‘Save the Forest’ petition surpasses 5,000 signatures

By Joyner-Harris Forest Conservation 

A Change.org petition spearheaded by long-time Wake Forest resident Angela DiPaolo, pleading with stakeholders to preserve the 68-acre forested parcel located on Harris Road directly across from Joyner Park, has surpassed 5,000 signatures.

DiPaolo created the petition in August 2022 after learning the parcel was under contract with a Raleigh-based developer, Church St. Company, who planned to clear most of the land for single-family homes and townhomes. Given its proximity to Joyner Park and high value for education and conservation, DiPaolo felt it was necessary to inform residents of the upcoming rezoning hearing. 

The property extends along Harris Road for about 3,000 feet, from the Harris Point Way neighborhood northwest up to Wallridge Drive near the shopping center entrance.

From the street view, the site’s southern edge looks like a rather ordinary mix of young pine forest toward the center and older mixed hardwood and pine forests toward the edges.

On the north side of the property there is a spectacular 50-foot-high bluff and diverse ecosystem with a canopy of huge old oaks, hickory, tuliptree, sycamore, hackberry, elm, and cherry, and understory trees and shrubs including umbrella magnolia, musclewood, pawpaw, sugar maple, persimmon, dogwood, spicebush, holly, hazelnut, sourwood, blueberry, elderberry, and many other native plants.

At the bottom of the bluff is a wide floodplain with a small meandering perennial stream and adjacent wetlands that support a variety of fish, salamanders, crayfish, and other invertebrates that indicate good habitat quality. This stream flows into Richland Creek a few hundred feet upstream of where Richland Creek crosses Oak Avenue and then flows through Joyner Park. 

DiPaolo’s petition to save this property went viral and within weeks had amassed more than 800 signatures and caught the attention of the local media. DiPaolo did interviews for WRAL, ABC11, CBS17, the Wake Forest Gazette, and the Wake Weekly.

While the petition continued to grow, DiPaolo organized a community environmental advocacy group intended to stay active and informed about the upcoming rezoning hearing held by the Board of Commissioners. The rezoning hearing took place in May 2023 and the developer’s application was unanimously denied, 5-0. 

This prompted DiPaolo’s group to further organize and expand its efforts. Joyner-Harris Forest Conservation (JHFC) was established. The group has a core membership of about 20 people consisting of biologists, wetland specialists, research scientists, real estate professionals, and residents concerned about over-development of the lands surrounding Joyner Park and the impending damage to the Park’s peaceful character and environmental educational value. The group has an abundance of support on social media and boasts an extensive email list of concerned constituents.

The transition to becoming a registered nonprofit in February 2024 was ignited by community support and the need to have their voices heard. While the primary mission of JHFC is to protect and preserve the parcel across from Joyner Park, the group is also interested in expanding its efforts to protect other high-quality natural and recreational areas in and around Wake Forest. 

Initially, JHFC was focused on finding a way to purchase the land, which is privately owned, with the help of the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC). JHFC and TLC had a meeting with Mayor Vivian Jones in August 2023 to propose the idea that the town purchase the land as a nature preserve with the help of land grants from TLC. However, the Town would need to match the grants, and lack of funding from the Town hindered the progress. 

In addition to meeting with the mayor, JHFC has met with all of the Board of Commissioners, the planning director, the developer, and the landowner. While the mission of preservation has not changed, JHFC is now trying to work with all stakeholders to find a solution that will achieve everyone’s goals. The landowner needs to be fairly compensated, the developer would like to make money, and residents would like to see a significant portion of the land preserved as well as the scenic views of Joyner Park and the aesthetic of our Town maintained.

In meetings with Church St. Company and WF town representatives, JHFC members proposed a pocket community or cottage court type of development, featuring smaller homes on compact lots. This model, inspired by the charm and human-scale of traditional neighborhoods, focuses on fostering strong community ties and enhancing walkability. Homes in these communities typically feature front porches and central green spaces, encouraging interactions among residents and maintaining a village-like aesthetic.

This plan has the potential to achieve the density desired by the developer and the town, while preserving approximately 50% of the forested parcel. If realized, these outcomes would align the development with critical conservation efforts and contribute to providing much-needed affordable housing. The design philosophy behind pocket neighborhoods ensures that the development not only meets economic goals but also enhances the social fabric and environmental health of Wake Forest.

Church St. Company has stated that they intend to submit a new rezoning application with the town that will include 300+ 3-4 story apartments. JHFC is hopeful that the proposal will instead include an environmentally conscious village-like development that includes affordable units. Ideally, this development would preserve at least 30 acres, contributing to both community and environmental well-being, while also creating something special that enhances the unique character of the area.

You can help support JHFC by signing their online petition here: https://www.change.org/harris_road_subdivision

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