Proposed Development Could Be Big Boon for New Bern

New Bern Planning and Inspections Director Michael Avery points out where Weyerhaeuser's proposed development would go.

By: Philip Jones | WNCT
Published: October 02, 2008

Despite all the doom and gloom about the economy, there is some good economic news to report in our community -- one company's plans to build a major mixed-use development near New Bern are slowly pushing forward.

Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company hopes to create retail space, residential neighborhoods and jobs in an area near Highway 70.

Nine On Your Side's Philip Jones has the details on the plans and explains the impact they could have on the east.

You're no doubt familiar with road construction if you've driven down Highway 70 between Clarks and New Bern.

The DOT is working on a connector that will link 70 with Highway 43.

But a different kind of construction could soon start in the woods not far from the roadway -- as Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company has some big plans that will not only spur development, but potentially the local economy.

“What they have planned is a mixed-use development,” said Michael Avery, the planning and inspections director for the City of New Bern. “It follows a planning model called ‘transect,’ where you go from a more rural setting to a more urban-core setting, all in one development.”

Avery has spoken with Weyerhaeuser a few times, and says the company is planning something in the neighborhood of 800-1,000 new residences -- including lofts, apartments and single-family homes.

Plans are also in the works for smaller retail space, as well as a big-box store.

Avery says you won't mistake it for a strip mall, as the proposed development would be set up like a town-center.

“One of the things it's going to do is create a new commercial center for the city, for those folks in the western part of the city and that area that's going to be developing between Clarks and the city,” he said.

If everything goes according to plan, the development should create jobs, some green space and a number of bike trails -- and these days, anything that calls for more jobs and the use of less gasoline is certainly a welcome addition.

Avery adds that Weyerhaeuser will present these plans to New Bern’s Planning Board at its next meeting. As of now, there's no timetable on the development.

And while the land for the development sits just outside the city limits now, Avery says it will be inside the city limits before the project is complete.