Chatham Co. Moves Toward Moratorium on Residential Development PDF Print E-mail
Written by J.W. Williamson   
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Leah Friedman, in the Raleigh News & Observer, 23 May 2007:

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. Frank Thomas, with the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties, said a residential development moratorium would hurt the county's economic development and cause housing costs to shoot up. "All of your goals can be accomplished without the moratorium," he said.

About 50 people attended the hearing Tuesday, far fewer than the crowd that gathered Monday night only to find the hearing postponed because the county commissioners had nine hearings on their agenda and wanted to end the meeting by 10 p.m.

"When our descendants look back on what occurred in this time, what we say tonight will be little remembered," said Jeffrey Starkweather, whose political group, Chatham Coalition, helped elect the board members, all of whom support a slow-growth agenda. "But when you pass this residential development moratorium, your actions will never be forgotten."

"The county needs to put a halt on developments so that they have time to re-evaluate what it is doing that is good and what needs to be changed," Jennie DeLoach said.

"We will stand by no longer as streams are ruined by a few to the detriment of many," said Elaine Chiosso, executive director of the Haw River Assembly. Barbara Ford, a member of the county's planning board, said the county needs to "catch its breath" and decide how it wants to grow.
 
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