Alan Piercy is a freelance writer who has lived in Raleigh since 2010. He is a Columbia, South Carolina native, and the author of A Gamecock Odyssey: University of South Carolina Sports in the Independent Era. Alan hosts a collection of his general interest writings online at Yellow Dog Journal, and his South by Southeast: A Gamecock History Newsletter features stories spanning decades of Gamecock athletics. A runner, outdoor enthusiast, and advocate for the preservation of public green spaces, Alan and his wife, Melissa, can be frequently found along the trails of Umstead State Park.
The Umstead Coalition has pending court cases related to the 50-year sunset clause (for all quarry operations to end by May 2031) and against the quarry permit. These court cases are in the process of being scheduled. The status of those cases will be updated here. https://
Wake County zoned the Odd Fellows Tract back to low density residential in 1982 (Wake County R-40, 1 house per acre). The quarry (and the proposed “entertainment district” on the forested acres of Lake Crabtree) are not authorized uses in this Wake County zoning district. Unfortunately, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDUAA) has chosen to ignore this Wake County zoning, and Wake County has thus far failed to enforce.
The Umstead Coalition is appealing and asking for Wake County zoning to be enforced. Currently, the hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9 at 2pm at Wake County Superior Court. The public is encouraged to attend this important hearing. For details, and to verify court schedule (which is subject to change), readers can click here: https://
Lastly, a late addition to an unrelated NC bill (H.B. 173) passed on June 26, 2025. This started as a local bill by NC House Representative Erin Pare’ that asked for a moratorium on annexations in Wake County. The NC Senate subsequently added a number of statewide amendments, including a poison pill which would allow the RDUAA to have leases with unlimited duration terms.
A massive public outcry ensued. All Wake and Durham County Senators and Representatives voted “NO” on H.B. 173, with the notable exception of Representative Pare’. Sadly, the add-on to an unrelated bill results in pushing through bad policy for our public lands without the opportunity for public discussion or debate.
For ongoing updates, readers can reference the Umstead Coalition site at: umsteadcoalition.org.https://
Alan Piercy has written previously about the Odd Fellows Tract and you can read those pieces on his Yellow Dog Journal Substack here:
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