WHAT MADE THE NEWS IN 2022

Funding for Bandera Farms Park secured

Guilford County’s Board of Commissioners gave Summerfield $7.8 million in federal pandemic relief funds in August, earmarking $2.3 million for development of Bandera Farms Park.

Earlier, the town collected $650,000 in federal and state grants for design and construction of the 120-acre park at Bunch Road and Interstate 73. Combined with the county’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds, the Piedmont Land Conservancy said “the construction of the park is fully funded.’’

Over the past two years, the conservancy has spearheaded efforts to transform the rolling wooded tract into a public preserve for horseback riding and hiking trails. “It’s another win for Summerfield,” Mayor Tim Sessoms said.

Still seeking new town hall

The quest for a new town hall shifted to the historic Laughlin school property after estimated costs for a new building on town-owned property soared to nearly $4.8 million, almost $1.3 million over budget. Citing expenses, the council voted 3-2 in May to halt the development of the town’s property at U.S. 220 and N.C. 150 for the new town hall.

Mayor Tim Sessoms leads Summerfield’s efforts to acquire the Laughlin school property, consisting of three buildings on nearly 11.2 acres at 7911 Summerfield Road. In October, the county’s Board of Education accepted the town’s offer of $2.2 million for the site of the once all-Black school. The facility now serves as a professional development center for Guilford County Schools, which plans to abandon the property when it relocates staff training to a new facility in Greensboro.

The county’s Board of Commissioners has the first right to buy the parcel for county use. If the commissioners decide not to buy it, Sessoms said town leaders would resume negotiating a purchase with the Board of Education, preferably at a lower price than the original $2.2 million offer.

Landowner continues efforts to develop nearly 1,000 acres

As 2022 was ending, landowner David Couch prepared for another attempt to win support from the Town Council for developing his 973 acres spanning Summerfield.

In a Dec. 20 letter to town leaders, Couch addressed the lightning-rod topic of apartments he wants to build in a mix of housing in Villages of Summerfield Farms, a development of 11 neighborhoods.

Couch, owner of Summerfield Farms, said his development would take more than 20 years to complete. He reiterated his willingness to reduce the number of apartments from about 1,200 to about 600 on two sites, down from four locations in his proposal rejected by the council in April 2022.

The council’s 4-1 vote denied Couch’s request for a text amendment to the town’s development rules, giving a victory to opponents of apartments in Summerfield.

What has been the town’s most contentious development debate is set to resume in late January 2023, when the Planning Board hears Couch’s latest proposal for the creation of a new zoning district to accommodate higher-density housing. The board’s recommendation will go to the Town Council for a final decision.

If the council creates the new district, two other steps – rezoning of the developer’s property and negotiating a master development agreement between Couch and the town – would require separate approval after public hearings.

So far, search for water source running dry

As Summerfield explores establishing a municipal water system, its efforts to secure a supply of water from a nearby municipality are proving difficult, according to Town Manager Scott Whitaker. He reported to the Town Council in December that his discussions with Greensboro, Rockingham County and Reidsville have proved “challenging.’’

For Greensboro, extending water lines to Summerfield may not justify infrastructure costs, Whitaker said. He added that Rockingham County doesn’t have water to spare and that lines from Reidsville would follow a long, expensive route.

Council members told the manager to keep looking for a possible supplier and instructed him to contact Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities and Madison, a town in Rockingham County.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for 2023

Please note that dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Visit www.summerfieldnc.gov, www.nwobserver.com or Town of Summerfield’s and Northwest Observer’s Facebook pages for updates on community events in Summerfield throughout 2023.

Summerfield Merchants Assoc.

1st Tuesday each month, 6:30 p.m.

DETAILS: Summerfieldmerchant.com 

Summerfield Town Council

2nd Tuesday each month, 6:30 p.m.

DETAILS: www.summerfieldnc.gov

Attend in-person or view live on Facebook.com/TownofSummerfield 

“Sonshine Room” food/clothing bank

Summerfield Peace UMC

Last Tuesday each month, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

DETAILS: www.summerfieldpeaceumc.com 

*For DETAILS and UPDATES on all events sponsored by the Town of Summerfield, visit www.summerfieldnc.gov or Facebook.com/Town of Summerfield 

Movie in the Park*

Fridays, May 5, Sept. 15, Oct. 6 Summerfield Athletic Park 

Founders’ Day*

Friday/Saturday, May 19-20

Summerfield Road (beside S’field Fire Dept) 

Fishing Derby*

Saturday, June 17

Summerfield Community Park 

Music in the Park*

Saturdays, June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Summerfield Community Park 

Summer(&Fall) Cycle*

Collection of e-cycle, white goods, tires, etc.

Saturday, Sept. 16 

Touch-A-Truck*

Saturday, Oct. 7

Summerfield Athletic Park 

Christmas Tree Lighting *

Saturday, Nov. 18

Summerfield Athletic Park