In a legal battle against two northern Brunswick County towns, one is requesting a peaceful end.
The town of Leland filed a lawsuit against its neighboring town, Belville, in June. Less than three months later, the town of Belville has requested a judge dismiss the case.
Leland's town attorney Stephen D. Coggins filed a complaint and associated documents to the Brunswick County Superior Court on June 26, 2026. According to Coggins' filing, Leland is challenging several properties annexed into the town of Belville by Belville officials in 2024 and 2026. The complaint states Belville violated state statutes by exceeding its statutory authority and annexing the two areas.
The properties include 9990 and 9971 Chappell Loop Road. The properties were
located in Brunswick County before being annexed into Belville town limits. Though the property at 9990 Chappell Loop Road was recently annexed, two parcels connected to 9971 Chappell Loop Road were annexed in 2024.
State law allows municipalities to annex noncontiguous property under certain circumstances, but one of the requirements is that an annexation agreement be made between municipalities if a proposed "satellite" corporate limit is closer to another municipality.
Leland claims Belville violated state statutes because the two Chappell Loop Road properties are noncontiguous to Belville's primary corporate limits and closer to Leland, with no annexation agreements between Leland and Belville.
An amended and supplemental complaint was filed by Coggins July 16. Though the allegations and subject properties were unchanged, Leland's amended complaint provided distances showing the properties either directly touching Leland's limits or being roughly 30 feet closer to Leland jurisdiction than Belville town limits.
The complaint states the town of Leland in 2024 and 2026 notified Belville of its concerns prior to town officials adopting the annexations. However, Leland claims the notifications were never addressed.
Since no annexation agreement exists between the two towns and the annexed properties remain closer to Lelandlines, Leland requests the court void Belville's two annexations. The town is also requesting a preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Belville from exercising municipal authority over the properties purportedly annexed, pending final resolution.
Belville's town attorney Norwood Blanchard III filed a motion to dismiss with prejudice on Sept. 10, 2026, claiming "no justiciable issue exists" and that Leland's complaint "otherwise fails to state claim."
Both towns gave no comment on the pending litigation.
No court dates have been set, and no additional documents have been filed as of Sept. 18.
If the annexations are overturned, the two properties would return to Brunswick County jurisdiction.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick town asks court to end municipal boundary dispute | Exclusive
