Legacy Update: Lewisville

The Town of Lewisville was first settled in the 19th century when Moravians blazed a wagon trail across the pastures and established a community there. Lewisville was named after one of those settlers, Lewis Laugenour, a benefactor who donated lands for development in the central area of town. His home, constructed in the late 1850’s, still stands.

Lewisville officially incorporated in 1991 and today is one of the fastest growing communities in Forsyth County with almost 13,000 residents. One of the motivations in moving toward incorporation was to preserve the small town ambience that was threatened by unplanned development. Much attention and planning has gone into preserving the community’s pedestrian-friendly environment in the downtown, and community spirit is fostered through events and activities at the town’s Shallowford Square.

Since its incorporation, the Town of Lewisville has been updating its Comprehensive Plan every five years. The last effort, Town of Lewisville 2010 Comprehensive Plan, provides direction to the Town until its next update in 2015.

What principles of the 2001 Legacy Plan have been incorporated?

• Promoting orderly growth and development to create a more compact and balanced development pattern: Lewisville Comprehensive Plans.
• Preserving and revitalizing the downtown area: streetscape improvements, rehabilitation of buildings, construction of downtown sidewalks, new Town Hall.
• Adaptive Reuse: Lewisville Roller Mill.
• Preparing detailed small area studies to provide direction for development: Vienna Business District Small Area Plan.
• Protecting historic resources: Preservation of Nissen House and Roller Mill, numerous historic markers.
• Creating a distinctive image to make the community unique and special: Shallowford Square Park, Tree Ordinance work.

What Challenges Face the Community?

• Providing a variety of housing types to make the housing stock more available and affordable.
• Preservation of open space due to lack of sewer and requirement of a ½ acre minimum residential lot for septic tank.
• Failure of existing septic systems within the town.
• Maintaining rural character of land outside of Lewisville’s municipal boundaries.
• Developing greenways as a transportation and recreation alternative.
• Keeping the “small town character” of downtown Lewisville if traffic volumes increase on Shallowford Road.
• Spurring retail development in the downtown.
• Developing guidelines for future package treatment plants.