Bills Creek Residents Voice Opposition to Tiny Home Development

Rutherford County Commissioner Alan Toney said "no comment" on Tuesday night when asked whether he plans to seek re-election in 2026, but he did attend a packed community meeting where residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed tiny home development in the Bills Creek area.

More than 100 people filled the Bills Creek Community Center on Nov. 11 to hear details about the project, which is planned for property near the Lake Lure line. The meeting was organized by Chuck Lavender, president of the nonprofit center, after residents learned a Florida-based developer, Simple Life, is seeking to build a large-scale community of tiny homes in the area currently owned by Arizona-based Glamp Park Inc. The 30+ acre property is on McDaniel Road near Herman Wilson Road. 

Toney was the only county commissioner in attendance. He provided this reporter with a printed copy of the county’s “Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance,” which he said would apply to the proposal under state law. The document shows an effective date of 2021 (read it here).

Simple Life CEO Mike McCann led the presentation but initially refused to speak while video recording was taking place. After discussion, he agreed to allow audio-only recording, and the meeting continued. 

No one in attendance spoke in favor of the project. Residents raised concerns about traffic, emergency access, environmental impacts, and water availability. The property currently lacks public water and sewer services; it relies on well water and septic systems. A former real estate listing said, "Formally used to grow hemp & manufacture CBD oil, this property is suitable for just about anything, including an ideal homestead & multiple income-producing possibilities."

Members of the Bills Creek Volunteer Fire Department, including Assistant Chief Hugh McMahon, said they are concerned that hundreds of new homes could overwhelm the area’s limited groundwater resources. McMahon told the crowd that after Hurricane Helene in September 2024, when more than 30 inches of rain fell in parts of the area, the fire department’s well went dry as residents came to fill water jugs.

“We’re already seeing limits on what the water table can support,” McMahon said. “There’s no public water at that site now, and we’re concerned about how much more it can handle.” 

The proposed development lies just outside the town limits of Lake Lure, which means it falls under Rutherford County’s jurisdiction. The county does not have zoning or a countywide land-use plan, leaving projects like this one to be reviewed under existing county and state law. 

The Rutherford County Planning Commission is expected to review the proposal once formal plans are submitted. The review will determine whether the project complies with county ordinances and North Carolina General Statute Chapter 160D, which governs local land-use procedures statewide. The county’s website does not include Planning Commission meeting minutes.

Rutherford County first enacted its Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Park Ordinance in 1999, revised it in 2001, and updated it again in 2018. Commissioners at that time approved changes to increase minimum lot sizes and to allow recreational vehicles in mobile home parks. The 2021 effective date on the document reflects additional revisions made to align with Chapter 160D. Toney, Chairman Bryan King, and Commissioner Mike Benfield voted on the 2018 and 2021 ordinances. They are all up for re-election in 2026, if they choose to run again. Candidate filing is in December.

State Rep. Jake Johnson also attended the meeting. He said he supported growing the county's tax base, but did not voice direct support for the proposed tiny home development. Johnson is running for re-election against Mike Hager.

The Simple Life property remains under contract, and no formal application has been submitted to the county. Residents said they plan to stay engaged and continue monitoring the process as the proposal moves forward.