Homes Fort Mill SC

Connor McKemey is coming home to Tega Cay. Reid Lancaster who created and maintains Connor’s CaringBridge website has suggested posting red ribbons along the route to Connor’s home. See Reid’s May 3rd CaringBridge Journal request to local Tega Cay residents:

If you live in Tega Cay or Fort Mill, especially along Gold Hill Road or Shoreline Parkway we need your help. (more…)

It’s hard to believe that Tega Cay, Fort Mill, Baxter Village, Lake Wylie, and other areas of York County have been under water restriction since mid Summer 2007.  Tega Cay has been following Stage 3 water restrictions since October 2007. The Tega Cay Council voted Monday to ease restrictions to Stage 1 voluntary restrictions. You now can water lawns, wash cars, pressure wash, etc with no limitations but are advised to voluntarily conserve water. The goal is to conserve 3 to 5% in overall water consumption.

I took a look at the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group’s Low Inflow Protocol advisory history list. Here is a drought stage timeline of our area: (more…)

The Tega Cay City Council decided to delay changing the water restriction ordinance until they meet to discuss it again on October 20th.

Right now Tega Cay is still on a one day a week lawn watering restriction. My latest post on Oct 1 reported Rock Hill, Fort Mill and York County have temporarily eased water restrictions by allowing residents to water their lawns 2 days a week until November 30th.

Jonathan Allen of the Fort Mill Times reported Wednesday…

At a special meeting held Wednesday, Oct. 1, city council members discussed following Rock Hill’s lead, but tabled the issue because they couldn’t decide if the ordinance governing the restrictions allows enough wiggle room to change them without changing the ordinance. The council plans to reopen discussion on the restrictions at its next regular meeting Monday, Oct. 20.

Jonathan further reported…

Mayor Bob Runde, who opposed allowing once a week watering last spring, again voiced objections to allowing more water usage during a persistent, severe drought. He also said he didn’t believe the city could go to a modified Stage 2 drought without changing the ordinance, which would require two council votes.

I reported on September 18th the US Drought Monitor run by the University of Nebraska has just changed our rating from severe to moderate. I checked the drought monitor today and we have moved to “abnormally dry”. In addition the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group (CW-DMAG) published a news release on September 26th, 2008 The CW DMAG supports limited, temporary relaxation of outdoor water use restrictions. I am wondering where Mayor Runde is getting his information that we are still in a severe drought. Abnormally dry yes but severe no.

So if (more…)

If you don’t know, the Tega Cay sign ordinance bans many types of directional signs in the city limits. Real estate signs are allowed on the seller’s property with limitations but directional signs like open houses or branded company signs pointing the way to homes for sale in a neighborhood are not allowed at any time. So why are some real estate companies or agents not following the ordinance or the city enforcing the sign ordinance?

The picture above was taken on Saturday September 27, 2008 is an example of a non-compliant real estate directional sign. The sign has been up every weekend at the corner of Beachwood Cove and Shoreline Parkway pointing traffic on Shoreline Parkway to a home for sale on Beachwood Cove. The sign is up as I write this post Sunday morning. By the way, this was not the only directional sign up this weekend.

So why am I writing this post? First of all this is a personal commentary from me and not solicited or approved commentary from Carmen or Century 21 First Choice. I am frustrated with the lack of compliance and cooperation from the city, real estate agents, and their brokerage firms. Here is a little background to my story.

At one point in the past Carmen called the city admin office and was told it was ok to put signs up on the weekends. Trying to perform her best for her clients, Carmen purchased and put out directional signs every weekend for marketing open houses and her listings in Tega Cay. Directional signs are a standard effective practice in the industry. She never thought it was not allowed because of what she was told and you can see several other directional signs in Tega Cay most weekends.

At some point a complaint must have been voiced and Pete with Century 21 First Choice asked Carmen and all his agents to comply with the sign ordinance. Carmen being good business citizen and resident is complying.

So why do we continue to see signs up every weekend from other companies? Are these agents or companies not being asked by the city to comply? Is there an unfair standard on who is allowed to put up directional signs or simply a lack of communication and ordinance knowledge? (more…)

The city wants to stop temporary home rentals shorter than 90 days. Tega Cay residents have complained to city officials about temporary home renters. Their complaint is about renters renting homes for or a week, weekend, and sometimes daily.

The Tega Cay city council discussed adding an amendment to the current zoning ordnance that would specifically prohibit renting a home for less than 90 days. The council was divided based on their discussion. Some of the council members claimed enforcement would be the challenge with the possible new amendment.

It’s hard to believe that Tega Cay would be a weekend resort destination like Myrtle Beach. Maybe that is not a fair comparison. (more…)

Tega Cay residents filled the Tega Cay council meeting room on July 24^th to participate in a special session. The topic was the proposed Hidden Harbor Marina to be located in the Lake Shore subdivision of Tega Cy.  The council voted no to the marina plan.  This would have been the second Tega Cay Marina.

So why did the council vote no? Most Lake Wylie marinas are full with waiting lists. You would think this was a good deal for Tega Cay.  As it turns out the proposed 32 slip marina must meet Duke Energy’s shoreline management rules. The marina must be a true public marina but there is a hitch. The rule further states that a bordering development can not use the marina. That means Lake Shore residents could not use the marina. Lake Shore is home for approx 40% of Tega Cay residents.

The shoreline management rule was put in place in 2006. It’s too bad Newland, the company who developed Lake Shore, or Tega Cay that took over Lake Shore after Newland left in 2005 did not apply for a marina at that time.

Most Lake Shore residents I spoke with about this issue were opposed to the rule and did not want the marina with the restrictions. Lake Shore residents would gain non-resident traffic without the marina benefit. I am not surprised that there was a large turn out for the special council meeting. Some Lake Shore residents questioned if the council would have voted no without the large Lake Shore resident turnout.   (more…)

Hot off the press! Carmen Miller has launched a new website dedciated to information about Tega Cay. The new website is www.seetegacay.com.

What’s different about seetegacay.com versus homesfortmill.com? Seetegacay.com is dedicated to just Tega Cay. It is not focused on real estate but about Tega Cay.

The website contains information about Tega Cay, history, news, videos, and photos. The site went live on Thursday July 31st. (more…)

The new home community called Lake Ridge located in the recently annexed Tega Cay South Carolina is beginning to take shape. Clearing began at the beginning of the year and Toll Brothers Builders has recently begun new home sales at Lake Ridge at Tega Cay.

Lake Ridge is a 435 acre 830 new home master planned development site located on Gardendale Road between Dam road and New Gray Rock Road in Tega Cay. The Lake Ride community is not on the Tega Cay peninsula but still located within walking distance to Lake Wylie.

Drake Capital LLC purchased the once called Gardendale development site from Cornerstone Development and renamed the development Lake Ridge. Drake Capital’s master plan includes a 7,000 sq ft club house, competition size pool, kiddy pool, multipurpose courts and tennis courts. The club house is estimated to be completed by Memorial Day 2009.

The Club House

Here is a link to a update post July 2009 about Lake Ridge changes.

Toll Brothers, a national luxury home builder, has begun their portion of the master planned development by offering single family homes located in two communities with multiple floor plans. One community is called Lake Ridge Carolinas the other Lake Ridge Executive. Toll Brothers plans to sell and build on approximately 167 home ½ acre sties planned for these two new communities within Lake Ridge.

In addition Toll Brothers is promoting the following selling points and amenities:
• Wooded Neighborhood
• Easy commute to Uptown Charlotte, South Park and Ballantyne area via I-77
• Pocket Parks
• Lake Nearby : Walking Distance to Lake Wylie and the Catawba River
• Shopping Nearby : Adjacent to the quaint Restaurants and Shops of Baxter Village
• Clubhouse : Approximately 7,000 sq.ft.
• Walking Trails : 2 Miles of Walking Trails intertwined with Pocket Parks
• Multi-Purpose Courts including basketball and tennis.
• Pools

The Carolinas portion of Lake Ridge community is offering 6 floor plans that range from 2,600 to 3,500 square feet and prices ranging form $467,000 to 509,000. The Executive portion of Lake Ridge community is offering 5 floor plans that range 2,900 to 4,500 square feet and prices range from $555,000 to $612,000. Lake Ridge is located in the Fort Mill School District.

Jeff Leforce with Drake Capital said he is in discussions with several other home builders for the remaining lots. Jeff predicts the next group of lots to be developed will be age restricted living most likely ranch homes for ages 55 and over. (more…)