A contentious topic will be revisited at the Chatham County Board of Commissioners meeting tonight.
Much of rural Chatham County is not currently subject to zoning regulations, but that could change Monday night.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will meet on Monday night with countywide zoning on the agenda. A public hearing was held on the topic in June. Opinions were split at the time between residents who felt the zoning was a way to help protect the county from the development coming to the region and those who felt this was overreach from the local government into areas it was not wanted or needed.
Chatham County has been a popular place for development in recent years with the growth of the Triangle in North Carolina. The county has been seen as a cheaper option in the area when compared to Wake, Durham and Orange Counties.
The commissioners heard nearly two hours of public comment at the June meeting. Since then, the planning board has recommended countywide zoning by a 7-4 vote.
The meeting Monday night is expected to draw a large crowd. So much so that the meeting has been moved to the Multipurpose Room at Chatham Central High School.
The zoning will impact 388 square miles that are currently unzoned. County officials have discussed the issue for the past 18 months with multiple planning board and subcommittee meetings held on the topic.
Seven of the eight counties that border Chatham are currently fully zoned, according to the planning board. Some residents are concerned that due to the other counties zoning policies, more operations that could negatively impact the land would choose Chatham County due to fewer regulations.
With the Chatham Park development in the works in the county, the planning board felt it was important to get out in front of the issue with countywide zoning.
The meeting Monday night is scheduled for six o’clock at Chatham Central High School.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Chatham Commissioners Approve Countywide ZoningChatham County Commissioners voted 3-2 to apply zoning to the remaining portions of the county that were previously unzoned at its meeting Monday night. The vote means that the newly zoned portions of the county will now fall under R-1 or R-5 zoning regulations. R-1 will allow “low to moderate density residential development in residential […]
![]()
Zoning Public Hearing Turns Contentious for Chatham CountyEmotions flared in the Chatham County Commissioner meeting on Monday night during a public hearing over the possibility of zoning portions of the county that have previously been unzoned. That temperament extended to commissioners Walter Petty and Diana Hales, who were involved in a particularly contentious back and forth. “You said yourself, ‘I will zone […]
On the Porch: Ellen Brown - Myths about MoneyThis Week:
Ellen Brown is an attorney and author of thirteen books and hundreds of articles (all on her blog at http://EllenBrown.com). Her titles include the bestselling "Web of Debt" and "Nature's Pharmacy," co-authored with Dr. Lynne Walker, along with "The Public Bank Solution" and her latest book "Banking on the People."
She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1967 and from UCLA Law School in 1977; practiced law for ten years in Los Angeles; then spent 11 years abroad, in Kenya, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, with her husband and two children. She co-founded and chaired of the Public Banking Institute from which she retired in Spring of 2025
![]()
Chatham County Roundup: County Commissioner Amanda RobertsonChatham County Commissioner Amanda Robertson speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, August 19.
On the Porch: Adam Edelen - Bringing the Promise of Renewable Energy to Rural AmericaThis Week:
Adam Edelen is a dynamic leader with a demonstrated record of success in both the private and public sectors. As founder and CEO of Edelen Renewables, he has garnered significant attention for forming partnerships to pioneer coal-to-solar projects and other green energy developments in struggling energy communities. His firm’s unique Social Impact Solar® approach reflects a deep commitment to economic revitalization and environmental sustainability.
Chatham County Holds Simulated Active Shooter Drill Ahead of Back to SchoolAs Chatham County’s schools are preparing for the start of classes, the local sheriff’s office is working to make schools safer.
![]()
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro Mayor Kyle ShippPittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, August 12, discussing town news and events. He discussed the recent passage of truck prohibition on Hillsboro St. and Sandford Rd., as the 15-501 truck route now diverts vehicles with more than three axles around downtown. He also talked about some policy updates, position changes, and more.
On the Porch: Frank White - Space PhilosopherThis Week:
Frank White is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Rhodes Scholar. He earned an M.Phil. in Politics from Oxford University. Frank’s book, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, is considered by many to be a seminal work in the field of space studies. He has authored or co-authored additional books on a wide range of topics, including SETI, AI, and climate change. Frank is also co-executive editor of Sentient Media, LLC, President and Board Chair of the Human Space Program, and a Professor at Kepler Space University.
![]()
Chatham County Roundup: Chair of the County Commissioners Karen HowardChair of the Chatham County Commissioners Karen Howard spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, August 5, discussing count news and events. She discussed some recent fatal accidents on Harris Lake and Jordan Lake in Chatham County, and how the recreation that comes with having large bodies of water also comes with risk, and extra investment and preparedness from the county. She also discussed a plan to update the inventory of natural spaces in Chatham County as the county looks to preserve more of those areas during continued development of the county. She talked about an upcoming county climate retreat and further community conversations around what land should be preserved, and more.
Chatham County Sheriff: Unoccupied Vehicle Pulled from Jordan LakeThe Chatham County Sheriff’s Office assisted in pulling a submerged vehicle from Jordan Lake Friday morning. The sheriff’s office says they were alerted to the vehicle by a fisherman who spotted it with sonar earlier in the week. The car was located under the U.S. Highway 64 bridge beneath roughly 30 feet of water. Deputies […]
›
