300 new home sites

The development of new housing opportunities in Burke County has long been a weak element in the growth of the local economy. Now, we are seeing dramatic changes in the housing picture in this area.

Several new subdivisions have been started, others are being expanded and the net result is over 300 building lots in planned subdivisions ranging in size from one-half acre to over four acres.

According to Burke County Building Official Bill Owens, subdivisions already approved include; Shadow Moss on Cohen Road adjoining Barrett Plantation West - 25 lots, Ridge Pointe on Hadden Pond Road - 65 lots, Waynesborough Place (expansion) on Herndon Road - 36 lots, Crestview Estates and The Ridge on Greiner Circle - a total of 127 lots and Montville on the Savannah, a riverfront community with 72 lots.

These new developments will provide potential residents with the opportunity to build a nice home in the county without fear of what might show up next door or across the road. The lack of zoning in Burke County has contributed to a hodge-podge of construction, scattered, unplanned mobile homes and other unsightly and unsavory activities which made country living more risky than it should be.

We hope these developers are extremely successful and that others will follow their lead. Another positive step will be the construction of "spec" houses on some of the new lots to accommodate those families who want to avoid the planning and construction process and just "move in."

Don't underestimate the impact these changes will have on the local economy. Housing has always been a top issue when leaders have talked about the needs of the county. Now someone is actually doing something about it.