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GREENSBORO — An Oct. 18 hearing to reconsider a golf-course community near Haw River State Park is being delayed six weeks at the request of the would-be developer.
Florida developer Bluegreen Corp. successfully sought the delay for its Patriot's Landing project. It's been the focus of protests by park supporters who want to overturn an earlier decision giving zoning approval to the upscale development. The new hearing date would be in early December.
The 691-acre, gated community is controversial because it is proposed for land the state Division of Parks and Recreation still hopes to buy for the park on the Guilford/Rockingham county line.
"Bluegreen and the state have been talking and plan to talk some more," said Henry Isaacson, the Greensboro lawyer who represents the Boca Raton, Fla.-based developer. "I think the state wanted to do some more analysis and the continuance would allow time for that."
Opponents of Patriot's Landing say they do not see any purpose in the delay.
The state already has offered to buy all the land at fair-market value, so "it's difficult to see what Bluegreen has in mind," said Reid Phillips, a Greensboro lawyer representing the nonprofit advocacy group Citizens for Haw River State Park.
Greensboro resident David Craft, a leader in that group, said the delay suggests Bluegreen is on the defensive in the wake of strong public outcry for the park.
"I respect the commissioners' right to set their agenda, but I'm disappointed the developer is dragging this out," he said.
The project of more than 750 houses, town homes and patio homes has drawn protest from a number of sources, including environmental and civic groups. Those objecting include Lewis Ledford, director of the state parks system.
Opposition intensified after an Aug. 8 decision by the Guilford County Planning Board approving zoning changes to allow the project.
The next week, park advocates appealed the planning group's decision to the Board of Commissioners, setting up the now-delayed hearing.
Guilford commissioners' Chairman Paul Gibson said he has received more correspondence from residents about Patriot's Landing than any other in his seven years on the board. "Ninety-nine percent of what I'm hearing is, 'Don't rezone it for a golf course,' " he said.
Gibson added that it "would suit me just fine" if Bluegreen and the state government were able to work out a deal before the board hears the case.
The protest movement picked up two influential newcomers last week when the city of Reidsville and the Rockingham Tourism Development Authority sent letters opposing Patriot's Landing to Guilford officials.
Reidsville Mayor James K. Festerman urged denial in letters to both Gibson and Gibson's counterpart on the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, Chairman Harold Bass.
Festerman said the project's plan to withdraw irrigation water from the Haw could have "a devastating and costly effect" on pollution standards that govern Reidsville's wastewater treatment plant, which discharges effluent into the Haw.

Staff writer Nate DeGraff contributed to this report.

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