There’s one thing and one thing only that the citizens of Summerfield are talking about today.
The sole topic of discussion is a proposed large residential development – Summerfield Farms Village – the plans for which were unveiled at a Tuesday, Sept. 22 Summerfield Town Council meeting. At that meeting, developer, farm-owner and businessman David Couch unveiled plans for the 450-lot residential development that would obtain water and sewer services from the City of Greensboro.
Couch has been in discussions with both Greensboro and Guilford County to work out some of the details of the proposal he unveiled at the meeting.
A development of that size would be news in most cities or towns, but the reason the proposal resonates in Summerfield so loudly is that, for years, the town has been in a bitter and at times ugly civil war between the people in that town who are generally opposed to major development and those who are more accepting of it.
This Sept. 22 Town Council meeting with the proposal would have no doubt been boisterous in normal times. However, thanks to COVID-19, the only people in the room were the Town Council members, some county staff, media and Couch and his team, which includes well known attorney Tom Terrell.
The meeting was broadcast over social media by the Town of Summerfield and by Don Wendelken, who runs a local newspaper and a popular Facebook page known as Summerfield Scoop.
“This is a big story,” Wendelken said. “I was floored last night.”
He said he even gasped when the first concept picture of the development was displayed at the meeting.
Wendelken said that clearly many of the talks regarding the development have been going on behind the scenes and Tuesday night was the big reveal.
At the meeting, Summerfield Mayor BJ Barnes had some very kind words for Couch. Barnes said that he knew Couch and knew his commitment to Summerfield, and Barnes added that he was confident that Couch would always keep the best interests of Summerfield front and center with the project.
Summerfield Farms Village must now begin to jump through many hoops that involve everything from getting the property rezoned from agricultural to residential to working out the details on water and sewer with both the City of Greensboro and Guilford County, which will also play a role.
More information about Summerfield Farms Village can be found here: http://sffarmsvillage.com/
It would help immensely if maps like this were clear enough to actually be helpful. There’s no way to know where this is or who it will impact. (Sorry I’m snotty but I’m old, tired, have a migraine, and there are ways of linking info that is classier than this and we expect this from you all).
I’m sad that this area is changing so dramatically. We have lost all the specialness that made Guilford County unique.
Where in Summerfield will this be located? The article doesn’t mention it and your map is extremely fuzzy and not labeled.
More information can be found here: http://sffarmsvillage.com/
The website’s photos/document are not legible, either.
Scott,
Since I have played golf at Iron Play for thirteen years, I wonder if this property includes Iron Play? What are the boundary streets that will be used for egress and access? Thanks for your feedback. I’ve always enjoyed your articles.
George Setzer
106 Erskine Dr.
Greensboro NC 27410
Not exactly – if you want to see the presentation check it out on Summerfield’s facebook page and listen yourself or go to SFFarmsVillage.com and view it yourself
How many total acres will this entail?
Around 650 acres of mixed use homes, condos, businesses. It is not 450 single family lots. It is an unknown number of residences of varying types and businesses. High density housing, which is necessary to pay for water/sewer to this new development. This is per Mr. Couch if you watch the meeting.
The location covers all the shown acreage from just west of Hwy 220, all the way over to Interstate 73, ie, a major portion of Summerfield. It places large areas of development next to existing homes and neighborhoods throughout Summerfield, affecting Summerfield Road, Brookbank and Pleasant Ridge and houses around the Town core and Summerfield Park.
One person mentioned it may be like Antiquity in Cornelius, but 5 times as big in acreage, although I honestly do not know if it’s a similar development style of mixed use buildings, ie a small City within the Town. If permitted, presumably other landowners in other parts of Summerfield could build similar multi-use high density planned developments by hooking onto the water/sewer.
Mr. Couch made clear that the water from Greensboro only goes in and around this proposed development, and his future shopping complex on Highway 150 near Interstate 73, but he noted other developers and new commercial buildings anywhere in Town and along 220 could pay to hook onto the water system. I guess the hope is to bring more commercial businesses to Town and along 220 between Greensboro and Summerfield.
We simply have not been told the details, location of multi-family housing/condos, business centers, retail, water/Sewer lines, road widening, etc. We only know it’s high density mixed-use with thousands of additional residents/businesses along Summerfield Road, Brookbank and Pleasant Ridge.
Presumably this developer remembers the uproar over his planned development text amendment request a few years ago and he is mindful of citizens’ concerns. And hopefully he has solutions to keep small town charm, protect infrastructure, and suggestions for new schools and traffic congestion. And, importantly hopefully his plan safeguards current homeowners’ investments and enjoyment of life by ensuring that there are tree lines and buffers and that comparable residences are built near existing homes.
We will have to await details. Everyone interested should stay informed and involved as this plays out in the coming months, and should watch the video of the 9/22/20 meeting on the Town Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TownofSummerfield/videos/?ref=page_internal
Jolinda, if Mr. Couch develops under our current UDO he can build 450 homes at RS40. So as you drive by it will look like Hobbs road or IMO Snow Hill in Summerfield, where the homes will sit on the road front and there will be no open vistas.
I agree that many details are not know yet, but I do know that if we don’t start being innovative then we will be just one big subdivision of the same price point home with a big highway running through it. We have to start thinking of how to protect our vistas/open spaces as we are no longer a farming/rural community. We saw the writing on the wall the day we lost the fight against Henson farms :).
We need moderately priced homes as per our comp plan, which is $250,000, so that our deputies, teachers, firefighters, and empty nesters who want to down size can live in our community. We talk about pressure on schools and roads but look at the developments that are built right up to Summerfield. No one is up in arms about these developments and they certainly put pressure on the infrastructure and those densities are way more than what we would allow here. At least with this development we have control over it.
This town needs to come together and work together. Development is going to happen.
650 acres running from near 220 to I 73, mixed use condos, businesses, houses, etc. There are not yet details of the location/number of residences, but in his presentation, the developer stated it is high density with development along Brookbank, Pleasant Ridge, Summerfield Road, near the Town Center and Town Park. It might be similar to Antiquity in Cornelius, but with 5 times the acreage. Presumably high density means thousands of residents, but nothing is clear yet.
Hopefully, given the uproar over a similar Planned Development from this developer a few years ago, he will have thoughtfully considered current homeowners, and place similar houses near existing homes with tree buffers. Of course, road widening, traffic, schools, etc will need to be discussed. Currently it appears he would use many existing roads running through existing neighborhoods.
Mr. Couch stated water would come from Greensboro and only to his development, with other future developers/commercial property being able to hook on for a cost. Many anticipate more mixed use developments if this one is approved. He noted businesses could develop between Greensboro and Summerfield.
It is good the Rhino Times is following the story and hopefully the public will stay informed and voice opinions.
Mr. Yost, this story is incorrect. PLEASE CORRECT YOUR STORY AS IT IS NOT CORRECT. Please contact the Town Council. By showing that plat they confused everyone.
Mr. Couch does NOT intend to build the 450 houses, but many, many more. That plat is what he can build WITHOUT water.
With water, he wants many, many more than 450 houses. He wants high density zoning for condos/apartments, businesses etc. it will likely be close to 1000 new residences. We just don’t know because he won’t show us the actual plat.
You misheard the meeting. Watch it again on the Town Facebook page.
The 450 houses is what he WANTS TO AVOID. To pay for water he needs a PLANNED DEVELOPMENT Village concept with businesses, multi-family units and houses all mixed together.
Please this is misinformation. It’s much bigger and will be a massive argument.
Will Summerfield be changing their name to “Summercity”?