The New Hanover Board of Supervisors held a public hearing at their December 3 meeting, conducted in person and via Facebook Live, for a conservation easement for the Hickory Valley Golf Club.

            The easement will cover 47.54 acres of the golf course located at 1921 Ludwig Road. The price tag for the easement purchase by the township is $12,017 per acre for a total of $571,241.

            Township solicitor Andrew Bellwoar explained that this type of easement is restricted, and that though the owner is still in possession of the property, he is not permitted to develop it, and that the easement remains with the property in perpetuity. The supervisors approved the easement.

            In development news, the representatives for the developer Heritage Building Group, of Hanover Meadows, attended the meeting to present a new plan for an originally age-restricted development which was first brought to the supervisors in 2008 and formerly included apartments and a life care facility.

            The developers have revisited the plan, greatly reduced the density, and removed both the apartment housing and the life care facility. The current plan calls for a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, twin homes, and quad homes, with a clubhouse and some commercial space.

            The developer indicated that he had been in contact with a major hospital regarding the possibility of a health care facility at the site.

            The property is bordered by Routes 73 and 663 and Church Road.

            In other news, the supervisors approved a detour plan for Rosenberry Road for approximately one week during sewer construction underneath the road.