BREAKING: Commissioner Levent Votes Against Lowering Density on Mega-Development in West Forsyth
In a stunning conclusion to a two year battle, Forsyth County Commissioners voted to significantly reduce the density on a controversial proposed mega-development in West Forsyth County, with beleaguered Commissioner Todd Levent the only commissioner opposing the significant density reduction.
Commissioners approved a plan that reduced the unit count over 60% from the originally proposed plan and increased the lot sizes over 300%. Levent was visibly frustrated as he refused to make a motion stating “I’ve been asked to not say anything, so I’ll sit here quiet and let you all handle this.” Levent did not reveal who asked him not to say anything, but he had previously stated he wanted the land owners to sue the County.
After Levent’s refusal to make a motion on the zoning in his district as is customary, Commissioner Cindy Mills made the motion for the lower density zoning, which ultimately passed 4–1. The new zoning is now approved for 199 housing units and CBD (commercial business district) with a number of conditions to reduce the intensity of the commercial section.
The original plan, which Levent advocated for heavily after changing the County’s land use plan to expand a high density node, called for over 500 housing units on postage stamp lots in an area of otherwise low density development. The proposed plan emerged in 2021, but crawled through the process as Levent (according to sources) asked the developer to delay the zoning until after Levent’s 2022 election presumably to avoid the zoning becoming an election issue.
Thousands of Forsyth citizens signed a petition calling for a lower density zoning and the plan was returned to the Planning Commission twice as they recommended denial multiple times. At the time, Planning Commissioner Stacy guy stated “This is a rural area. If you go to a football game at Denmark Park, you can hear roosters crowing. If you’re going to put 3.2 units per acre on it, I have a problem with that.”
Levent has faced scrutiny over the node expansion and the corresponding timing of the formation of a new LLC that applied for a high density zoning weeks after the change. It further came to light the selling broker for the property was Levent’s longtime friend whom he traveled with on a motorcycle trip weeks after changing the County’s comprehensive plan, paving the way for the higher density application.
Citizens celebrated the change saying it was proof that citizen involvement matters and encouring each other on the accomplishment with one citizen saying “Everyone needs to remember working together within their community and with our elected and appointed representatives matters”
“He (Levent) really wanted those townhomes in that development” another citizen stated online as yet another said “506 to 199 dwellings!!That is a HUGE difference…..a lot less cars on the roads and classroom space needed for additional students.”
Video of the meeting is available here.
