Potential de-annexation puts Summerfield in ‘limbo’

Town leaders await possible legislative action as talks with landowner

David Couch are going nowhere, the mayor said

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – As talks with landowner David Couch have stalled, Summerfield leaders are waiting to see whether the state legislature votes to de-annex Couch’s 973 acres in town or tells him to follow the town’s regulations in developing his property.

That’s the assessment of Summerfield Mayor Tim Sessoms, who told the council during its meeting this past Tuesday, June 13, that town leaders and its lobbyists have “had very little communication” with Couch’s team since they met once in March. A series of letters between the two parties has led to no progress, he said.

“We remain in limbo,” Sessoms said, explaining that Summerfield leaders “are waiting for some response to the letters we’ve written” to Couch. Earlier this week, the developer declined to provide a comment for this article. Both sides have refused to share copies of their correspondence.

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