CCEC news archives

Updated: 03/05/2008

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Most Chatham County residents at hearing favor development moratorium

Leah Friedman, Staff Writer

PITTSBORO - Most of the Chatham County citizens who spoke at a public hearing Tuesday night were in favor of the proposed moratorium on residential development.

Rapid growth in the county has negatively affected the environment and drinking water supplies, and has caused overcrowding in the schools, some said. A moratorium would allow the county to plan for future development and update its land use ordinances so commissioners could have more control over where and how much development occurs in the county, they said.

If approved, a moratorium would last as long as 12 months and would apply only to new residential subdivisions of 25 or more units.

Only three people spoke against a moratorium Tuesday night.

Editorial

Published: Mar 07, 2007 12:30 AM

More people moving to North Carolina means more water usage in homes, businesses and industrial plants. North Carolina is, after all, sixth in growth rate in the United States, and water demand is expected to increase 35 percent by 2030, to 2.2 billion gallons a day. Those are clear, and worrisome, facts that local and state policymakers must face regarding the adequacy of water supplies.

CCEC Bulletin: 2/5/07

Chatham County has a new Planning Board

, February 5, 2007, the Board of Commissioners made changes that affected the Chatham County Planning Board 's make-up and terms of office. The old Planning Board was and a new one was appointed. citizens as we prepare for Monday’s information exchange.

Editorial

January 26, 2007

People are not drawn to North Carolina by our shopping centers and subdivisions. Pavement is pavement, no matter where you go.

But not every state can claim our wealth of natural resources. Tree-covered mountains, miles of undeveloped beaches, coastal waters rich with fish, farmland stretching to the horizon, these are among the natural charms that have made North Carolina so desirable to so many people. . . .

Remarks from the Citizens of Chatham County

CCEC is Appealing!

'Slow-growth' era opens with division

Leah Friedman, Staff Writer

PITTSBORO - The crowd in the Chatham County Superior Courthouse hooted and hollered and was on its feet before the three new commissioners even took the oath of office.

The swearing in of Carl Thompson, Tom Vanderbeck and George Lucier marked the beginning of the slow-growth era in Chatham County. And the board immediately got down to business, creating new policies and changing others.

But as the meeting started, there already was tension between the incoming commissioners and continuing board members Patrick Barnes and Mike Cross.

It was expected that five board members who share the same development philosophy would be more unified than the previous board, where votes were often split 3-2. But the board disagreed on numerous issues Monday night, including who should be chairman. . .

Chatham board likely to take it slow
Chatham growth in new hands

Leah Friedman, Staff Writer

PITTSBORO - Seven months after the voters called for it, Chatham County's slow-growth era is finally beginning.

Today, three new county commissioners who favor slower, planned growth take office, having unseated a majority that was more receptive to development. . .

Read the statement written and presented by CCEC President Loyse Hurley at the ISP Incentive Hearing on October 16, 2006, before the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.

Read CCEC's Position Paper On The Redistricting Referendum for November 2006

Read statements written and presented by CCEC President Loyse Hurley before the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on September 18, 2006, concerning the Conditional Use Permit- Lee Moore Oil Company and Re-Zoning Request - Lee Moore Oil Company.

Conditional Use Permit- Lee Moore Oil Company

Re-Zoning Request - Lee Moore Oil Company

Lee-Moore Oil “Big Box” Request
Tops BOC’s Hefty Agenda

The announcement made the pages of the Independent Weekly in an article by Lisa Sorg: “While Chatham County officials may be hooked by the lure of an estimated $1 million in additional annual sales and property taxes, residents have voiced their concerns over the development's potential erosion of community character.” Read the whole article at http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A36751

UEDC Mines for County Support of
Siler City Rock Quarry

SILER CITY - Chatham County leaders are considering giving a Maryland-based rock mining company nearly $3 million over the next five years to lure it to Siler City, according to documents obtained by The News & Observer.

The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to discuss the deal in a closed meeting Monday afternoon in Pittsboro. The recommendation comes from the county's Economic Development Corp. board of directors, which approved it this week…

Big rush in Chatham

A political face-off in Chatham County was inevitable. Chatham is growing, especially in its northeast corner, due to its closeness to the Triangle. Some people in that area no doubt chafe at development that Chatham wants for tax revenues but other residents don't want in their neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, the political conversation seems to have been pre-empted by Bunkey Morgan and pro-growth allies on the county Board of Commissioners. Morgan is chairman, but he and his two allies on the five-member board lost primary bids in May. Since then, the majority has rushed to vote on a number of development requests. They step down in December.

Further, the board last week pushed through bids to redraw the commissioners' voting districts and the way voters choose commissioners. If approved in referendums this fall, one change would allow Morgan to run for commissioner again in two years instead of four. …

From the CCEC Board of Directors

A Position Paper On The Issue Of
Electoral Reform In Chatham:

Why Change… Why Now?
CCEC, Inc. - August 2006

Editorial:

The fee flaw

Filings in a Durham civil case expose a flaw in the argument that home builders use to discourage local impact fees
When it comes to paying for public services, a sound principle is to take a contribution from users. Yet, when covering the costs of the Triangle's growth, state and local leaders are loath to take contributions from those who profit from growth.
The home builders' small army of lobbyists argues, most effectively, that impact fees passed along to consumers make housing less affordable. That would be a good reason to avoid impact fees -- if it were true. It's not exactly…

State Grants Hearing on ISP Quarry Request

In response to an appeal to targeted state agencies, Senator Bob Atwater and Representative Joe Hackney, the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources has set a State Public Hearing for Tuesday, July 25th at 7 PM in the Chatham County Superior Courtroom in Pittsboro.

The appeal was made in response to the recent decision of the Siler City Town Council to approve the request of ISP Minerals Mining Division to build a controversial quarry in the area of Mt. Vernon Springs, two miles south of Siler City’s city limits.

Board draws boos, hisses
Chatham OKs 13 projects

Published: Jul 18, 2006 12:30 AM

Leah Friedman, Staff Writer

PITTSBORO - The crowd hissed and booed as the Chatham County commissioners approved 11 new subdivisions, a boat storage facility and a new shopping center Monday night.

"This is a joke," several audience members yelled.

At the same time, the board approved language for an ordinance that would allow the county to implement a development moratorium if the commissioners so desire.onday evening at 6:00 pm, Chatham County's Board of Commissioners will be holding a Public Hearing to review a number of new subdivision requests for approval.

Chatham County Board of Commissioners Meeting
Monday, July 17, 2006

Monday evening at 6:00 pm, Chatham County's Board of Commissioners will be holding a Public Hearing to review a number of new subdivision requests for approval.

The meeting will be held in the Superior Courtroom. If additional time is required, the meeting will reconvene Tuesday, July 18, 2006, in the District Courtroom.

Visit http://www.co.chatham.nc.us/agenda/071706/071706Agenda.htm
for a copy of the agneda of this meeting.

Visit www.chathamnc.com for a list of hearings of all developments that are scheduled for the meeting.

Voting integrity issues

Complete information about the Chatham County lawsuit and a timeline of the events concerning voting integrity issues are now on a website. http://chathamvoters.blogspot.com/

Everything you need to know about the whole DRE issue, open meetings, election problems and the Chatham County Board of Elections is on the website

1,800 acres sold in Chatham;
Barber family sells for $17.4 million

By Leah Friedman and Jack Hagel, Staff Writers
News & Observer,

February 9, 2006.

Developers backed by SAS Institute founder Jim Goodnight have bought about 1,800 acres in eastern Chatham County from retired Superior Court Judge Wade Barber and his family. Preston Development, which built the Preston subdivision in Cary, paid $17.4 million for the land, or about $10,000 an acre, said Barber, who retired from the Orange-Chatham bench in January.

Wal-Mart in Chatham? You decide . . . .

Editorial from the N&O, December 19, 2005   Neighbors to a lake   Chatham County wants Cary , in Wake County , to hold its horses on annexing more land across the border until planning rules are finalized for development near Jordan Lake . That's sensible, and the Cary Town Council and city administration says they are likely to cooperate.   At the same time, though, Chatham County seems doesn't seem inclined to slow its galloping pace of development approvals in the same northeast corner of the county. Some of those projects are of massive proportions. Several residents of the older Fearrington Village subdivision told the state Division of Water Quality last week about their concerns over Briar Chapel, a 1,589-acre development that would be built partially in the Jordan Lake watershed… http://www.newsobserver.com/579/story/379538.html

Residents oppose zoning changes BY JENNIFER FERRIS : The Herald-Sun jferris@heraldsun.com Nov 21, 2005 : 10:14 pm ET PITTSBORO -- Chatham County residents voiced their displeasure over a proposed zoning change Monday night and, it seems, the commissioners listened. After a public hearing in which 19 people spoke out against conditional zoning, Commissioners Chairman Bunkey Morgan surprised many by saying he agreed with them, and would oppose the change as well. http://www.herald-sun.com/chatham/13-670862.html

Zoning process changes jeered Proposal opposed in Chatham Leah Friedman, Staff Writer The crowd was rowdy. Speakers ignored the county clerk when she told them their time was up. The crowd refused to hold their applause after each speaker. They whooped and hollered for speakers they agreed with and hissed at the one they didn't. About 150 Chatham County residents filled all 18 rows of seats in the Chatham County Superior Courtroom, and they spilled over into the jury boxes. Most were there to speak out against changing the process developers use to apply for zoning permits. Others were against relaxing watershed rules to allow for more development in Chatham County… http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/370023.html

Troubled waters When visions of dry lake beds become reality, it's time to re-examine future drinking water supplies
Seeing a spotty, dry lake bed where part of their water supply should be is jarring for Raleigh residents, to say the least. That's the picture, as Falls Lake now languishes at 7 feet below normal levels after months of miserly rainfall. Raleigh 's City Council, of course, had to impose mandatory water conservation rules in response and probably should have done so sooner. Limiting lawn watering and such are common-sense measures that worked well in slowing demand for water during the drought of 2002. Still, a repeat of water problems so soon leads some to wonder if there's more going on here than just dry weather. Could it be that because of Wake County 's rapid growth, Falls Lake is at risk of being depleted faster than expected? While spreading the gospel of water conservation, local leaders ought to be revisiting their plans for future drinking water supplies to assure the public that they're adequate… http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/story/2832214p-9282706c.html

Chatham had a tape gap before A recording from May is missing discussion of a proposal to pay a lawyer $10,000 By LEAH FRIEDMAN, Staff Writer PITTSBORO -- Last week's discovery of a 14-minute gap in a tape recording of a Chatham County commissioners' meeting was not the first time a contentious discussion failed to be preserved. A CD copy of a digital recording of the board's work session May 16 starts in the middle of the board's discussion on the county budget, the fifth item on the agenda. It leaves out discussion about paying lawyer Jennifer Andrews, a member of the County Economic Development Corp., $10,000 for legal work she previously had agreed to do for free... http://newsobserver.com/news/chatham/story/2824506p-9273950c.html

Crucial part of Chatham tape is blank By LEAH FRIEDMAN, Staff Writer
PITTSBORO -- Erased or not, 13 minutes and 55 seconds of the tape are gone. A pocket-size Watergate erupted Thursday when Chatham County Commissioner Patrick Barnes said he thinks someone tampered with the recording of a closed-door commissioners meeting Oct 3. He said that during the private session, county officials pressured him into sitting out a vote on expanding a Jordan Lake housing development… http://www.newsobserver.com/news/chatham/story/2820845p-9268414c.html

Officials deny lawsuit threatened A Chatham County commissioner says he was forced to recuse himself from a vote By LEAH FRIEDMAN, Staff Writer PITTSBORO -- Three Chatham County officials said Tuesday they never told a county commissioner that a developer would sue the county if he voted on a proposed expansion of a subdivision near Jordan Lake .    But County Commissioner Patrick Barnes repeated that he was asked not to vote because the developer had threatened suit…

Group wants growth slowed Chatham board listens to concerns By LEAH FRIEDMAN, Staff Writer PITTSBORO -- Rita Spina, of Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities, said she is tired of being polite. That's why, she said, she sent e-mail to her group before the Chatham County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night, encouraging them to attend and speak out against development in the area. CCEC is a grass-roots group in favor of slow growth…

CCEC plans primer on government By Jennifer Ferris. The Herald-Sun Sep 10, 2005 Ever wondered who sets your property tax rate or how to find out about new development before the bulldozers arrive?

Clear as Chatham's mud It's not a pleasant marker, but it's possible to measure the blistering pace of Chatham County's development by watching its streams turn from clear to mustard brown. Elected leaders in the county rarely find a new housing development that they don't like. Right now, more than 6,800 new homes are in the pipeline to be built during the next decade in a county of just 60,000, the N&O recently reported.

Industry grows to get developments OK'd Builders hire PR to fight resistance By JACK HAGEL, Staff Writer Unscrupulous developer breezes into town angling to build shopping center on sentimental piece of dirt. Town catches wind of scheme and vows -- after fist-in-the-air, not-gonna-stand-for-it speeches at city hall -- to foil plans and send developer back on the bulldozer he rode in on. The plot may sound like a listing for a late-night, basic-cable movie. But it plays out in neighborhoods from Chatham County, where residents fought the 1,600-acre Briar Chapel development, to California.

Out-growing The Triangle's rapid population growth signals prosperity, but can have drawbacks in terms of land use and municipal costs

Chatham tax rate increases 4 cents By JESSICA ROCHA, Staff Writer PITTSBORO -- The Chatham County commissioners voted 4-1 Monday to increase the tax rate 4 cents to 59.7 cents per $100 of property valuation. That's a 7.2 percent increase in revenue after adjusting for this year's property re-evaluation. But Chatham taxpayers will seemingly be getting more than their money's worth, because the county is set to spend $62.5 million during the 2005-06 fiscal year -- a 10.5 percent increase, $5.9 million more than in the 2004-2005 budget...

Chatham votes to pay volunteer An Economic Development Corp. member will get $10,000 for work she agreed to do for free, the board says By JESSICA ROCHA, Staff Writer. PITTSBORO -- The Chatham County commissioners voted 3-2 Monday to pay a member of the Chatham County Economic Development Corp. $10,000 for legal work she previously agreed to do for free…

Zoning suits become routine In Chatham County nowadays, neighbors' lawsuits often accompany any push toward growth By JESSICA ROCHA, Staff Writer, News and Observer: Sandra Tripp's 3-acre outpost is an island in the the sea of Briar Chapel, utterly surrounded by the future 2,400-home development. In the past, Tripp has said she is resigned to that, but last week she apparently changed her mind. The lifelong Chatham County resident sued the county, accusing the Board of Commissioners of ignoring its own rules in approving the project.

Press Release from Haw River Assembly 8/12/05

Press Release
8/12/05
Contact:   Elaine Chiosso
Executive Director, Haw River Assembly
(919) 542-5790 office
(919) 542-4957   home

OUTCRY OVER MUD IN CREEKS
STATE FINDS VIOLATIONS AT CHAPEL RIDGE GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN CHATHAM COUNTY

After months of outcry from citizens who have watched beautiful creeks in the rural forests of Chatham County turn brown from mud coming off of the Chapel Ridge construction site, we have been told that the state Division of Land Quality and Division of Water Quality have found violations of the sediment erosion controls and will issue "Notice of Violations".   The two creeks- Dry Creek and Brooks Creek - that are being impacted by the project both flow to the Haw River and then to Jordan Lake, where the state is working on new rules to reduce pollution. The Haw River Assembly, a non-profit river protection organization, and many Chatham citizens are particularly outraged at what has happened to these creeks, because they had warned the county and state during the the planning/approval process that this steep land would not be suitable for the massive earthmoving that construction of a golf course and approximately 700 houses would require. Once the work began this past winter numerous mud flows have been seen in the creeks, and since early July, the waters have been a constant brown color with suspended sediment -- even between storm events.

"We are saddened that these creeks have been harmed in this way -and frustrated that it has taken this long for our concerns to be addressed. We urge that the consequences of these violations will be serious enough to stop damage from continuing to the creeks as this development is built, and that there will be efforts to restore them. Sediment controls at Chapel Ridge are obviously inadequate to protect these creeks -and the Haw River. Better controls need to be in place before the next storm. We hope this will send a message to other major developments starting up in Chatham County that they must take pollution controls more serious." said Elaine Chiosso, Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly.

There are approximately 20,000 new houses that have been approved in major developments in the Haw River watershed in northern Chatham County. Many will be built with waste water treatment systems that utilizes spray irrigation fields for the treated effluent. The Haw River Assembly and other citizen and neighborhood organizations have raised major concerns about the impact on water quality in the receiving streams from both construction and wastewater from these developments. One of these, Meadowview, another 715 homes, is adjacent to Chapel Ridge and will also impact Brooks Creek and Dry Creek. Chatham County still does not have its own Sediment Erosion Control staff, although it has pledged to hire someone by October. Without its own personnel, Chatham relies on the the very stretched resources of the regional DLQ office in Raleigh.

DIRECTIONS:
Chapel Ridge is located on Old Graham Road about 7 miles north of Pittsboro. You can see the two creeks (downstream of Chapel Ridge) at bridge crossings on Old Graham Road.

Brooks Creek bridge is about 1 mile north of the intersection with Russell Chapel Road.
Dry Creek bridge is located about 4 miles beyond Brooks Creek on Old Graham Road about 1 mile past the Chapel Ridge entrance

CONTACTS:
Please contact me at numbers above or by email for further information, or if you would like me to show you the creeks.

You may also contact these landowners for comments who live on Dry Creek and Brooks Creek downstream of Chapel Ridge:
Jerry and Cathy Markatos (Jerry took the two Dry Creek pictures attached)    (919) 542-2139
Jim Cameron and Kathleen Jardine on Brooks Creek (919) 542-4251

The contacts at the state are:
John Holley, Cheif Engineer, Raleigh regional office, Division of Land Quality, DENR    (919) 791-4200 x 4206