New Maggie Valley subdivision gets the go-ahead from town leaders

MAGGIE VALLEY, N.C. (WLOS) — A housing development is on the way for Maggie Valley. New tools helped bring the project to life.

At one point, baseball fields were proposed for 22 acres in the Jonathan Creek community. But now, it will be filled with 92 units of housing.

61 single family units, 31 town homes are in the plans for the parcel along Highway 276. The town Board of Aldermen has given the development its thumbs up.

A recently updated zoning blueprint called a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) gives Maggie Valley leaders more clarity in planning, according to the mayor.

“This was the first time that we we're able to utilize our new UDO and conditional zoning that we do now,” says Mayor Mike Eveland.

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He says the new UDO creates more zoning districts and therefore more opportunities for growth taking different points of view into account, getting neighbors, the town and developers working for optimal outcomes for a particular piece of property.

The land had belonged to Haywood County which lugged in thousands of dollars of fill dirt to lift it out of the floodplain.

The developer, Quiet Creek Properties, bought the land, then asked Maggie Valley to annex it.

“In order for you to get sewer for this type of subdivision you have to become part of the town,” says Eveland.

It will be a high-density project, but with conditional zoning, elements like green space along Jonathan Creek and a wall between the homes and Highway 276 will be included.

Some residents have voiced concerns about runoff and traffic, while others say it may not be a big deal.

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“Everyone knows not to go across the street and get stuck in traffic anyway," says Katherine Walls. "So, I don't think it will be a big deal at all. Traffic really doesn't matter. I mean you got a lot of traffic down Jonathan Creek anyway."

Walls lives across from the future subdivision. She sees a need for more housing.

“l think it’s going to be good as long as I think people can afford it and they're able to stay there, then I think everything will be good,” she says.

“I believe that this particular property where it's at, fits very well for everybody," Mayor Eveland says. "I think that we're going to see that this is going to be a smooth transition and it's going to be exciting for everybody."

He says he expects infrastructure work to be underway by the middle of next year.