The developer of the northern Brunswick County community of Brunswick Forest near Wilmington is working with builders and other developers on a long-term plan to sell the remaining land of the Brunswick Forest parcel.

That’s according to an Oct. 27 update from developer Jeff Earp of Funston Land & Timber to Brunswick Forest residents.

The update also said that “the Developer will continue to remain as the Declarant of Brunswick Forest and in control of the Brunswick Forest Master Association and the developer-appointed Board of Directors for many years” as the sell-off takes place.

Reached Monday, Earp had no further comment on the update.

The update does not say exactly how many developable acres are left of the 4,500-acre master planned development in Leland, but mentions current or future plans for nearly 1,000.

More than 3,000 lots have already been developed in Brunswick Forest.

Another portion of the update appears to provide some insight as to why the sell-off is happening now:

"Brunswick Forest Realty has some restructuring that will take place January 1st, 2021. Jerry Helms, the current Sales and Marketing Director, will be taking over that business as his own endeavor. All sales agents will be remaining with him, and he will be taking on more resales and business outside of Brunswick Forest. The Developer will no longer be funding marketing and retail sales of individual lots. Brunswick Forest will be focusing on sales to builders who will offer lot/home packages in Brunswick Forest.

"With regard to the preferred builder program, this is projected to continue, and the current builders will continue building in Brunswick Forest and some may provide their own sales and marketing in conjunction with Jerry Helms’ organization."

Efforts to reach Helms were not immediately successful Friday or Monday.

The update said that next year, the majority of residential development will be in Phase 9, “which is the area across the railroad and beyond the water tower behind Park West, and to the left of Egret Cove. Funston has entered into a contract for Heron Pointe where a single builder will be buying 202 lots, closing on half of them this year and the remaining half in 2021.

“Our current focus will be on developing additional lots in the Phase 9 area. Just before the water tower, on the right across from Park West, there will be about 82 lots, where the plan is to break ground in the next 60 days."

Those lots will be sold to a builder once infrastructure construction is completed, according to the update.

In one of the biggest potential developments mentioned in the document, a contract is being finalized with another developer that would build a neighborhood separate from Brunswick Forest, on about 400 acres, with the possibility of constructing 1,000 homes.

“It will have its own contained amenity package and Association. Access will be off Kay Todd Road, off Hewett-Burton Rd, and Hwy 17, and also out through the traffic circle. This is currently projected to break ground next fall, with home prices likely in the $300 - $400[k] range,” the update stated.

The Brunswick Forest Master Association Architectural Review Committee, according to the update, will continue to establish design standards for each neighborhood and review designs from individual builders for the neighborhoods within the master association.

Other highlights included in the update:

• In the vicinity of the Cape Fear National golf course (Phase 3), there are 90 lots remaining that will become a new neighborhood association. “The Developer will start working on those lots next spring and anticipates completing them next fall. These Lots will also be sold to a builder(s) and are not projected to be included in the CFN HOA. These lots will have a separate HOA that provides landscape services.”
• "With regard to Phase 4, which is about 500 acres, in the area south of The Lakes, there are not any current plans for development. It is anticipated that development in this area is several years out.”
• For Phase 7, in an area near U.S. 17, "the plan is to set some land aside in that area for the possibility of a school or a hospital, or large retail development ... Given the demographics, growth and current climate, it would not be surprising to have a hospital in the area, or the possibility of the school board to say that there is a need for a middle/high school in northern Brunswick County, with a football or basketball team to support."
• The developer has donated 32 acres to the town of Leland, which has plans to incorporate a park in the area between Kay Todd Road and the railroad, the update stated.

The update also includes commercial development plans, including a new restaurant space and more.