Title
Vote to approve or deny a legislative general use rezoning request by EC PROPCO, LLC to rezone Parcels 5377, 5376, 78264, 5470 from R-1 Residential to Ind-H Heavy Industrial, on 292.288 acres, located off Christian Chapel Church Rd., Cape Fear Township
Abstract
Introduction & Background: A public hearing was held on April 20, 2026. Planning staff presented the request and Jody Leidolf presented for the applicant, as well as provided a PowerPoint presentation. No one else signed up to speak on the matter.
The Planning Board voted 6-3 to approve the rezoning. At the July 27, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting, a decision was not made but continued to the August 17, 2026 meeting.
Commissioner Howard asked about any surrounding residences to which Mr. Leidolf stated there are none. The property to the North was rezoned in January 2026 CD-RB for a recreational facility (cricket fields, tennis court, etc.), the properties to the East and South are wooded and owned by Duke Energy and an individual, and the property to the West is owned by Tarheel Land & Timber Inc. These parcels are approximately 500 ft from the southeastern edge of the TIP site where VinFast is to be located.
Commissioner Gomez Flores asked if a data center could be located on this property and if they had been approached about that potential use of the property. Mr. Leidolf stated he wasn't sure if the landowner had been approached at this time. Board members confirmed with the county attorney that until the moratorium is lifted in February 2027, that one could not be constructed there to which she confirmed that is correct. The planning director also confirmed that after the moratorium is over, a data center could be an allowed use by right if water and sewer are provided otherwise it would require a Special Use Permit.
Discussion & Analysis: When considering general use rezoning, all uses listed in Section 10.13 of the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance listed under the proposed zoning class...
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