About The Cottages

The Cottages at Contentment Island is a residential community on forty-two acres of gently rolling land along the shores of Smith Mountain Lake, VA. The community is fully developed with 62 side-by-side homes. Each home has exclusive access to a covered boat slip with a lift and private storage unit. Community amenities include a clubhouse with kitchen and exercise room, pool, hot tub, tennis/pickle ball court, basketball court, walking trails, common areas, and a lot for boat trailers and overflow vehicle parking.

Thirty-two (51.6%) of the sixty-two units are occupied full-time by owners; thirty owners have primary residences elsewhere, including the owner of one unit occupied by long-term renters. Homeowners take collective responsibility, through their POA, for maintaining a safe, attractive, and welcoming place to live.

HISTORY
The concept plan for The Cottages was approved by Franklin County in December 2002, and construction began in 2003, with the first homes completed in 2004. The sale closing for the first home purchased (Lot #01, corner of Summerwind and Haley Scott Drive) was in June, 2004. Construction on the final two homes on Haley Scott Drive was completed in 2020. The streets in The Cottages are named for children of developers: Brooke, Haley, Patrick, and Scott.

The highest Smith Mountain Lake water level at The Cottages was in Spring, 2009: the lake level at the SML dam was 796.5 feet (794.2 is “Normal,” 795 feet is “Full Pond.”

The lowest recorded Smith Mountain Lake water level at the SML dam was 788.7 feet in 1968.

GOVERNANCE
Maintenance of lawns, driveways, common areas, and amenities is the collective responsibility of property owners through The Cottages Property Owners Association, Inc. This collective responsibility is met by the participation of property owners in the work of a Board of Directors and several committees that address the major on-going needs of the community, as well as through the contributions of individual property owners on a day-to-day basis.

UTILITIES & ROADS
Water is supplied by Western Virginia Water Authority.
Septic systems are maintained by homeowners; septic fields are maintained by the Property Owners Association.
Electricity is supplied by Appalachian Electric Power.
Roads are maintained by VDOT for public use.