Title
Receive a report and recommendations from the Planning Board regarding the impact of Tropical Storm Chantal
Abstract
Introduction & Background: During the September 2, 2025 Planning Board meeting, the board voted unanimously to forward a report and recommendations about the impacts of Tropical Storm Chantal on the county.
Discussion & Analysis: During the August 5, 2025 Planning Board meeting, a member requested to add an item to the agenda for discussion. A draft report with recommendations was provided to the Planning Board for their consideration and included the possibility of requesting a moratorium on development. The Planning Board member commented that the draft report was prepared in response to flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal. Board members discussed the statutory limitations on moratoriums, the number of major subdivision and rezoning cases being submitted, and number of environmental impact assessments being submitted. The board agreed to postpone acting on the item to provide time for several Planning Board members to review and update the report. The August 5, 2025 Planning Board minutes can be viewed on the following website - <https://www.chathamcountync.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/48170/198?toggle=allpast> .
During the September 4, 2025 Planning Board meeting they discussed a revised report with updated recommendations for discussion. The minutes from that meeting have not been approved, but the draft section where this item was discussed follows:
3. Reduce and Prevent Flood Hazards small working group update.
• Ms. Chiosso said the small working group had met and we decided not to recommend a moratorium, but in the fourth paragraph it is mentioned if we continue to see flooding. Below is the handout by Ms. Chiosso and the ideas that came from the small working group. Ms. Chiosso went through the document and highlighted key points to the Planning Board members.
• Chair Roodkowsky asked if they had looked at the possibility of outside funding? Ms. Chiosso said the BOC may have resources to investigate that, and we may have grant writers to help with that. Ms. Chiosso said our suggestion from the working group to the Planning Board is to support these recommendations and send them to the BOC.
• Mr. Cianciolo said we need to find a way to inform the Chatham residents what is going on because their support would be necessary to get the commissioners to start thinking about this as well. Ms. Chiosso said this is where leadership comes into play, several of the commissioners are concerned about this issue. They will welcome some recommendations from this board, and this is a way to give them something to start with.
Motion made by Mr. Smith to send these recommendations from the working group to the Board of Commissioners, second by Mr. Cianciolo. Chair Roodkowsky held a vote, and the recommendations were approved 10-0, unanimously.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: N/A
Budgetary Impact: N/A
Recommendation/Motion: Receive a presentation from the Planning Board.