In the end, the boat basin excavation will 

 have produced more than 560.000 cubic yards 

 of sand. 



The materia] is being reused within the 

 project for road construction and to elevate the 

 dune field facing the Neuse River, the future site 

 of a recreation and nature center. 



Mitchell notes that his company is making 

 an investment of nearly $2 million in the upgrade 

 to the Bay River Metropolitan Sewer District's 

 (BRMSD) wastewater treatment facility and 

 transmission lines that serve Pamlico 

 County. Combined with grants from the 

 N.C. Rural Development Center and North 

 Carolina Department of Environment and 

 Natural Resources (NCDENR), it will 

 finance capacity expansion to serve River 

 Dunes — and future developments in the 

 growing county. 



The upgrade also accommodates one 

 more environmental detail. Reclaimed, 

 treated wastewater will return to River 

 Dunes through a dedicated transmission line 

 to be reused for irrigation of common areas. 



RECAPTURING HISTORY 



Few records or remnants remain 

 of the activity on the land before timber 

 operations began in the early 1930s. A Paris 

 family cemetery near Paris Creek will be fenced 

 and preserved. And, off the banks of the Neuse 

 River, stands the battered remains of the Neuse 

 River Lighthouse platform. 



An archaeological study of the site 

 performed by Wake Forest University and the 

 N.C. State Office of Archaeology revealed 

 evidence of Native American and colonial 

 settlements, much of which have been eroded 

 away by the Neuse River. 



But history gleaned from old newspapers 

 for Pamlico County's centennial celebration in 

 1972 refers to an 1 859 advertisement in The New 

 Bern Weekly Progress for the sale of land that 

 might have included the River Dunes tract. The 

 centennial publication describes it this way: 



Thomas T. Gooding offered to sell 2,500 

 acres on lower Broad and Orchard Creeks. Tlie 

 description mentioned two crops of turpentine 

 boxes; excellent facilities for shipping; a fine 

 large dwelling, kitchen, smoke house, gin-house, 

 barns, stables and Negro houses sufficient to 

 accommodate fifty Negroes; oysters and fish may 



TOP: The Tidewater architectural motif is demonstrated in a 'model' village. ABOVE LEFT: The developers 

 are challenged to find ways to protect the eroding Neuse River shoreline. ABOVE RIGHT: Mitchell and 

 Hudson stand near the future site of a recreation and nature center. 



be taken from the creek at back of tlie garden, 

 and wildfowl abound in the vicinity; a good mill 

 site with dam already constructed; and a good 

 well of water in the yard. 



While written records may be sparse, 

 the developers are attempting to recapture 

 part of coastal history by adopting Tidewater 

 architectural style, circa 1920. The motif will be 

 used for recreational facilities, guest cottages and 

 homes throughout River Dunes. 



To demonstrate the Tidewater look, the 

 developers built a three-quarter-scale model 

 village — complete with white picket fence, 

 flowers and flag. With its waterfront backdrop, 

 the quaint scene provides an unexpected surprise 

 for River Dunes visitors. 



For Miller, though, this attention to detail 

 demonstrates that River Dunes is no ordinary 

 project 



"It's an unusual project that has taken an 

 unusual approach. There's a lesson to be learned 

 for large- or small-scale developments. As a 

 practical matter, engaging in candid discussions 

 with agencies early on in a project can smooth 



out potential delay-causing wrinkles down the 

 road. I see this as a model for future development," 

 Miller says. 



In fact, Holman adds, the River Dunes project 

 has spurred similar developer-local government- 

 environmental organization collaboration to 

 improve the design of projects. Holman cites 

 Crescent Resources, Burke County and the 

 Foothills Conservancy who are working on a 

 development plan that will protect Lake James and 

 enhance the local economy. CWMTF, Parks and 

 Recreation Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage 

 Trust Fund each contributed to the project. 



"Projects like these illustrate that conservation 

 and economic development are not necessarily 

 mutually exclusive," Holman says. 



In the long run, it makes good business 

 sense to bring experts and stakeholders together to 

 brainstorm issues and solutions, Mitchell says. 



l 1 never make a business decision on this 

 project without looking at the environmental side. 

 At the same time, I never make an environmental 

 decision without looking at the business side. That 

 really simplifies things," he concludes. □ 



10 WINTER 2005 



