) opposed immediate approval absent greater transparency: she asked for wetlands delineation mapping, the phase‑1 environmental study and public identification of the LLC that currently holds title. Zappel said the negotiated price exceeded the county property tax appraisal and that the public had a fiduciary interest given nearly $10 million in public and endowment funds involved.
Several commissioners urged due diligence: the manager said county staff had requested and obtained a second appraisal and legal review; the chair said staff recommended the purchase and that the county's review had provided confidence to proceed. Commissioner Walker joined Zappel in dissent; the motion passed with a 3–2 tally with two commissioners recorded as opposed.
What the vote means: The $1,000,000 allocation will come from the county tree fund as recommended; the city will retain responsibility for park development and maintenance. Commissioners said additional documentation (wetlands and environmental studies) will be collected and reviewed as part of ongoing oversight.
Quote: "We have the capacity to recommend to you to allocate $1,000,000 from that fund as cost and contribution to the acquisition of approximately 25 acres," County manager Chris said. "It's a dollar in and a dollar out."