IN PROFILE: DEB HAYS

puBlIc

servant

ELECTED OFFICIAL AND REALTOR AIMS TO PRESERVE COUNTY’S QUALITY OF LIFE

BY SHANNON RAE GENTRY PHOTO BY SUMMER LAMBERT

“Iwill tell you that my real estate experience is by far not the biggest contributor to my understanding and do to get more vaccines,” she said. “We’re all very, very frustrated with that. But there are so many other things that are going on too.” Growth and development are dealings as a county commissioner; also hot topics for Wilmington my public service is,” Deb Hays said. residents, with overdevelopment

Winning her 2020 bid for a seat and the loss of natural resources on the New Hanover County Board of being among the chief concerns of Commissioners, Hays has a decades- residents who might cringe at each long career with Intracoastal Realty, new car wash or storage facility collecting accolades and recognition erected. To an extent, Hays shares locally, regionally and nationally those concerns and “fought so hard along the way. While her tenure has as chair of the planning commission made her a better leader, the most against a couple of these in the city.” relevant lesson has been to always On the other hand, Hays said, factor in “quality of life” for any while “growth” can have a negative decision she makes on behalf of a connotation, responsible growth client, or in this case, on behalf of is what she envisions for the NHC residents. county: improving public transit;

“(Quality of life) is paramount working with the county school to me because that is paramount board to provide quality education to every citizen,” she said. “For me, to all; adding more blueways county decisions are based on facts, and greenways while preserving, and they’re based on what’s good for protecting and showcasing active all.” outdoor communities.

Hays’ community involvement “(Growth) can be very positive has snowballed just as consistently because, truthfully, if we’re not as her career in real estate. She growing, we’re dying – or we’re has served on several boards of moving backward, and we certainly directors, including Wilmington Area don’t want to go back to the ’70s,” Rebuilding Ministry, Wilmington Hays said. “We have a thriving, Downtown Inc. and the Airlie vibrant downtown. We have a Gardens Foundation, as well as thriving, vibrant riverfront. We have serving as a Wilmington Chamber multiple thriving, vibrant areas of of Commerce Board of Advisors our community beaches; all those member. As former chair of the types of things come together to Wilmington Planning Commission make us incredibly attractive. And and member of the Wilmington we certainly want to continue to be Comprehensive Plan Steering attractive, not just for new people Committee, Hays is well-versed in coming in but for our current planning and development across citizens.” New Hanover County. Hays acknowledges concerns

Nevertheless, only a few months about density (as Wilmington was into her four-year term, Hays’ day- ranked the No. 1 city in 2020 for to-day is mostly filled with local inbound moves in the United States distribution efforts of the COVID-19 by a United Van Lines study), as vaccine. A frustrating endeavor, well as tree canopy loss, all of which to say the least, as Hays notes the come into play when balancing county’s capacity to vaccinate 10,000 community resources and planning people a week has at times been with preservation and longevity in thwarted by limited vaccines coming mind. And Hays knows not everyone into New Hanover. is going to agree with her on what

“At the forefront of everything I that looks like. do when I wake up every morning is “You know, Mayfaire was fought the COVID vaccine and what can we really hard,” she said. “And it has

come to be not only one of our most recognizable areas but also one of the most well-connected communities in our county. … But I will always listen because I want to hear what that other side is, and I want to understand what their perspective is, and I want to discuss it with them. And I certainly will not make any decision based upon getting reelected.”

Hays said she is firm on making evidence-based decisions while at her post for the next four years, citing the ongoing potential development site on Hooker Road, where the Timberlynn Village mobile home park once stood. The owners made two unsuccessful bids: one for a 106-unit townhome development in early 2019, then another for 86 single-family units later in the year. Eventually approved for less than 60 units, Hays said residents’ articulate opposition early made a difference.

“They were not objectionable. They were OK with it being developed, but they wanted it to be developed in a similar fashion (as the rest of the area) and not something that was totally in opposition to surrounding neighborhoods,” Hays said. “They made strong, good, supportive comments about what they felt was positive for their area and that’s a big part of planning, is to ensure that there’s continuity.”

A large part of 2021 and beyond will include updating information on which planning decisions are often based. With the county planning department and new director, Rebekah Roth, Hays said the county is focused on getting updated data. For example, county soil surveys date back to the 1970s, and those can impact how stormwater runoff is managed. “You can do the math – that’s a lot of years ago,” she said. “We want to make sure that we’re using up-todate information and work with that in order to make the best decisions possible. And I can tell you that our planning department is on it.”