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Residents urge moratorium on Morrow Mill and Austin Porter subdivisions amid water and infrastructure concerns
Summary
Neighbors and water experts asked commissioners to pause or more closely scrutinize two proposed large subdivisions, warning about high-capacity wells, insufficient recharge in fractured‑rock aquifers, pressure on septic/well systems, and increased traffic and public‑service costs.
Residents and technical experts urged the Alamance County Board of Commissioners to delay approval of two proposed subdivisions — Morrow Mill and Austin Porter — citing water‑supply, septic, traffic and public‑service concerns.
Laura Strikefield said the two projects would add almost 1,000 homes and about 10,000 daily car trips in areas lacking municipal water and sewer, and estimated proposed wells could pump roughly 400,000 gallons per day. "Massive water draws would likely have a devastating impact on water capacity and quality of existing wells," she told the board, urging a moratorium so staff and commissioners can examine sustainable siting and infrastructure alternatives.
Dr. Elizabeth Hilborn and a collaborating hydrogeologist described local groundwater as fractured rock with limited, pocketed supply and low recharge. She referenced a USGS case (Norwood Oaks, North Raleigh) where nearby development contributed to wells going dry and cited a USGS report (reported in testimony as 2010‑5219) to illustrate potential impacts. Dr. Hilborn said risks of well interference are highest within about a mile of high‑capacity wells but, under drought, can extend to two or three miles.
Speakers asked the board to consider infrastructure costs (new schools, fire stations, roads) tied to large‑scale development in unserviced rural areas and to prioritize routing higher‑density growth to locations served by municipal utilities. Several public commenters asked commissioners to draft a rural preservation ordinance or place a temporary moratorium on cluster subdivisions requiring community wells and off‑site septic until the county refines its UDO and examines sustainable alternatives.
Planning staff and commissioners acknowledged the concerns but noted legal and procedural limits on moratoriums when applications have progressed through the state permitting process. County staff said some projects already in application phases may be beyond a future moratorium’s reach. Commissioners asked staff to continue work updating the UDO and to explore options that provide more explicit guidance for siting high‑capacity wells and cluster developments.
Next steps requested in testimony included more public information on groundwater mapping, additional hydrogeological study where needed, and consideration of targeted ordinance changes to protect existing private wells and agricultural resources.
