Oct. 5 - 18, 2023
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since November1996
‘Uncertainty’ clouds landowner Couch’s next step
Terrell, as the council and the Planning Board will hold a joint special called meeting this Thursday evening, Oct. 5, aimed at accommodating the developer’s plans. After hearing the board’s recommendation, the council will then consider creating a new zoning district, the first step for Couch to win approval for higher density housing, including Summerfield’s first apartments.
by CHRIS BURRITT
“Sufficient uncertainty exists such that I remain deeply concerned about the project’s future,’’ Terrell wrote in a letter this past Tuesday in response to questions from the media, property owners and other parties about Couch’s intentions if the council approves the new zoning district.
Summerfield’s Planning Board and Council will hold a joint meeting Hundreds of cyclists participating on day 3 of Thursday, Oct. 5, to consider a text the weeklong NC Mountains-to-Coast ride amendment to the town’s UDO passed through Summerfield Oct.3, taking a brief rest stop at Greensboro Performing Arts on Summerfield Road. Afterward, they continued on their journey to Emerald Isle.
SUMMERFIELD – Despite assurances by Summerfield’s Town Council that it will work with him to develop his nearly 1,000 acres, landowner David Couch isn’t convinced that opponents won’t redouble efforts to delay his project. News in brief...................................................2 The assessment comes from Couch’s lawyer Tom Your Questions......................................... 4
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Meet the Stokesdale candidates........ 6 Welcome to our new advertiser......... 10 Pets & Critters...........................................11 Dogs in service...................................... 12 Adoptable Pets...................................... 14
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State gives Oak Ridge $4.5 million, Stokesdale $175,000 and Summerfield $0 by CHRIS BURRITT
OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge is getting $4.5 million in the NWO Kids’ Korner.................................. 15 state’s newly adopted $30 billion budget for the developMeet the Oak Ridge candidates...... 16 ment of its municipal water system. Stokesdale is receiving $175,000 for soccer field lights at Town Park. Youth Sync: student profiles................ 22 Summerfield didn’t get a piece of the budget pie, even NWHS Band Reunion, Oct. 27-28........ 26 though Mayor Tim Sessoms laid out the town’s funding needs Crime/incident report.......................... 27 in a letter to state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger. For Oak Ridge, the state grant brings funding for the water system to $8.92 million, according to Town Manager Grins and Gripes...................................30 Bill Bruce. The additional money consists of $3.27 million Opinions.................................................. 32 in federal pandemic relief funds and an earlier $1.15 million Classifieds...............................................35 appropriation from the legislature for water projects. Oak Ridge plans to spend the money on water infraIndex of Advertisers............................... 39 structure engineering, construction of an elevated water NWO On The Go....................................40 tank behind Town Hall on Linville Road and running of a Community Calendar.........................29
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water line along N.C. 150 from Kernersville to the tank, Bruce said. Any leftover funds would go toward engineering for an additional line to serve the town core. Mayor Ann Schneider and councilman George McClellan worked with state Rep. John Faircloth (R- District 62) to secure the $4 million. The other $500,000 million came from Sen. Berger (R-District 26), who recently asked Oak Ridge and Stokesdale for their wish lists of projects. Berger didn’t ask Summerfield for a wish list, prompting Sessoms to write the senator a letter explaining projects the town would like to be funded. The town didn’t get any money, according to finance officer Dee Hall. Enactment of the budget came nearly four months after the start of the fiscal year July 1. Efforts by Berger and other Republican leaders to expand gambling in the state delayed its passage.