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County to pursue sale of 60-acre Bryan tract to Coastal Land Trust for public nature park
Summary
New Hanover County commissioners authorized staff to negotiate with the Coastal Land Trust on a proposal to acquire and permanently protect 60 acres willed to the county by Flossie Bryan; the trust offered $3 million and plans public access, trails and an education space.
New Hanover County commissioners on March 16 authorized staff to negotiate a purchase-and-sale agreement with the Coastal Land Trust for a 60-acre parcel willed to the county by Flossie Bryan.
Harrison Marks, director of the Coastal Land Trust, told the board the organization has “an intent to purchase the 60 acres” and has offered $3 million for the property, which the trust would protect in perpetuity and open for public access, passive recreation and education. Marks said plans would preserve existing trails, expand unpaved trails, improve the entrance and add a parking area and native plantings; the trust also proposes converting much of the pine stands to longleaf over time and reserving a small area for an educational building and limited office space.
Commissioners asked that the Bryan family be publicly recognized for the gift. One commissioner told the trust it would be “wonderful” to memorialize Flossie Bryan’s donation prominently on the property, though the commissioner said naming would not be made a condition of the board’s approval to proceed.
County staff said the board’s authorization would let staff and the trust develop a purchase-and-sale agreement that the board would receive with a 10-day public notice before taking a final vote. Marks said the trust’s projected closing date is by the end of 2027 to allow time to raise funds, but that an earlier closing would be possible if funds become available.
The board moved, seconded and voted in favor of authorizing staff to engage with the Coastal Land Trust; the public applauded after the action.
What happens next: staff will draft the purchase-and-sale agreement with the trust and return it to the board with the required public notice for final action.
