The multi-year battle between farmer and developer David Couch and some leaders of Summerfield is likely about to come to an end, at least for this year.
Wednesday, June 26 is D-day for a proposed plan by Couch to remove nearly 1,000 acres from the town so that he can build a residential and mixed-use development in the manner, and with the density, that he desires.
Many Summerfield residents are hoping that the “D” in D-day doesn’t turn out to stand for “De-annexation” day.
This week, a lot of people interested in the matter learned just how complicated the operation of state government is, because there was a great deal of confusion as to how the process was taking place.
However, the short version is that on Monday, June 24 the NC Senate approved House Bill 909. That was an initially relatively non-controversial bill until the issue of the proposed Summerfield de-annexation was tacked onto it – which then made it a very controversial bill indeed.
The Senate only approved the bill after a series of fits and starts, which made many political observers believe that Senate proponents wanted to be certain the votes were there in the House to pass the bill as well.
Many Summerfield residents – and residents of other small towns in the state who are worried about the same thing happening to their town – plan to show up for a demonstration in Raleigh at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26 in a last-minute attempt to get the NC House to vote down the bill.
(The House actually previously approved House Bill 909; however, since the Senate changed the bill, it must go back to the House for approval before becoming law.)
Since it’s a local bill affecting a single county, the governor of the state doesn’t get a chance to weigh in on the decision.
If Couch is able to have the land for his planned “Villages of Summerfield” removed from the town, that land would become part of unincorporated Guilford County at the end of this month. Therefore, after that point, it would not be subject to the same development standards that the Town of Summerfield has been asking Couch to comply with for his planned community.
The same thing isn’t going to happen elsewhere. Summerfield allows NO development t at all. Not just Mr. Couch. If it was 15 acres and single family they wouldn’t approve it. Mr. Couch realizes the future needs of Summerfield, but has tried for 10 years to work with the Town. Now the new leadership comes in and the progress made between the Town and Mr. Couch, a local resident is lost. The Town has spent a lot of its savings on non revenue generating things like greenways, Bandera Park, property acquisitions that were supposed to be the new Town Hall site, it were nixed and sold for less than they were paid for or are simply just sitting…. They haven’t allowed any development and no new revenue or tax base is going to come. The new councilman uses the overly aggressive and dangerous word “enemies”. Maybe he can also pronounce “BROKE.” Were I Mr. Couch, I would have sold the property to a junk developer, let them strip and level the land and build 1 house per acre as allowed. Or sell it to the Town so they can keep it vacant like they want. Let them foot the bill for maintenance. Bet they can’t. BROKE
The town UDO was approved with NO Public Hearing. Lynne Devaney read major increases in density that she and a couple other mystery people wrote Friday before Tuesday meeting. The major changes are not on that meeting as Scott Whitaker said he “would interpret them.” June 5, 2021. Town council approved the major changes. Teresa Perryman voted no.
Lynne Devaney keeps saying town met Couch changes but no record of that — and no publlc hearing of UDO.
Lynne also keeps saying over and over Town Comprehensive Plan is obsolete…..obsolete….
Comp Plan is the only town planning document with true citizen participation….. but Lynne wants it cancelled and create more plannning documents with a couple pre-chosen mystery people at closed meetings.
People in Summerfield want to keep their WELLS, WATER and SEPTIC safe. That is NOT on the agenda for the big three voting block of Heath Clay, Lynne Devaney and John Doggett. And it is all secret.
No one on town council has any idea what the water, A&Y 15′ trail through private property will cost — and their $10 million “budget” with no true public hearing (just a lecture) is only deposit on very expensive plans that are a mystery to the taxpayers. They voted YES to use condemnation–your property will not get i their way.
Bye bye, Summerfield. Greed wins again.
“Greed” may take many forms. Summerfield allows single family homes on large lots. The “town” provides no water, sewer, trash collection, police or other services. The only reason for incorporation was to keep Greensboro out. And apparently, people of lessor means. The residents get their big lot country living and then use the dining, shopping and entertainment resources of GSO and other cities. Summerfield wants their cake and eat it too. Sounds like greed to me. Better to negotiate with Couch to get lessor density. I will be downsizing in a few years and would have liked to live in a planned community with smaller lots and certain amenities. But, Summerfield doesn’t want a person like me.
When you BUY a politician (Berger) you get what you want is the lesson that are children are learning!
When we VOTE in an election against the politician is the Message we send to the politician!
None of this can be called political, we call it corruption? OR a failure to represent the majority ?
Well, your definition of buying a politician has a very low threshold. The limit per election was $5,600. That’s it. Could you be bought for $5,600? I don’t blame Couch for donating. Summerfield’s development approval process works like this: present your plans. If they are denied, you have to wait a year to resubmit revised plans. The message is: don’t even think about anything other than a single family home on a large acre+ lot. There is zero negotiation or consideration of anything new. It is a joke. Just like the notion that Summerfield is a real “town” is a joke. What services do they provide? A little bit of parks and rec and a planning board (though they don’t seem to do a lot of “planning”.
Is $ 50,000 to a politician not buying? I hesitate to refer to it as a donation. Berger stuck his nose in small town business for a donation. Is this not representing his subordinates or just one person? Bergen needs to place more attention in Raleigh to pass legislation that protects and assists those in need in this state.
Republican Aye votes for de-annexation:
Barnes; Berger (Chair); Britt; Burgin; Corbin; Daniel; Ford; Hanig; Hise; Jackson; Jarvis; Johnson; Krawiec; Lazzara; Lee; McInnis; Moffitt; B. Newton; P. Newton; Overcash; Perry; Proctor; Rabon; Sanderson; Sawrey; Sawyer; Settle
Democrat Aye votes:
Blue; Hunt; Mayfield; Meyer; Robinson; Waddell; Woodard
Republican No Votes:
Zero
Democrat No Votes:
Adcock; Applewhite; Batch; Bode; Chaudhuri; Grafstein; Lowe; Marcus; Mohammed; Murdock; Salvador; Smith
Michael Garrett, Guilford, was given cover with an “excused absence.” However, no doubt he would have voted for the de-annexation.
Now you know what state Republican and Democrat senators not to vote for at the end of their terms.
Remember the names of the Republicans especially. They need to be punished for their votes to de-annex the land belonging to ONE individual for monetary gain. Now on to the House’s vote.
Mr. Berger has hopefully served his last term in Raleigh.
He already has alienated a majority of his constituents in Rockingham County with his desire for a gambling den in the Southwest part of the County. Coincidentally??, this is right next to Summerfield and his desire for urbanization of the area. We used to respect Rep. Berger, but he reveals himself as the quintessential politician with a taste for graft.
MAGA is in charge so de-annexation is a certainty. Trump would love this developer political power play to take it. MAGA knows best … for everyone.
This is not the kind of development Trump would be interested in. His developments are high-class. Couch’s development will be filled with Section 8 housing to the delight of Skip Alston.
The town of Summerfield will not be the only town taken by the the government officials. There will be more. Ask for which of the representatives voted for this and get rid of them in November. Raleigh is no different than DC. They are all crooked.