Title
Vote to approve a request by Robb Harrison, on behalf of Fitch Creations for subdivision Preliminary Plat Revision and Final Plat review and approval of Fearrington 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 dwelling 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 platted.
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.
Discussion & Analysis: The request before the Board is for preliminary plat revision and final plat review and approval of Section X, Area “G” Guilford, consisting of 13 lots on 3.71. The revised preliminary and final plat removes the isolated non-jurisdictional wetland and shifts the lot lines.
The final plat request is being submitted with a request for a financial guarantee for the completion of the required infrastructure. As of the submittal date, the engineer, Dillon Smith, P.E., certified that the project was 56.29% complete and that the roadways are accessible to emergency vehicles. An updated cost letter may be submitted prior to final plat recordation. Staff recommend that the request for a financial guarantee be granted.
Fearrington is subject to the 1994 Watershed Protection Ordinance which requires a 50-foot riparian buffer along perennial and intermittent water features not within 2500 feet of rivers. Ephemeral features were not required to be buffered
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 located on the project. The US Army Corp changed the rules on isolated wetlands and the developer had the area re-evaluated by the US Army Corp to see if the wetland was still jurisdictional. The US Army Corp deemed the wetland area non-jurisdictional.
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 June 11, 2025. Robb Harrison, Van Finch, and Dillon Smith attended. Mr. Harrison stated the original plat showed an isolated wetland, they had the US Army Corp to revisit the site, and the US Army Corp determined the isolated wetland non-jurisdictional.
Planning Board Discussion: This application was on the Planning Board consent agenda for their July 1, 2025 meeting they recommended unanimously for approval of this project.
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 unanimously recommends granting approval of the Preliminary Plat Revision and Final 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 Robb Harrison, on behalf of Fitch Creations for subdivision Preliminary Plat Revision and Final Plat review and approval of Fearrington Section X, Area “G” Guilford, consisting of 13 lots on 3.71 acres, located off Millcroft, (SR-1817), parcel 18998.