Developer David Couch discusses Villages of Summerfield Farms project

SUMMERFIELD, N.C. (WGHP) — For the first time since David Couch’s property was de-annexed from the town of Summerfield, FOX8 sat down to speak with the developer.

“We are extremely respectful of the past here at Summerfield Farms and focused on the future,” Couch said.

It’s been an eight-year battle to use his property to build the Villages of Summerfield Farms. After the state legislature approved the de-annexation, he is one step closer. Now, the project lies in the hands of Guilford County.

Couch told FOX8 that this long process and the need for the legislature to step in was not how he wanted to do this. But he did what he had to do to hopefully use his massive piece of property for the use he intended when he bought it 25 years ago.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Couch said. “It is important to me to do my very best work here. We have done some great work. I don’t think I have necessarily done my best work yet, but that is my goal.”

The Villages of Summerfield Farms would consist of 11 villages on nearly 1,000 acres.

“Take the garden-style multifamily apartment developments and take it up a notch and make them neighborhoods instead of apartment complexes,” said Victor Dover, a town and urban designer overseeing the project.

The area is set to have businesses, trails and a variety of housing options from single-family houses to multi-family to assisted living.

“We have an aging community here in Summerfield … I believe you deserve to be born in Summerfield … raise your kids, have your career here and retire and … die in Summerfield … Right now, that is not a full cycle,” Couch said.

The property sits on rural roads and the plan is to keep it that way.

“The way to do that is to design it less like a tree where everybody has to use the same street at some point to get from one branch to another and more like a web where we create a network or grid of streets to give you a lot of options,” Dover said.

The initial design stayed the same, but there could be minor tweaks.

“We would like to use this time to tweak that feasibility study to make sure we are focused on what needs to be here that is not here and what needs to be here that can’t be here without water and sewer service,” Couch said.

There are three options for water and sewer connections: the city of Greensboro, Rockingham County or Forsyth County.

“I have done land use cases in over 400 jurisdictions in four states. Nobody in this part of the world has ever seen anything like this. It is unique. It is the unicorn project. It is complicated, but it will put this area on the map in a way nobody has expected,” said Tom Terrell a land use attorney.

The project has received pushback from people in Summerfield.

“I’ve been kicked around a bit, but that is my job. Pioneers get arrows in their back and that is just one of the things that happens … There are a tremendous number of supporters for every one of the vocal minority detractors,” Couch said.

His eyes are set straight ahead and focused on the framework of his legacy project.

“It is time now for change. Change isn’t easy for many of us to understand but what many of us miss is the most amazing things in our lives come as a result of change,” Couch said.

This project is in no way a done deal. Couch will still need approval for zoning the land, but he does not expect any major hurdles ahead.

Guilford County has scheduled a special meeting for Aug. 21 to decide a zoning for the property. Once that is established, Couch can submit a re-zoning request to Guilford County which would need to be approved by the planning board and the county commissioners. Commission Chair Skip Alston said that he supports this project.

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