Woodfield – The Lakehouse Apartments

This project was one parcel within an enormous 1,500-acre rezoning plan established in 2016 along the South Carolina/North Carolina border near Lake Wylie. The site offered a unique opportunity to bring residents close to the water, perched above the lake with direct frontage access. Given its location within an environmentally sensitive watershed, the project required careful navigation of erosion control measures and built-upon restrictions. Steep topography and frontage on Highway 49, a major NCDOT thoroughfare, added further layers of complexity to the site's design.

DRG had to compile, sift through, and coordinate multiple updates to the 2016 rezoning to determine remaining density allowances, unit counts, and outstanding infrastructure obligations for the parcel. The site's steep topography demanded numerous grading studies and cut-fill analyses to achieve a balanced design that still met accessibility standards and municipal requirements.

Environmental sensitivities were significant, as the lake's special erosion control measures, watershed restrictions, and on-site streams and wetlands all required careful protection strategies. Access was further complicated by Highway 49's restrictions on curb cuts and crossings, requiring a traffic strategy that balanced site access with motorist safety.

DRG coordinated the complex rezoning history to establish remaining density, unit counts, and infrastructure obligations tied to the developer. The firm designed portions of the site with a pervious paver system to reduce impervious surface impact and assisted specialist consultants in evaluating and protecting on-site streams and wetlands.

DRG also strategically placed tree save areas adjacent to the lake to maximize water quality protection. Additionally, the team worked directly with NCDOT to develop a traffic circulation strategy, including right-turn lanes and left-over configurations, to safely connect the site to Highway 49.