<< Back 5/22/02 Needmore decision date pushed back SMN Crescent Resources announced Tuesday, May 21, that it would be extending the evaluation process for the Needmore Tract. Crescent — the real estate development branch of Duke Energy — and The Nature Conservancy hope to determine potential future land uses for the property by the end of November. According to Crescent’s press release, the delay is due to overwhelming stakeholder input and the complexity of the evaluation process. “The level of community interest in this property has been exceptional,” said Scott Munday of Crescent Resources. Crescent and TNC began working on the Needmore project in 2000. Needmore is the collective name for multiple properties located along the Little Tennessee River in Macon and Swain counties. The largest tract — 4,000 contiguous acres — is comprised of 3,400 acres in Swain County and 600 acres in Macon County. The remaining 500 noncontiguous acres are located in Macon County. Swain and Macon county governments as well as a local grassroots organization called the Mountain Neighbors for the Preservation of Needmore, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and local and regional environmental and conservation organizations have been working to preserve Needmore in its entirety since news spread of its acquisition by Crescent in 1999. For more information on Needmore, call Crescent at 704.382.4668, TNC at 828.749.1700, or send an email to needmore@crown-com.com.