More than 800 people sign petition to urge town of Wake Forest to protect forestland in Joyner Park from development

More than 800 people have signed on to a petition against a proposed rezoning of wooded land across from Wake Forest’s largest community park.

Raleigh-based developer Church Street Company wants to rezone the 68 acres of land on Harris Road across from Joyner Park to build more than 230 homes and townhomes.

Angela DiPaolo lives nearby and started the online petition urging town leaders to protect trees and wildlife near the park.

"A lot of the people say, 'Let’s keep the forest in Wake Forest, otherwise it’s going to be Wake Pavement,'" DiPaolo said.

On Monday, WRAL News reached out to Church Street Company, but did not hear back.

DiPaolo is collecting signatures on this petition, urging the town to "protect trees and wildlife" near the park. She said the petition shows that a lot of people are upset with how the town is developing. Several other new neighborhoods with hundreds of homes are in various stages of development near the park.

"This town is Wake Forest," DiPaolo said. "We pride ourselves on all the trees here and the serenity of the town, the wooded lots, but development is taking away from that. "

The town told WRAL News the rezoning is in the early stages and, as it is now, is inconsistent with the town’s new Community Plan.

Town of Wake Forest Planning Director Courtney Tanner said state law does not allow them to prevent developers from clear-cutting, but the town’s development ordinance does include requirements for tree protection.

New developments are popping up nearby, including the Devon Square neighborhood of new homes bordering the park's western edge. The town is also reviewing a rezoning to allow more than 400 homes and townhomes on the other side of Capital Boulevard.

"I don’t think people are happy with the way things are being developed right now," DiPaolo said.

DiPaolo would like the land around the park preserved or for developers to include conservation of trees as part of their plans.

"Let’s do it in a way that’s conscientious," DiPaolo said. "Let’s change the way we develop Wake Forest."

Tanner said the project is still early in the process, and does not have a public hearing date set as of Monday. A public hearing is when people will have a chance to provide feedback to town leaders.