Plantersville faces changes in its future, some encouraging and some concerning. One exciting development is the proposed Plantersville Scenic Byway Loop and Choppee Black River Trail, a 12-mile bike and pedestrian network that will run roughly parallel to the Plantersville Scenic Byway. It will begin at the Choppee Recreation Center and end at the Plantersville General Store with fishing, rest areas, and informational signs along the route. The project would provide transportation, recreation, and ecotourism opportunities for the area. The proposal is still being studied and no funding has yet been allocated for construction. However, the Conservation League generally supports this kind of project and we’re watching this closely, ready to weigh in when the time is right.

Plantersville’s natural beauty is certainly an asset, but it has a downside because it makes the area susceptible to development pressures. A developer has proposed construction of 456 new homes—a combination of single-family, townhomes, and duplexes—plus 40,000 square feet of commercial space at the southernmost intersection of Exodus Road and U.S. Highway 701. The community has expressed concerns about the influx of so many new homes and what that could mean for their property taxes and the rural character of the area.

The Conservation League shares those concerns. The development was withdrawn from the October Planning Commission agenda and the timeline for its consideration is unclear as the developers intend to hold an additional community meeting, but it will likely be on the December agenda. We are carefully monitoring the progress of this development and will keep you up to date on the next steps.

We welcome your thoughts on how we can work together to enhance conservation on the North Coast. You can reach me at beckyr@scccl.org and Project Manager Trapper Fowler at trapperf@scccl.org.