Towns Clash Over Annexation Laws | Wilmington News

Wilmington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

Towns clash in a high-stakes legal battle over three commercial properties on Chappell Loop Road, with Leland suing Belville for annexing land closer to Leland’s borders than Belville’s — claiming it violates state law. This isn’t the first feud: years of disputes over growth, utilities, and jurisdiction simmer beneath the surface. Belville’s mayor dismisses the suit as baseless, while Leland accuses Belville of ignoring legal boundaries — and hints at a deeper motive: slowing Belville’s expansion to protect its own growth plans. The property owner, Walter Burckhalter, chose Belville for…