Title
Vote to approve a request by Van Finch on behalf of Fitch Creations, Inc for subdivision Sketch Plan Revision and Preliminary Plat review of Section X, Area “G” Guilford, consisting of 13 lots on 3.71 acres, located off Millcroft, (SR-1817), parcel 18998
Abstract
Introduction & Background:
Zoning: Conditional Use Permit for Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Water: Public water Chatham County
Sewer: Private Wastewater Treatment Plant
Watershed District: WSIV-PA
Within 100-year flood: No
Fearrington Village was approved in 1976 as a Planned Unit Development with a master plan allowing mixed uses such as a Village Center for commercial uses, 1333 dwellings units (including detached single-family homes and attached townhomes), open space and utilities. The master plan has been modified over the years to meet market demands, plus additional land was added to the PUD in 1981 and 1991. In 1999 Galloway Ridge, a continuing care community, was approved. Fearrington Village now includes approximately 956 acres and 1602 units (including the Galloway Ridge units). Three sections of Fearrington, Fearrington Woods, approved in 1989, Whitaker Ridge, approved in 2003, and Henderson Place, approved in 2014 are not part of the PUD. There are 67 lots remaining to be final platted of the 1602 originally allowed.
Fearrington PUD is reviewed under the pre-2008 Subdivision Regulations and the 1994 Watershed Ordinance and is exempt from the Chatham County Stormwater Ordinance but is not exempt from the Jordan Lake Buffer requirements. The project is subject to the Chatham County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance. In 2010, the Board of County Commissioners granted approval of a sketch design revision to a 1999 PUD plan which included all the remaining undeveloped land within the PUD and included Section X. In 2012 another sketch plan revision was approved for Section X. In 2016, the PUD was revised to add “Tyrell” street off Richmond, and to relocate six (6) lots. The 2016 revision did not add any additional lots.
Discussion & Analysis: The request before the Board is for sketch plan revision and preliminary plat review and approval of Section X, Area “G” Guilford, consisting of 13 lots on 3.71.
Water: County water is available and will be utilized. The Water Main Extension Permit and the Authorization to Construct, dated September 4, 2024, issued by NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Water Resources have been provided.
Sewer: Sewer service is provided by the Fearrington private wastewater treatment plant. Alan Keith, P.E., Diehl & Phillips, P. A. provided a letter dated October 9, 2024, stated, “The Fearrington WWTP currently has capacity to serve Section X, Area “G” at Fearrington (3250 gallons per day).” The Wastewater Collection System Extension Permit, issued by the NCDEQ, Division of Water Resources, dated June 24, 2024, has been provided.
Road Names: The road name Guilford has been approved by the Chatham County Emergency Operations Office as acceptable to submit for approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
Roadways: Guilford is proposed to be a public, state-maintained road. The road plan approval for Section X, Area G, dated November 1, 2024, issued by NCDOT has been provided.
Stormwater: Fearrington is not subject to the Chatham County Stormwater Ordinance.
Water Features: Fearrington is subject to the 1994 Watershed Ordinance which requires a 50-foot stream buffer along perennial and intermittent waters not within 2500 feet of rivers. The project provides an additional 10’ voluntary stream buffer with the 50’ stream buffer on the project and an additional 10’ voluntary stream buffer with the 25’ wetland.
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control: An approval letter for revised plans dated April 9, 2024, by Mr. Justin Hasenfus, Watershed Protection Erosion Control Program Manager with Chatham County stated the soil erosion and sedimentation control plans are accepted.
Open Space: There is .10 acres of open space located beside lot 4829.
Technical Review Committee: The TRC reviewed the request on November 13, 2024. Robb Harrison, Van Finch, and Alan Keith attended. Mr. Harrison stated the revised sketch plan looks closely to the previous sketch plan with one lot removed to make the lots a little wider. The cul-de-sac was shortened to have a little more depth on the lots due to the topography. Discussion included to add a note for the voluntary buffers on the Final Plat stating the HOA will enforce the voluntary buffer areas, this cannot be enforced by the County. No other concerns.
Planning Board Discussion: The Planning Board met on December 3, 2024 and this item was on consent and was approved unanimously.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: Plan Chatham was adopted by the Board of Commissioners in November 2017 and is a comprehensive plan that provides strategic direction to address the most pressing needs in the county. These properties are in an area of the county identified as villages on the Future Land Use and Conservation Plan Map (Strategy 5.2). The description for villages includes retail, restaurants, services and offices, light industrial uses, residential with smaller lot size, public/open space, small parks, walking paths, and greenways. It should be noted that Plan Chatham is not intended to be used as a regulatory tool but is a policy document. When reviewing subdivision applications, the boards can use the plan as a tool to identify future regulatory changes.
Budgetary Impact: N/A
Recommendation/Motion: The Planning Staff and Planning Board by unanimous vote recommends granting approval of the road name Guilford and approval of the Sketch Plan Revision and Preliminary Plat as submitted with the following conditions:
1. The county attorney shall review and approve the contract and performance guarantee prior to final plat recordation.
2. Prior to final plat recordation the engineer shall certify to the county that there is all weather access for emergency vehicles and the certification must be approved by the Fire Marshal.
Motion to approve a request by Van Finch on behalf of Fitch Creations, Inc for subdivision Sketch Plan Revision and Preliminary Plat review of Section X, Area “G” Guilford, consisting of 13 lots on 3.71 acres, located off Millcroft, (SR-1817), parcel 18998.