Controversial housing development project near county line canceled

Enchanted Homes cancels plans after falling short of Rutherford requirements

GREEN CREEK—A contentious housing development project planned for Rutherford County on Lambs Grill Rd., near the Polk County line, has been canceled. Enchanted Homes, a housing construction company based in South Carolina, faced significant opposition when it announced plans to develop 30 acres for the project.

The proposed development was planned to include 50 homes, according to a sketch plan that was submitted to the Rutherford County Planning Department. Given that the property lies within a neighborhood that straddles Rutherford and Polk counties, residents from both sides of the county line raised concerns.

Opposition to the project arose from fears of environmental damage and erosion of the rural  character of the neighborhood. Residents highlighted potential adverse impacts of the development, including sewage runoff that could contaminate the groundwater and strains on existing water resources.

Despite the absence of a county-wide zoning plan in Rutherford County, opponents of the project contended that the location’s status as an official “protected watershed” should afford it protection under existing watershed ordinances. The property was also subject to the Rutherford County Subdivision Ordinance, and its development plan came under scrutiny at a county planning board meeting in May.

The cancellation of the project came after Enchanted Home failed to progress through the necessary regulatory steps. The company was informed by the Rutherford County Planning Department that it would be required to provide letters of confirmation from the NCDOT regarding a proposed new road, as well as a letter from Polk County confirming its ability and intent to provide water. Additionally, the company would have had to obtain North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality permits for the sedimentation erosion control plan, along with a watershed permit application and a preliminary plat of the overall project. It appears that the necessary measures were not pursued, ultimately leading to the project’s termination.

Following the abandonment of the development, the property was sold to a couple residing in Polk County.

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