Summerfield Scoop October 2022

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 THE HOMEOWNERS OF ELMHURST ESTATES

SUMMERFIELD SAYS NO TO D.R. HORTON WAIVER 5-0

9/27/2022 - Planning Board meeting to discuss a possible Text Amendment that could have major impact on Elmhurst Estates. Homeowners spoke so well about the need for their safety and access to the necessary roads they depend on and need. The “rules” in the Unified Development Ordinance, UDO, do not serve the homeowners and town could not figure out if or when homeowners could speak, before or after the presentation, that night or another meeting, or if they could speak at all!

Meeting notices mailed Thursday before a Tuesday meeting. Citizens should be given more notice. Citizens need to protect emergency access for their community.

Town Manager Scott Whitaker, Planning Board and 100% of Town Council made it an Ordinance, a law, to mail rezoning type notices to fewer people. Manager said to save money on postage, and no consideration to prompt notification. For 2022 appears notices mailed a couple days in advance. Some property owners are not in Summerfield, and most people figured out that mail takes longer today— and they are mailing to fewer people and with a couple days’ notice.

The UDO could have been vetted during the past ten years, and used the professional expertise of the amazing

citizens of our town, but mayor (BJ Barnes) town council (Tim Sessoms, Lynne Devaney, Reece Walker, and John O’Day), Town Manager, and Planning Board did not schedule a Public Hearing for the final document that governs your property and our town.

Attorney Amanda Hodierne with DR Horton requested a waiver to build 83 lots on 106 acres that butt up to Elmhurst Estates, with one major entrance. The Town Ordinance, and Summerfield Comprehensive Master Plan, approved May 2010, for a major subdivision with more than 50 lots, requires two permanent open road accesses for ingress and egress.

Thank you to FIRE Chief Chris Johnson for presenting helpful information at the meeting.

Planning Board voted NO 5 -0. Thank you to the citizens from Elmhurst Estates that spoke their valid concerns. The developer may return with a subdivision application to the Planning Board and Town Council. If, or when they apply, each meeting should have a Public Hearing.

(Mayor, Council, Town Manager and Planning Board should explain to another subdivision why they were denied a second entrance in/out with over 50 homes).

SUMMERFIELD SCOOP13