Holly Ridge’s town council has kicked off a move that could dramatically change the look and feel of the town, voting to pull large chunks of the old Camp Davis property into its borders. Supporters say the annexation would mean new jobs, storefronts and tax revenue. Neighbors who are not sold on the idea warn it could effectively double the town and push schools, roads and water systems past the breaking point. The split was clear in the council chambers and sets up weeks of hearings and more tense public comment.
Council vote sets Project Ajax in motion
On Jan. 13 the town approved a resolution to begin voluntary satellite annexation that would bring hundreds of adjacent acres into Holly Ridge and clear the way for a master plan known as Project Ajax. The project would stretch across the Onslow–Pender county line and, as reported by Wilmington StarNews, could include roughly 1,950 homes in Onslow County and about 800 in Pender County, along with commercial parcels and possible school sites.
PFAS contamination flagged near proposed build area
Federal environmental testing tied to the former Camp Davis footprint has already raised a red flag. Sampling found PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA, in shallow groundwater at levels above the 70 parts per trillion screening threshold, and the Navy has opened a remedial investigation for the location identified as Site 111. According to the Navy’s environmental restoration materials, those findings triggered additional groundwater review and a longer term look at potential risks to nearby wells and residents. NAVFAC outlines the sampling results and planned remedial investigation work.
Petition, packed meetings fuel public pushback
Public opposition has been building both online and in person. A petition challenging the annexation has drawn hundreds of signatures, and residents who turned out for meetings raised alarms about traffic, wetlands and what they see as a long term strain on town services. Coverage of the hearings has highlighted ongoing unease among some council members and neighbors that the size of Project Ajax could remake the town faster than many want. The petition and community updates are posted on Change.org, with added context in local reporting by Wilmington StarNews.
Residents warn of building in PFAS zone as deal terms shift
At recent meetings, residents pointed to maps and federal testing that show the proposed build area overlapping a known PFAS zone. One neighbor delivered a blunt warning about health risks, saying, “if you build on contaminated land, blood is going to be on all of your hands,” according to Port City Daily. That outlet also reports that the developer agreed to shorten a proposed vested rights period as negotiations continued, and town officials floated an early estimate that the project could eventually add about $1.54 million a year in tax revenue if the annexation and buildout go forward.
Already crowded schools loom large in debate
School capacity is another sticking point. Public data show area campuses are already packed: the National Center for Education Statistics lists Surf City Elementary with roughly 857 students and Surf City Middle with about 752 students for the 2024–25 year. Residents and elected officials argue those numbers make it harder to justify thousands of new homes without matching investment in classrooms, buses and staff. NCES and NCES provide the enrollment figures that are now part of planning talks.
What comes next for Holly Ridge and Project Ajax
Town staff and the developer have lined up community briefings and formal public hearings as they work through the annexation and zoning process. Town documents and local reporting indicate the earliest homes could be occupied in late 2027 or early 2028 if approvals and permitting stay on track. More testimony and technical review, including the Navy’s ongoing PFAS remedial investigation, could still reshape the plan before any construction begins, according to reporting in Port City Daily.
The fight over Project Ajax boils down to a familiar tradeoff for fast growing coastal communities: jobs, stores and a larger tax base on one side, and unresolved environmental cleanup, school capacity and emergency services needs on the other. In the coming weeks, officials, developers and residents will be watching the hearings closely as Holly Ridge decides how, and how quickly, it is willing to grow.
