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Residents urge Pittsboro planning board to oppose single 5,000‑acre Chatham Park small‑area plan
Summary
Three speakers at the May 5 Pittsboro Planning Board meeting urged the board to advise the Board of Commissioners to require smaller small‑area plans for Chatham Park rather than approving a single 5,000‑acre plan, citing climate, transportation and tree‑cover concerns.
Several residents and climate advocates used the public‑comment period at the May 5 Pittsboro Planning Board meeting to urge the board to pressure elected officials to reject a proposed 5,000‑acre small‑area plan (SAP) for Chatham Park and instead require a series of much smaller SAPs.
Vicky Atkinson of the Chatham Climate Action Network told the board she and her group “believe that local governments have a big role to play in solutions for climate change” and urged planners to recommend that commissioners deny the single 5,000‑acre SAP. “We want to urge you to block Chatham Park's proposed small area of 5,000 acres in favor of a series of smaller SAPs of 500 to 1,000 acres,” Atkinson said, arguing that large, multi‑decade plans reduce the ability to adjust as conditions change.
Lenore Yauger, also speaking for Chatham CAN, said Pittsboro’s recently adopted climate vision and framework includes land‑use planning and that town oversight of development near Pittsboro is critical. She cited the Chatham County Greenhouse Gas Inventory and said, “transportation causes 42% of all CO2 emissions in the County and is by far the number 1 contributor to greenhouse gas.” Yauger urged the planning board to require Chatham Park to return with smaller area plans and to ensure any development adheres to Pittsboro’s emerging climate action policies.
Resident Betsy Price raised questions about connectivity, wildlife and homeowners associations, and asked the board to consider practical items such as who the transportation system will serve, whether areas set aside as open space will be functional habitat, how HOAs will be structured, and whether there will be adequate affordable housing for caregivers near older family members.
Board chair and staff said the board’s public‑comment rules prevent direct responses during the comment period and that staff will follow up as needed. The points raised will be part of the public record and may inform the board’s recommendations to elected officials on small‑area planning for Chatham Park.
