Official questions future of `Villages` subdivision plan

What was to be the largest subdivision for Lincoln County seems to not be in the plans anymore.
The Villages at Denver, which was to include 710 homes, has been on hold since August 2001.
“It looks like the plans are pretty much dead,” said Randy Hawkins, Lincoln County’s zoning administrator. “We are waiting to see what happens. They are aware of the situation.”
Hawkins said the subdivision was approved in August 2001 and no one has been heard from at Squires Enterprises in Charlotte since their request for another two-year renewal on the permit in August 2003.
The subdivision was to include 550 single-family homes and 160 townhomes.
There was going to be 560 acres of open space, two swimming pools and a clubhouse.
Hawkins said his only speculation for not hearing back from Squires is that after it was approved September 11 happened.
“That might have put a crimp in the development plans,” Hawkins said.
Complaints from local residents were voiced when the development was approved.
“Many people were concerned with the traffic,” Hawkins said. “Road improvements were going to be carried out.”
Some of the improvements which were to be completed included a left turn lane onto N.C. 16 and an improvement to the entrance of the subdivision.
Other people have been looking at the 245 acres of land off of Optimist Club Road.
Hawkins said if another company wants to do something different with the land then it will have to be taken back to the county commissioners. However, if another developer wants to come in and develop the land with the same plan, they can do so without having to go through the approval process again.
Representatives with Squires Enterprises could not be reached for comment.
Squires was the company who donated the site for St. James Elementary School.
by Amy Wadsworth