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Commission denies waiver to place car‑wash leach field inside Farrington Village perimeter buffer
Summary
After extensive public comment from adjacent homeowners, the board voted to deny a Compact Community Ordinance waiver that would have allowed a Sam’s Car Wash application to place a septic leach field inside a 300‑foot perimeter buffer.
The Board of Commissioners denied a request to waive Chatham County Compact Community Ordinance (CCO) requirements that would have permitted a commercial car‑wash developer to place a septic/drainfield installation and related clearing inside a 300‑foot vegetative perimeter buffer adjacent to the Farrington Village subdivision.
Neighbors from Farrington Village and adjacent subdivisions spoke at length during public comment, saying the perimeter buffer was negotiated when Briar Chapel and nearby developments were approved and that the proposed leach field would damage trees, alter surface flows into a nearby stream and risk groundwater contamination. Multiple residents also raised concerns about possible “forever chemicals” and car‑wash effluent moving downhill into local streams that feed Jordan Lake; speakers said they had not received independent environmental monitoring data and urged the board to deny the waiver.
Applicants’ counsel (Lydia Abovail) said the commercial use is allowed in the zoning and that the proposed plan minimizes tree loss and would not intrude into riparian buffers; the applicant previously sought a septic solution after Old North State (a nearby wastewater system) declined to accept car‑wash effluent, counsel said. Planning staff reviewed the waiver request under the CCO’s waiver criteria and the planning board earlier had considered the item.
Commissioners discussed the county’s prior practice on buffer waivers and whether approving the request would set a broader precedent for perimeter reductions. After deliberation, a commissioner moved to deny the waiver request (both the buffer impact and the requested septic system inside the buffer); the motion passed on a voice vote. Staff and the applicant were told the denial does not legally bar the applicant from submitting a different proposal in the future.
