A nine-acre woodland in Charlotte’s Cotswold neighborhood is on the market, prompting a neighbor-led effort to preserve the property as development advances nearby. The land, owned by Andrew Taylor for more than 40 years, includes creeks and winding paths and is home to nesting hawks and owls. Taylor has said he would prefer the property to remain natural, but is selling it as part of estate planning for his family. Taylor previously discussed making the property a city park, but said Charlotte could not afford to buy it at the time. He now faces a decision that conservation advocates say is difficult for communities: competing with developers able to pay market prices for land. Allison Sadowski, a neighbor who founded the Cotswold Conservancy, is working with the city, Mecklenburg County and the Trust for Public Land to explore preservation options. She said a developer has started surveying the site, though no preservation deal has been announced. Charlotte City Council member Kimberly Owens said there is nothing about the property on the council’s agenda. The city would probably become involved only if the issue turns into a zoning matter, she said. Sadowski plans to approach county commissioners. The push comes as construction continues around the woodland, including townhomes on the site of a former Masonic temple. The Trust for Public Land’s most recent ParkScore ranked Charlotte 90th among 100 cities for park access; it found that 36% of city residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, compared with a national average of 76%. Sadowski said the effort has a reasonable chance, but its outcome remains uncertain. Taylor has said he wants the woodland preserved while also doing what is best for his family.