An aerial view of one of West New Bern’s first apartment complexes. Built by Comet Development, amenities range from a private pool and pickleball courts to meandering walking trails and ample green space.
Creating a thriving residential community requires more than just erecting infrastructure and buildings. From initial planning to the final marketing push to attract builders, a successful development engages residents and community leaders at every stage.
Take West New Bern, a Weyerhaeuser land development six miles west of downtown New Bern, North Carolina. Customers that purchased lots from us began constructing homes and commercial buildings in late 2020. But long before construction started on the site, our Development team worked with local officials to complete zoning, entitlement and infrastructure planning for a unique master-planned community that reflects the needs and desires of the local community.
“Weyerhaeuser has a long-standing presence in the New Bern region, which helped establish trust,” says Rose Fagler, economic development manager in our Corporate Development, Real Estate & Natural Resources business. “Even so, building a community that reflects the wants and desires of residents is a time-intensive effort that involves lots of listening.”
Whether it’s a mixed-use residential development like West New Bern or an industrial park, our Development team approaches every project open to feedback and with careful attention to detail, knowing success is only possible with local engagement, input and partnership.
The grand entrance to West New Bern preserves many of the pine trees planted years ago by our Timberlands team. The landscaping reflects Weyerhaeuser’s timberlands presence in North Carolina. After years of planning and coordination with residents and city officials, construction on the community’s first residential and commercial structures started in late 2020. West New Bern is marketed as “The Next Direction in Carolina Living,” and the traffic circle was designed to suggest a compass, which is part of the West New Bern branding.
A RARE OPPORTUNITY
About a half dozen real estate land development projects are underway at any given time across our 11 million acres of land in the United States. Mixed-use developments like West New Bern — which blend multiple uses (residential, commercial, educational, etc.) into one integrated community space — represent alternative land uses that Rose says occur on approximately “1 percent of 1 percent” of our land. They are the rarest type of land development projects because they must be located near existing transportation infrastructure, growing population centers and welcoming communities.
“Most of our land is rural and will remain timberlands forever,” Rose says. “A lot of factors must align for us to convert any of our land to an alternative use.”
West New Bern was first identified as a candidate for a mixed-use land development in 2012 due to its unique position between two major highways and in the path of New Bern’s only growth corridor — the physical constraints of the Neuse and Trent rivers flank the city in every direction but west. Designed with the expectation that it will become a hub for the town’s westward expansion and growing demand for housing and business infrastructure, West New Bern is a master-planned community that channels New Bern’s historical appeal and provides new conveniences and amenities for residents.
“We worked with our planners to design a community that exudes New Bern’s small-town charm with a nod to its 18th- and 19th-century architecture,” Rose says. “The neighborhoods are designed to be walkable, with restaurants and businesses near the homes and an abundance of open space.”
Jocelyn Wilson, North Carolina Timberlands region manager, represents Weyerhaeuser and presents the Trail to Tryon race donation check to the local American Legion Post.
GROWING SMART
Of course, our Development team was concerned with far more than the community’s aesthetic appeal. A major focus in planning was minimizing the potential development impact on New Bern’s existing infrastructure and resources.
“During the planning stages, we worked diligently with the city to ensure everything from traffic flow to water and sewage systems can accommodate growth,” Rose says. “Only after we had land development approvals were our customers able to start building.”
After Weyerhaeuser completed the first phase of streets, water and sewer infrastructure within the community, we began selling lots to customers, and building construction began in late 2020 when Comet Development started the first apartment complex. In August of 2021, national homebuilder D.R. Horton broke ground on its first single-family home. As of late June 2023, 63 single-family residences and 224 apartment units had been completed — many already occupied — with another 140 D.R. Horton homes underway.
A medical facility recently opened its doors, as has a branch of the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. In 2025, Thales Academy, a K-8 private school, will welcome its first students. When phase 1 development is complete, West New Bern will span 540 acres and include up to 1,500 residential units including several apartment complexes, office and retail space, restaurants, a hotel and various entertainment venues and opportunities.
Jocelyn presents an award to one of the race’s top finishers. Prior the ceremony, she also spoke about Weyerhaeuser’s long-standing commitment to New Bern and the region.
A TEAM EFFORT
“Getting this development up and running wouldn’t have happened without the support of many other Weyerhaeuser teams,” Rose says. “It’s a great example of our different businesses working together for the benefit of company and community.”
Our local Timberlands team coordinates with our Development team to harvest individual parcels just before our construction customers begin their work. Meanwhile, our Recreational Lease team manages local clubs on planned land development sites, which helps keep a watchful eye on the property until it transitions to the construction phase. Our Development team also partners with Wood Products to attract additional homebuilders that use our wood products.
And when it comes to representing Weyerhaeuser in the community, teams work together to step up and raise our visibility locally. This past fall, we helped sponsor the inaugural 5K, 10K and half-marathon Trail to Tryon race organized by a local tourist bureau (Tryon Palace, located in downtown New Bern, was the official residence and administrative headquarters of the British governors of North Carolina in the 1770s). The event will eventually add a full marathon and an obstacle run where West New Bern will become part of the race course, further linking West New Bern to greater New Bern.
“Rose asked if our North Carolina Timberlands team wanted to be involved in the Trail to Tryon run,” says Jocelyn Wilson, North Carolina Timberlands region manager. “Of course, we said yes. We’re all one Weyerhaeuser.”
Jocelyn appeared in a video to promote the race, Weyerhaeuser and West New Bern. On race day, Jocelyn and her 8-year-old daughter staffed the Weyerhaeuser booth while several Timberlands employees and family members laced up their running shoes for the races. And Jocelyn was part of the check presentation of the event’s proceeds to the American Legion — an especially meaningful beneficiary considering New Bern is located between three military bases.
“It was exciting to support the community and represent Weyerhaeuser,” Jocelyn says. “We have a great reputation in North Carolina because we’re all connected in so many meaningful ways, whether through the more than 500,000 acres we manage sustainably in the area, the wood products we manufacture and distribute, the communities we develop directly or the communities we support as residents and neighbors.”
Weyerhaeuser’s booth at the race provided runners, their friends and family, and local residents with some nifty tchotchkes and information about Weyerhaeuser and our West New Bern mixed-use development.
What is a master-planned, mixed-use community?
Marketed as a walkable mixed-use community, West New Bern is an example of a “live-work-learn-play” development that encompasses everything from homes to commerce.
Creating a master-planned community involves an extensive planning process before construction begins. A team of experts — including landscape architects, urban planners and engineers — consider various factors such as accessibility, sustainability, natural features, infrastructure requirements and traffic flow to ensure the community is desirable, functional and appeals to a broad range of residents for years to come.
In addition to residential areas, master-planned communities often include commercial and retail locations, schools, parks and other public spaces. As a mixed-use community, West New Bern has all these elements, creating an enjoyable, convenient living environment for residents and a destination for visitors to work, wine, dine and shop.
