Concord residents against big plan for 1,900 homes get their wish. For now.
The many vocal Concord residents who are opposed to a planned development that would transform 557 acres of former farmland into close to 1,900 new homes and other uses have been heard. For the time being.
Homebuilder D.R. Horton told Concord City Council Tuesday that it is withdrawing a request to tap into the sewer line for its proposed Concord Farms development.
The project is in the early stages but, if ultimately approved, would create a new neighborhood along George W. Liles Parkway and Weddington Road. The preliminary plan included 730 single-family homes, 326 townhomes and 840 multifamily units, as well as a 200-room hotel and 306,000 square feet of commercial, office and retail space.
Some residents were concerned about the scope of the project, noting that a development of this size would increase traffic congestion and overwhelm the school system with too many students. The development also sparked an even bigger discussion about growth in Concord becoming uncontrollable.
“The aggressive growth in Concord has made life miserable,” one person wrote on a Change.org petition to stop the Concord Farms development. That petition, started over a week ago, has over 1,600 signatures.
It seems the developer, for now, has heard residents’ concerns. By pulling the sewer allocation request, the project would be on hiatus. The withdrawal was first reported by The Cabarrus Compass.
Another sewer request will be made at a later date, according to the company.
Concord residents versus Concord growth
As with most areas in the Charlotte region, Concord is experiencing exponential population growth and development.
More than 112,300 people call Concord home, according to the latest census data, up from 105,329 people in 2020 and 79,000 people in 2010.
Then there’s the economic growth with new businesses moving to the area, including pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, which built a new manufacturing facility with a $2 billion investment three miles from the proposed Concord Farms.
“This growth is a double-edged sword: while it has brought enormous economic prosperity to the region, it has also created traffic congestion and infrastructure woes,” one person wrote on the petition.
“I know it’s private property, but I just hope it grows in a sustainable fashion and Concord doesn’t become Con-Crete,” another commenter added.
What is Concord Farms?
Some residents said they learned of the Concord Farms plan when a special council meeting was announced for July 31. The meeting was requested by D.R. Horton after the developer was denied its initial request for sewer allocation in June.
Residents were unaware of the project because there were no concrete plans for it, according to Stephen Rosenburgh, president of US Developments, a Charlotte-based real estate investment firm working with D.R. Horton.
During the July meeting, Rosenburgh said a plan couldn’t be developed without sewer access. And as of now, the project has none.
Besides sewer, the project would have to be rezoned and go through a series of committees that look at the impacts on traffic, schools and utility resources.
During the meeting, developers listed some preliminary solutions regarding concerns over traffic and sewer capacity. That includes building a private sewer plan and improving the roadways based on a future analysis from the state’s Department of Transportation.
When it came to issues regarding the school system, Rosenburgh said there probably would be little funding provided by the developer.
What’s next for the Concord site?
The project hasn’t been completely erased.
Councilwoman Lori Clay said she’s sure the developer will be back but she applauded residents for speaking up. She added that she hopes D.R. Horton does consider residents’ concerns.
“I’m glad at the moment they have withdrawn. It’s the right thing to do,” Clay said. “I don’t think they’re gone... But I hope that they will take the opportunity to listen to the citizens in the area. Consider the feedback. Consider the schools. Consider the impact.”
D.R. Horton told the city it would resubmit a sewer allocation request, as well as submit a rezoning request. The developer added that it also would look into what was discussed at the public meeting, including school and infrastructure capacity.
When that will happen remains unknown.
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 5:12 AM.
