A new economic impact study shows the planned Chatham Park development would generate roughly $80 billion dollars for Chatham County over the next four decades, approximately $140 billion for the Triangle region, and more than $154 billion statewide.

The study was conducted by NC State economist Dr. Michael Walden and commissioned by the Chatham Economic Development Corporation.

Chatham Park is a 7,000 acre mixed-use development planned to be built in phases between Pittsboro and Jordan Lake.

Walden’s study suggests it will generate more than 61,000 permanent jobs in Chatham County, 99,000 permanent jobs in the Triangle region and 115,000 in North Carolina.

Pittsboro leaders approved the plan last June after months of heated debate. The first project, a UNC Health care medical office, broke ground in December.

But the project has angered some Chatham residents. A citizen group called Pittsboro Matters filed a lawsuit challenging the way the town approved rezoning for the project.

You can read more about the lawsuit here.

Members say they want to sit down with developers and the Town Board to re-write the Chatham Park master plan to include more stringent environmental protection measures.

With 22 million square feet of commercial, office, and civic space as well as 22,000 residential units, Chatham Park will be one of the largest master-planned communities in the country once it’s fully developed.

You can read the full study here.