Pittsboro commissioners approve updated Chatham Park affordable-housing element despite one dissent

The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners voted March 10 to adopt an updated “affordable housing additional element” for the Chatham Park development, approving the change after a brief debate and at least one dissenting vote.

The adopted text modifies the municipality's approach to density bonuses tied to affordable units in Chatham Park. The motion to approve the updated element was moved by Commissioner Vosse and seconded by Commissioner Farrell; the board approved the motion by voice vote and the proposal passed.

Commissioner Michael Foley said he could not support the policy and urged colleagues to consider long-term impacts. "I simply can't vote to support this policy," Foley said during the meeting. He told colleagues he was "convinced that, if market conditions allow that, we will have a 35,000 residential unit Chatham Park," and said the potential decadal impacts concerned him most.

Supporters of the update, including staff and other commissioners, described the revised text as clearer than the 2021 version and as an improvement in drafting. Commissioners who spoke in favor noted the town faces an affordable-housing shortage and said the element is intended to provide a clearer path to additional affordable units when paired with conditional rezonings and other tools.

The board did not record individual vote tallies in the minutes beyond the oral roll call; Commissioner Foley registered opposition on the record and the motion passed. The board did not specify an implementation schedule during the meeting; the element will be added to the town's planning documents as approved.

The vote concluded the meeting's substantive business; commissioners adjourned shortly after.

Notes: The discussion and vote occurred during the action-item portion of the March 10 meeting of the Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners. No subsequent referral or required external approvals were announced on the record.