[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6677231,"mediaKeyId","2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126","parentId",2255945,"title","Commissioners table public hearing on Chatham Park affordable housing element after concerns about \"project\" definition and density credits","audioSeconds",2709,"startMs",3695000,"endMs",6404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126&start=3695&end=6404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126/thumbnail_3695000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6677231/North-Carolina/Commissioners-table-public-hearing-on-Chatham-Park-affordable-housing-element-after-concerns-about-project-definition-and-density-credits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677231-abd49e50853b5abdae0b84795a83a06c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775662290&Signature=fdBwAE8bL6oSwqiu1x9l~78pM3Tj2piOsozEYaIfB-QqH99xRtaU6MiHRHBb0jUL~g38tMsqFCoIFp6xDwsDFOE4TBno3CA3q9n5ILX-w5LSiNnrZklaZaPBkOnRtfsfERA9Oz99RBnijZ853MkxBHAzSFScsAJbPNHyyf0hI7Plk1mbM9oBj2V94FIqviQ7juPo4IDpJ9e1NHTYtnXKQ-AS2xWa1U18nA3vmOAwo73CLHjggoeXO2yAPoM8qBpdKhAdTrv7ZrxVPI8wSLav3glZWVuwTBDhrCFxSIB9YI4T5ION2MiOZ0zSpgFLbwdVuaMyaULepakNBrAsmfrZ1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pittsboro","date","2025-02-11T02:06:56.52Z","article","The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 opened a public hearing on revisions to the Chatham Park affordable-housing additional element, discussed detailed changes to density credits and financial incentives, raised concerns about the draft’s definition of “project” and its potential to expand developable units, and voted to table the item for clarification.

Staff summarized the primary changes in the draft. The town manager, Jonathan, said the document was revised so that the affordable-housing unit requirement is triggered at certificate of occupancy rather than lot platting, that 60%-area median income (AMI) units would be required at a 20% share (an increase from 15%), and that incentives include a $5,000 payment tied to a 15-year restriction for certain low-income units and a $10,000 payment tied to a 30-year restriction on 60% AMI units. He also said Chatham Park agreed to build a greenway — up to $650,000 including design — and would receive a credit of 52 multifamily unit equivalents for that work. Staff said the revised language reduces a previously estimated town financial liability from roughly $25 million to about $5 million.

A central concern raised by several commissioners focused on the draft’s definition of “project” and the related density-credit provisions. Commissioner Bonitz (who identified himself as a long-time critic of earlier versions of the element) outlined his reading of the density-credit formula and concluded that, under the draft’s language, Chatham Park Investors could gain up to an eight-to-one density credit for each affordable unit if specific proximity conditions were met (proximity to a grocery store, a public school, and a transit stop or employment center). He characterized the possible outcome as meaning the town could see many thousands of additional residential units accrue to Chatham Park’s build-out: “We're no longer talking about a 22,000 unit residential project. We're talking about potentially a 35,000 unit residential project,” Bonitz said in the meeting.

Staff and commissioners debated whether the proximity tests should reference the boundary of a specific lot/site plan or a larger “project” area that might include multiple phases or a multi-parcel transaction. Commissioners asked staff to seek clarifying language from the applicant and counsel explaining intent and consequences. Staff noted that if federal subsidies such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs were to be used, those programs carry their own proximity requirements; commissioners said the draft appears more permissive than federal rules because it measures proximity to a project boundary rather than to a single tax-credit site.

Other substantive details in staff’s summary included: the 60% AMI unit share requirement rising to 20%; an incentive structure tied to unit affordability terms; a requirement that Chatham Park show the impact of public funding in redacted settlement statements; and procedural changes to unit-count timing and accounting. Staff said town payments for incentives would be due within a year of account creation and that Chatham Park could receive multifamily unit credits for certain public improvements.

After extended discussion, including requests for clarification from staff and applicant counsel, the board voted to table the item and asked staff to return with clarified language — particularly on the definition of “project” and the scope and application of density credits — before the board takes further action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 10th, 2025 - Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Chatham Park affordable-housing additional element, discussed new density-credit language and financial incentives, and voted to table further action until clarifications are provided.","taxTitle","Town of Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina","taxId",73859,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6677235,"Designers present schematic plan for Lewis Freeman Park, highlighting historic house and small shelter concept",1054,2625000,3679000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126&start=2625&end=3679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126/thumbnail_2625000.jpg","/articles/6677235/North-Carolina/Designers-present-schematic-plan-for-Lewis-Freeman-Park-highlighting-historic-house-and-small-shelter-concept","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677235-6d0948984e883853834139cc09b95b20/orig.mp4?Expires=1775662290&Signature=EhOSpce6JFTOZilNOz~e5hWz3ZaNQNy8vyQHyz5mwAiesffiI1Dx5f4LRDI69kr2l30XrxNyIm7d5xucXtuCJrXU2swmVlXGQIPaRRKqLyc3oROLoeHdq1FNd7y5WTwpNVzVuWgocasXElMMkQtRcItuiR3zP5kKJrW71acE~luUDrienh5XthLgTLl2bIuz0M97XMj97uN63xa9KsADX~9yWnabfiA0c6AkJy7h063yqihJbc~V4cKYoVoMcjGXGK01uik2xE0bFz5Xd7KY68BJIwt6qYmslTnobQurmlQZKBKhC8i4u-1Ew2K8wRSR7Jpear8YR7AqYj0RHCn3sA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OBS Architects presented a schematic design on Feb. 10 for Lewis Freeman Park, a small public site adjoining the historic Lewis Freeman house, and described plans to interpret the site’s history while preserving existing trees and addressing accessibility.

Siobhan Moore of OBS Architects told the Board of Commissioners the design team is developing a shelter and site improvements that would acknowledge Lewis Freeman, an enslaved person who secured his freedom and became a prominent property owner in early 19th-century Pittsboro. Moore said Freeman’s circa-1811 house — now part of the architect’s office and listed in the National Register of Historic Places — would be interpreted by placing a shelter roughly the size of the original house (about 16 by 18 feet) on the park site and showing the location of the original foundation and fireplace.

Moore said the project team is pursuing a limited survey (topography and tree locations) after a previously offered pro-bono surveyor rescinded and that donated materials and volunteer labor have been offered for the timber-frame shelter. The design concept includes a small lawn for gatherings, benches and picnic tables, interpretive signage, and possible low stone seating within the shelter. The team emphasized an intention to preserve large, old-growth trees on the site and to locate the shelter outside the creek’s flood-prone areas.

Accessible parking is required; Moore said the southern edge of the site — currently Chatham County property — offers the most feasible route for a handicapped parking space and a path through a dense bamboo stand to the park. Moore described several implementation constraints, including final topography, tree protection, and coordination with adjacent property owners to allow future connections or crossings to West Salisbury Street.

Moore said the project has strong community interest and support: the Johnson County Historical Association and the local NAACP have been involved, descendants of Lewis Freeman have been contacted, and volunteers have offered donations of materials and services. She also said the project team is seeking a formal mechanism for the town to accept donated labor and materials.

Commissioners asked about tree preservation and historic coordination; Moore said preservation of large trees is a primary goal, that the Johnson County Historical Association and NAACP representatives have been engaged, and that some descendants of Freeman have expressed interest in attending a grand opening if feasible.

No formal vote or commitment of town funds was recorded; the presentation was an informational update and the consultants asked for board guidance and direction to continue design work and fundraising coordination.","OBS Architects presented a schematic design for the Lewis Freeman Park adjacent to the Lewis Freeman house, proposing a small shelter to interpret the house footprint, pathways, accessible parking options, and funding/donation needs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6677238,"Pittsboro communications staff outlines website redesign, social media growth and engagement goals",1212,594000,1806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126&start=594&end=1806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126/thumbnail_594000.jpg","/articles/6677238/North-Carolina/Pittsboro-communications-staff-outlines-website-redesign-social-media-growth-and-engagement-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677238-570b703c7b4413d801d8bb757d753f79/orig.mp4?Expires=1775662290&Signature=j2Eqmosl7ZQmmL2L~gRKU~AMyRKtYWGQFE4D1UlzhIN~FRPkH9bmo8whMUh8LlsXBt~MRCPnisYFmapxIHcwwcz6AC1e~gAUNadh5ZUx48IupyXFZJT8ndYgmkcxireVjZSm3tScHtXxVxUnqFatFPDcd40LN7QW~rLspsP7kRC7BHmPSKRy9tAGHGbkABLtWKgEBHg1viHQrr2yBY3LdxzshgTVlCWGCIuXPNx6kcUevjLZ2TgN-7~gpE1yhYdggcFPybGTrRGvZlbS3bZKGmG6qplAEuOaum-B7jg4e17Jb~-8VITDdnjo58bhO8dLl1EXicMPDASIbBZdri2c9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colby Sawyer, director of communications and merchant management for the Town of Pittsboro, briefed the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 on the town’s communications work, citing significant growth in website subscribers and social-media reach and outlining a three-phase redesign of the town website.

Sawyer said the communications department now comprises two staff members — Sawyer and communications specialist Caitlin Murphy — and that the department’s goals are to expand the town’s reach, maintain open lines of communication with residents, and invite public participation in decision-making. He said the town’s community budget survey remains live on the town engagement page and that staff would welcome help amplifying the survey.

On metrics, Sawyer said the town has seen substantial growth since upgrading the website and increasing posting frequency. He told commissioners the town had about 7,100 Facebook followers and was on pace to roughly double or triple reach and visits compared with prior years, and that YouTube views were on pace for about 5,000 views by the end of the fiscal year. He also reported social pages administered by other departments: Parks and Recreation (about 2,800 followers), Police (about 12,000 followers), and Downtown Pittsboro (about 4,700 followers, Instagram about 2,750).

Sawyer walked the board through the website redesign schedule. Phase 1, the new look, is scheduled to go live the next day; Phase 2 focuses on optimizing site content and navigation; Phase 3 will expand interactive services, including a finished “How do I” section to help residents find common services from a single starting point. Sawyer said the redesign will reduce the number of pages from roughly 30 to about 12 while improving accessibility (alt text for images, screen-reader compatibility and attention to contrast) and consolidating planning and engineering content into a unified user experience.

He also said staff began time-stamping past meeting videos on YouTube to create chapters for easier topic navigation and that the town has begun sending meeting recaps by email and social media the day after meetings to summarize what was discussed and any actions taken.

Commissioners asked which pages attract the most visits; Sawyer said planning, parks and recreation, and recycling were the most frequently visited pages and that the parks spring activity guide was the most-downloaded document in the last year. He said the team is still refining site analytics; the current site does not use Google Analytics, limiting some navigational analysis, but the communications staff can report top pages and most-downloaded documents.

Sawyer asked for the board’s continued support amplifying engagement opportunities and thanked commissioners for creating the communications specialist role.","The town’s communications director reported growth in web and social subscribers, a two-person communications team, and a phased website redesign aimed at improved accessibility and streamlined content.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6677243,"Pittsboro appoints Jamie Fiyoko to ABC board; ABC reports rising revenue and quarterly distributions",198,259000,457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126&start=259&end=457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255945-c772f5af6ce20bc46f8ad94c334fd126/thumbnail_259000.jpg","/articles/6677243/North-Carolina/Pittsboro-appoints-Jamie-Fiyoko-to-ABC-board-ABC-reports-rising-revenue-and-quarterly-distributions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6677243-bbc220e5f9cfae738650a080aefc2216/orig.mp4?Expires=1775662290&Signature=g4QcAOeT1qyGANMOaJtRQhFvDheux0qZ-NAbW1m~SXa6W1Y~l5l2bmKj~4~VWhqeSsYJKlY12UUF8f6AxegEm~9ukJ6XWUzrMtX4zqph0Uii8krqXRKqnbL1-GLv-aVfKywAyhAaq0eU3gQ5XZbewU3vWLF-oNPZf-9YKFUbGhSSYgHYOW~TacOTRQHAFVPUVuc1kWeOn~kjLFheAaOLt-U-szYo~lUjv1tEyjxkmdk8WJYdgtBZIbWt-r6PB6MCye58vU~VcErWcYWARwnganlub0nEXkV-WzWCJ66XNaTh9eYDBGRS3Awyg93OnjWAShBJNNdCG4vDwcOCJwEkgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10, 2025, appointed Jamie Fiyoko to the town’s Alcoholic Beverage Control board and heard a quarterly financial report showing growing gross revenue and continued distributions to the town.

Board members voted to appoint Fiyoko to the ABC board for a term running through December 2028. The motion was made and approved by voice vote; the board recorded the result as agreed and the appointment carried.

Jamie Fiyoko delivered the ABC financial update to the commissioners, saying the board is “one of the fastest growing by gross revenue boards in the state” and that it has maintained “strong and healthy” profit margins. Fiyoko said a second ABC location at Northwoods Landing is under construction and is expected to be operational by late March or early April, and that second-quarter distributions sent to the town, law enforcement and alcohol-education programs were larger than previous working-capital distributions.

Commissioner Vose later noted the most recent quarterly distribution to the town was $22,289. Commissioners thanked Fiyoko and ABC staff for their work and noted the benefit of larger future distributions as the operation grows.

The board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting and then took the appointment as the first action item of the evening. No additional conditions or amendments to the appointment were recorded in the public minutes.

The ABC presentation included a brief reference to manager support staff; the town manager was absent because of recent knee surgery, Fiyoko said.

The board’s action and the financial report close a short-term loop: the commissioners formalized the board appointment and received the quarterly financial update showing the ABC entity’s continuing contributions to town revenue.","The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners appointed Jamie Fiyoko to the Alcoholic Beverage Control board and heard an ABC financial report showing revenue growth and a recent quarterly distribution to the town.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners table public hearing on Chatham Park affordable housing element after concerns about "project" definition and density credits

Designers present schematic plan for Lewis Freeman Park, highlighting historic house and small shelter concept

Pittsboro communications staff outlines website redesign, social media growth and engagement goals

Pittsboro appoints Jamie Fiyoko to ABC board; ABC reports rising revenue and quarterly distributions