Board Approves Lakeside Housing
By GERALD WITT
WENTWORTH — Patrick McMichael said he couldn’t afford about 60 acres along Lake Reidsville just by himself.
So he sought permission to build houses there and turn a profit.
On Monday, the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners rezoned the land, which he will divide and develop for residential and possible equestrian use near Moses Court.
The 10 lots at Lake Reidsville Estates will range from 2 to 9 acres. McMichael didn’t mention a price range of the homes or lots when he spoke during the commissioners meeting.
The lake is a 750-acre body owned by the city of Reidsville, which operates an 86-acre park on its north shore. McMichael wants to build on the lake’s south side, which is in county jurisdiction.
He said most of the houses would likely have a bottom floor of at least 1,200 square feet, with at least 2,200 square feet total.
But the minimum allowed by the county could go as small as 1,600 square feet.
McMichael, who lives in Greensboro but wants a permanent home in the development, said he didn’t want to price himself out of his own community. He said most homes would likely have details like designer shingles, two-car garages and no vinyl siding. Some property owners may keep horses, he said.
That caused concern among Commissioners David Isley and Bobby Stanley, who brought up recent pollution reports for Jordan Lake, which Lake Reidsville feeds via the Haw River.
Levels of some pollutants in Jordan Lake near Raleigh are high, state reports said, because of waste from farm livestock, sewage treatment plants and other sources.
Horses on McMichael’s development would not be considered an agricultural use and not subject to regulations under pollution controls suggested by the state, Rockingham County Planning Director Tom Wiggins told the board.
“I think it would be a good development,” Stanley said, “and will probably be an asset to Rockingham County.”
Contact Gerald Witt at 627-4881, Ext. 120, or gwitt@news- record.com
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