Two years ago, a coalition of environmental, conservation and historic preservation advocates partnered to oppose two premature development projects on the West Bank: Battleship Point on Point Peter and Wilmington Hotel & Spa on Eagles Island. Both projects have since been tabled.

Now, the groups join forces again to advocate for the inclusion of all the western bank parcels into the Conservation place type as part of the upcoming amendments to New Hanover County's 2016 Comprehensive Plan. The coalition consists of the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees, Cape Fear Audubon, Cape Fear River Watch, Cape Fear Sierra Club, Eagles Island Central Park Task Force, Historic Wilmington Foundation, League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear, NC Coastal Federation, NC Gullah Geechee Greenway Blueway Heritage Trail, and NC NAACP. 

The Coalition received over 2,300 signed petitions supporting conservation rather than Residential/Commercial development of the West Bank. These petitions were forwarded to the Planning Department and Planning Board, who both serve at the pleasure of the County Commission and County Manager.