News

After winning concessions, commissioners OK gated subdivision on Sugarloaf

By Bill Moss, Published: April 16, 2025

After winning concessions from a developer to delete two lots close to the highway and work with an adjoining farm on a longer setback between a septic drain field and an apple orchard, Henderson County commissioners on Wednesday authorized a rezoning to allow the 50-unit Cottages at Sugarloaf Meadows.

Developer Rick Moore and Tyler Wagner sought the conditional-use zoning to build the subdivision on 31 acres that would also include pickleball courts, a dog park, playground and restrooms in a recreation area. The land-use change increased the density on the residential zoned land from 1 to 1½ units/acre.

Commissioner Rebecca McCall sought assurances from Moore that septic drain fields would be installed at least 150 feet from the active farm fields, which adjoin the subdivision site. And like other commissioners, she recommended that homebuyers sign statements acknowledging that they’re lots are next to a farm.

“Apple spraying, noise and sometimes smells come from being close to agricultural land,” she said.

Commissioner Michael Edney opposed the Sugarloaf rezoning as he has spoken against conditional-use zoning in general because he doesn’t like commissioners negotiating with developers. But he also warned that “at some point septic fields are going to go bad and the county’s going to be put in the position of having to spend a lot of money putting sewer out there.”