Northern New Hanover County has another chapter in the long Sledge Forest / Hilton Bluffs debate—and this one is in court. On Nov. 5, 2026, WECT reported (Rachel Holley) that housing developer Copper Builders filed a lawsuit accusing New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet of illegally blocking the roughly 1,800-unit Hilton Bluffs plan in Sledge Forest.
If you live or shop near Castle Hayne, the Northeast Cape Fear approaches, or other northern New Hanover corridors, this lawsuit does not rewrite your home’s value overnight. It does add timeline uncertainty to a project that neighbors have tracked for years. Here’s a balanced readout based on the WECT reporting—not legal advice.
How We Got Here (Briefly)
According to WECT, county planners initially approved development plans for Hilton Bluffs in March. After community pushback over traffic congestion, Copper Builders agreed to limit access to a single entrance off Castle Hayne Road. The lawsuit alleges Coudriet then stepped in, citing insufficient emergency-response access, pressuring the fire marshal to withdraw support, personally vetoing the project, and demanding a second entrance. The county revoked its original approval last month.
That revocation was covered earlier in local media and in our Oct. 28 post on the approval being pulled. The Nov. 5 WECT story is the litigation follow-up: the developer is asking a court to force the project forward on the single-access plan.
What Copper Builders Is Asking the Court to Do
Per WECT’s summary of the lawsuit, Copper Builders wants the court to:
- Bypass the county manager and order the county to approve the single-access plan within 30 days
- Bar Coudriet from further involvement in the project
- Require the county to cover the developer’s legal fees and delay costs
Wade Miller, founder of Copper Builders, told WECT that Hilton Bluffs was a by-right plan that met county rules, was approved for 1,800 homes, and would permanently protect more than 3,200 acres of Sledge Forest along the Northeast Cape Fear River. He said Copper does not own the property or its timber rights, and that ongoing harvest is the landowners’ decision under a long-standing forestry plan. Without an approved plan, he argued, there is no neighborhood and no permanent conservation.
Save Sledge Forest’s Counterpoint
Save Sledge Forest issued a statement supporting Coudriet’s public-safety framing. The group said the community has spent more than two years raising concerns about a large subdivision in an environmentally sensitive location, and that Coudriet acted when a single access point raised serious risks for roughly 1,800 homes. The statement cites the North Carolina Fire Code’s second-access requirement for developments exceeding 99 homes, subject to exceptions, and questions how 1,800 homes can safely rely on one access road—especially if that road becomes impassable in an emergency. The group also warned that fee and damage claims could burden taxpayers.
What the County Says
WECT asked New Hanover County for comment. A county spokesperson said the county does not comment on pending litigation. Until a court rules—or the parties settle—status remains contested.
What This Means for Nearby Homeowners and Buyers
- Uncertainty, not an instant price change: Litigation can stretch timelines. Treat headlines as process updates, not as a reason to invent a new list price or offer strategy.
- Drive the corridor yourself: Castle Hayne Road access, school runs, and construction staging (if any resumes) matter more than social-media summaries.
- Separate timber activity from housing approvals: Miller’s statement to WECT emphasizes that Copper does not own timber rights; forestry decisions can proceed on a different track than residential entitlements.
- Watch primary sources: Follow WECT and county filings rather than secondhand posts when you need status for a purchase or sale decision.
- Shop the home, not the lawsuit: Condition, comps, flood and insurance disclosures, and commute patterns still drive most residential transactions near Castle Hayne.
FAQ
Is Hilton Bluffs approved again?
Not based on the Nov. 5 WECT report. The county revoked the original approval last month, and Copper Builders is asking a court to order approval of the single-access plan. Outcomes are pending.
Does this lawsuit change what I should disclose when selling nearby?
Sell with honest neighborhood context and required disclosures. Do not speculate about court outcomes or invent project timelines. Point buyers to primary reporting when they ask about Sledge Forest.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a homeowner- and buyer-focused summary of publicly reported facts. For legal questions about the suit itself, consult an attorney.
Talk With a Local Team
Whether you already live near Castle Hayne or you’re comparing northern New Hanover options against Wilmington, Porters Neck, or Pender County, large contested projects create noise—and sometimes opportunity for buyers who do their homework. Reach out to Aspyre Collective and we’ll help you separate process headlines from the home in front of you.
