RALEIGH, N.C. — After a years-long process, the battle over land in Summerfield is over.
In just three days, the town of Summerfield will lose grip on one thousand acres, opening the door for the land owner to build homes and apartments.
North Carolina lawmakers approved a plan Thursday to take land away from the Town of Summerfield, paving the way for a developer to build new homes.
The third reading of House Bill 909 was passed by the NC House of Representatives Thursday, in a 72-38 vote. It is now law. Because it is a local law, the governor does not have veto power over it.
House Bill 909 involves the de-annexation of about 1,000 acres in Summerfield. It means a developer's plan to build new housing can move forward.
Before the final vote, House Representative Pricey Harrison argued the bill would set a bad precedent that takes power away from local leaders.
Developer David Couch said more housing is needed as the area and North Carolina's economy grow. He shared the following statement:
“For nearly a decade, all I’ve wanted to do is use my private property – in a town that I love and call home – to construct new homes for people according to a beautiful plan created by the world-renowned design firm, Dover, Kohl & Partners. And for quite a long time, Summerfield’s government has manipulated its zoning code to only allow homes in a certain price range. It has most recently stopped at nothing to prevent me from using my private property for my intended purpose.
“Our state is in the midst of a boom decade. We’ve been CNBC’s No. 1 state for business two years in a row, and thousands of new jobs are now moving into the Triad. The people who will fill those jobs – blue collar and white collar and any other collar – need places to live, or else housing will become even more unaffordable than it is right now.
“I’m thankful that policymakers recognized the current dysfunction of Summerfield’s local government, and the importance of reasonable rules that accommodate new housing. It’s been an exhausting time in my life, and I’m hopeful now for a path forward," Couch said.
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Subscribe to our daily newsletter, Let’s Get 2 It!
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.