Harnett: Chamber’s Rise and Shine group hears insight on area development

Economic Development Director Stephen Barrington shared his wisdom on development July 30 at the Harnett County Chamber of Commerce’s Rise & Shine event.

True Homes, the 2024 winner of Builder of the Year and recipient of numerous other awards, hosted the Chamber at their sales office in Nathan’s Ridge in Lillington at 26 Mable Court.

Nathan’s Ridge was named after Mable Johnson’s husband and the land, once farmland, was sold to True Homes by Mable and Nathan Johnson’s son, with their approval.

True Homes is in the people business as Mable Johnson testified and said she lived right down the street from the subdivision.

About twenty attendees enjoyed Johnson’s story of how her husband knew the subdivision would be named after him before his death.

And everyone learned that unless you purchase the land “in your backyard” you may end up with a subdivision in your backyard if a county’s land use plans (LUP) allocate the area for a residential subdivision.

Barrington said the “not in my backyard” mentality was constantly spoken at commissioners’ meetings, but commissioners can do little to change outcomes.

“Planners are respective of rural areas and try to identify those areas when planning growth,” Barrington said.

“Growth is not easy. We left Wake Forest and came to Harnett County because any area in Harnett County is less congested,” Barrington said about Wake Forest growing from a population of 5,000 in 2019 to 50,000 in 2025.

Barrington said the county had four out of 10 industrial and business properties ready to market and the Birmingham, Alabama, company, Retail Strategies, was assisting in targeting locations for three new major retail shopping centers.

“About 62% of county residents leave town to work,” Barrington said about why Harnett County needs to attract industry and business to the area, to benefit the people.

Harnett County Chamber of Commerce Director Brad Johnson asked how the traffic conditions were being planned with growth considerations.

“Many groups, NCDOT, municipalities, county, state officials, all of them are working on traffic concerns. The real answer is that it is not easy, and there is no quick fix. Traffic will not dissipate. They can expand roads, but there will not be fewer cars. That is reality,” Barringer said.

Key Points:

*People move to Harnett County because home prices are lower.

 *Lillington is predicted to be the largest municipality in five years.

The Chamber meets again on Aug. 7 at 5:30 p.m. 1179 N. Main Street in Lillington to celebrate Gypsy Soul’s one-year anniversary.

July 31, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers