Scotland, Tuscany, New Zealand, St. Lucia . . . Foxfire.
The Village moved another step towards welcoming their new, very exclusive neighbor during a Special Meeting on Thursday, February 19 of the Foxfire Planning Board. Before a packed room, representatives for Stonehill Pines presented a revised Master Plan of the proposed 1,500 acre world-class community of golf courses, hotel and spa, and one thousand new homes.
 Stonehill Pines will be the newest addition to The Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, one of only four locations in the United States and thirty-six worldwide, an exclusive access and reciprocity program within the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course family. Handpicked by Nicklaus, these courses are selected as being the most ideal locations in some of the most sought-after markets around the world.
“This will be a very special place and an instrumental part of the Nicklaus legacy,” said Kevin Justice, president and CEO of Stonehill Capital Group. “We want to keep the history and tradition of this area and build upon that.”
A phased long-term development with public dining and retail spaces, the low density community of 1,050 homes will be anchored by a luxury resort hotel plus other private recreational facilities including two championship golf courses and clubhouses, a greenway trail system, and active recreational spaces. According to the proposal, Stonehill Pines will enhance the financial and aesthetic well being of Foxfire Village while preserving the relaxed, small town feel that makes Foxfire an attractive place to call home.
On behalf of Stonehill, Dave Neil explained that project planning started with the golf course. “The course set the initial theme of using what is there naturally and working with the land.”
He identified the top three priorities for the Master Plan as safety, quality of life, and minimizing environmental impact. By working around existing conditions, including streams, wetlands, and natural topography, and using the low density model of clustered homes, only twelve percent of the property will be covered with impervious surfaces, with fifty percent of the property designated as open space.
Phase One of the project will include construction of the main entrance off Hoffman Road, a 300’ roundabout and meandering spine road, construction of the North Course and Clubhouse, installation of a new 12” water line connected to Moore County Public Works, and a wastewater treatment facility. Later phasing will add the South Course, luxury hotel and villas, a retail and dining village, recreation facility, and mixed-use residential development.
All interior roads, including the main entrance and spine road, will be privately maintained to standards approved by the Foxfire Quality Assurance Team. The proposed circulation plan also includes bridging over sensitive areas, a manned, arched entrance gateway, and an extensive network of greenways and pocket parks.
“These are not sidewalks but an alternative pedestrian network that links the entire community with bike paths, trails, and cart paths.
Water is a critical and limited resource in Moore County, so water concerns are heavily addressed in Phase One. According to a resolution approved by the Moore County Board of Commissioners last year, the Master Plan includes an agreement to construct three additional wells for the county’s system, removal of a 6” waterline bottleneck on Linden Road, installation of a 12” water main on Foxfire and Hoffman Roads from a connection point on Linden Road, and a new 500,000 capacity elevated water tank. In addition, the development’s wastewater treatment plant will produce water that can be used for irrigation, so that no potable water will be used for irrigation anywhere within the community, including residences.
“This is not a project that often comes across the table. I am very honored to participate in this significant and wonderful project,” said Neil.
Foxfire Planning Chair Craig Ramey said the Board submitted approximately forty-five questions to the Foxfire Quality Assurance Team. In addition, members of the Board addressed Stonehill directly during the Special Meeting, and a third public meeting on the Stonehill Pines PUD and rezoning application will be held Monday, March 9. Foxfire residents are welcome to submit any questions, in writing, prior to that meeting.
Once approved by the Planning Board, a Public Hearing before the Village Council will be held on the annexation request and Planned Unit Development [PUD] rezoning application, before final approval can be granted for the Master Plan. If no significant or unanticipated hurdles arise, the approval process could be completed as early as Tuesday, March 10. |
