A local organization is predicting "dire environmental consequences" if MHK Ventures succeeds with its Pine Forest subdivision at West End.

In a two-page news release this week, Save Our Sandhills (SOS) charges that the major subdivision would damage wetlands and wildlife habitat, jeopardize the longleaf pine ecosystem and "destroy the small town vision of the Moore County Land Use Plan."

The target of the environmental nonprofit is a development planned on 1,799 acres stretching from N.C. 211 toward N.C. 73 for residential and resort communities with 710 residential units, two championship golf courses, a nine-hole course and a retail development.

MHK Ventures is also the developer of the adjacent Dormie Club subdivision on N.C. 73, where work is already under way.

Owner/developer Bob Hansen said today that he will respond to the SOS allegations at the Dec. 10 meeting of the Moore County Planning Board, which will be continuing a public hearing begun at the board's November meeting. The subject of the hearing is the developer's application for rezoning of 1,652 acres from various residential agricultural zoning districts to a hamlet-style Planned Unit Development. The planning body tabled a decision on the request and continued the hearing until December. In rezoning matters, the board votes on a recommendation, which is forwarded to the Moore County Board of Commissioners for another hearing and a final decision.

For more on this story, see the print edition of The Pilot.