The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners voted on Dec. 8 to postpone action on a resolution that would amend a 2023 agreement and authorize the town to execute deeds transferring specific parcels for the Chatham Parkway to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Paul Messick, speaking for town staff, told the board the packet included proposed deeds from current property owners and that the resolution would allow the town manager or mayor to execute deeds to transfer right‑of‑way to NCDOT so the department could complete and open sections of the parkway. “What you have before you is a resolution to amend that agreement from 2023 to provide for the different owners of the property now … to facilitate the construction of both sections of the road,” Messick said.

Commissioner Bonitz moved to table the matter until January, saying the item was too consequential to be handled in a consent action and recounting historical concerns about earlier decisions that allocated state bonus funds in a way that favored Chatham Park investors. Bonitz said the change reaffirms a prior decision and that new commissioners should have time to review the background.

Town staff and other board members said the current item is a property‑conveyance to DOT needed for the department to open a completed portion of the road and that it is directly related to deeds rather than new spending. Staff also said earlier bonus allocations were a separate matter that had been resolved in 2023 and that DOT is ready to open the completed portion but requires the deeds to do so.

After discussion about potential impacts of delaying the deed transfers on DOT’s schedule, the board voted to postpone consideration until January. The motion to postpone carried.

Why it matters: Dedication of right‑of‑way to DOT is the legal step NCDOT requires to accept and open constructed road segments. Commissioners expressed differing views about whether tabling the item would harm the town’s relationship with DOT or whether additional review by new board members was warranted because of the item’s history with bonus allocations.

What to watch for next: The item will return to a future agenda for further review; if the board moves forward, staff will execute deeds and coordinate with NCDOT on opening the completed sections of the Chatham Parkway.