Residents urge changes or delay to Riverbend subdivision during public comment

During the public-comment portion of the Nov. 17 meeting several residents urged the Board to modify or deny the Riverbend Estates subdivision as currently proposed, citing impacts to neighborhood connections, private-road access and the Haw River watershed.

Dr. Y. H. Pat, a Chatham County resident, called on the commissioners to "use your critical thinking powers to deny or modify the Riverbend proposal," arguing the proposal would damage ecosystems and disrespect adjacent neighbors and indigenous communities. Pat asked whether the board had discretionary authority over the developer’s claims that the project meets legal requirements, and offered to file written comments for the record.

Elaine Chioso, who said she has lived at 1076 Rockrest Road since 1974, asked the board either to remove Phase 6 from the first plat or to postpone a decision to the Dec. 15 meeting and require the developer to revise the first plat to eliminate any use of private Rockrest Road. Chioso recounted the community history around Rockrest Road, said paving and gating would sever longstanding neighborhood connections, and asked the board to account for the social and historical costs of the proposal.

Commissioners acknowledged the public comments and accepted written materials for the record; the transcript shows public comment continued with additional speakers addressing the development. The Board did not take a final vote on Riverbend during the portion of the transcript provided; public commenters requested further review or a decision delay so that alternatives could be considered.