GREENE COUNTY
The proposed new development of 1,400-plus single-family homes will go before Planning & Zoning at the end of this month to the distress of many in Harbor Club, one of three premier communities in the county. It is expected to rival the size of Reynolds, The Landing and Harbor Club.
What’s in a name?
A lot if you ask Harbor Club residents, many here since its inception almost 25 years ago. The proposed new development – The Cove at Harbor Club – is adjacent to the existing Harbor Club and is said to be separate but shares its name. Its proposal has raised the condemnation of residents who gathered last week at a standing-room-only crowd at Lakeside Church.
To be built on more than 600 acres off Richland Connector, the land is currently zoned agricultural and would need rezoning to a Planned Unit Development (PUD). The meeting before P&Z is scheduled for Dec. 27, a date many feels is too soon with many residents voicing displeasure. Most Harbor Club residents only found out about the development two weeks ago.
Harbor Club, like Reynolds and The Landing, is one of the area’s large planned neighborhoods nestled along the shore of Lake Oconee in Greene County. Building began in 1991 and the following year was bought by the Matney family of Virginia. Harbor Club now sits on more than 1,000 acres. It bills itself as a Southern Living-inspired community featuring a golf course, marina and other amenities that they market aggressively.
Yet, many problems have surfaced throughout the community of 800-plus single-family homes, and questions have been raised about the management team, lack of timely repairs, pond fill and retainment issues, amenities that have become lackluster and needing attention, and the limited information that is shared with its residents. Despite this, Harbor Club continues to sell and build out on vacant parcels, further stretching its capacity to serve residents. Calls and emails to the management team, including Vice President Brandon Matney, have gone unanswered, declining comment following inquires by the Lake Oconee News.
Present was Bradley Addicks, vice president of Kolter Land Partners LLC, the developer. Kolter has a large presence in five states as a leading real estate and investment firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla., with project investments in excess of $19 billion. He outlined the proposed development, which will be built in three phases with single-family homes starting in the mid $500s and having separate amenities from Harbor Club. If all goes well, he expects the development to be complete within 7-10 years.
“We and the Matneys met with Piedmont Water, which will serve the community, and have been ensured that sufficient water capacity has been proven,“ he said. “We are also working with the county on sewer needs and a sufficient supporting infrastructure, both of which are expected to meet the demands of the development.”
Many in attendance disagreed with Piedmont’s claims. Piedmont has had many public complaints about its quality and delivery to meet the needs of those who have it. A resident in Harbor Club’s popular Carriage Ridge community claimed that the water pressure is not adequate to meet the demands of residents there, much less a new, larger community. Despite water pressure and stormwater runoff concerns, Harbor Club continues to sell lots and build in Carriage Ridge.
Jay Dell, a lawyer in Greensboro and resident of Harbor Club, represents three entities involved in the project – Harbor Club’s Property Owner’s Association (POA) for current residents, the Harbor Company that the Matney family owns, and now the developer for zoning approval. Many took issue with what they felt was an obvious conflict of interest for the attorney to fully represent the concerns of residents while advocating the project with another client, Kolter.
Dell disagreed. “This is a separate project,” he said. “This community will have its own entrances, separate covenants and their own POA.”
However, the development’s diagram shows an expected road up to Harbor Club’s current cart barn opposite the golf course. That, coupled with displeasure about the golf course, clubhouse and additional golf club memberships was voiced. Many feel Harbor Club has exceeded its growth capacity, can’t keep up with current membership demand, and worry about new membership requests from an adjacent community.
Angela Deering is the county commissioner for the district that includes Harbor Club. She acknowledged she has received several calls and expects that discussions will continue for some time.
“We will take every opportunity to review and address needs,” she said. “I know there are numerous concerns, and we will work closely with Kolter in reviewing zoning, density and compliance. It is never easy but necessary before moving ahead on any development of this size.”
Residents have identified the necessary steps they feel they need to take regarding the proposal. It includes hiring a separate attorney, remitting the development’s agenda item on Dec. 27, and creating a special fund and petition moving forward.
Kolter confirmed that they are looking at a possible name change name, a later date for zoning requests, and all important property buffers.
“It is not easy pleasing 1,000 people,” Addicks said. “We want to be good neighbors and stewards and create a community everyone is happy with.”