The Town of Pittsboro is rejecting a citizen’s group’s demand to stop construction on a stretch of the U.S. 64 Bypass.

“Their development plan calls for a bridge to be built over the bypass,” said Amanda Robertson, the chair for the board of Pittsboro Matters. “But they’re also creating the road that goes back into the development right now.”

Pittsboro Matters accuses developers of a 7,100-acre mixed-use project of starting construction without first meeting legal requirements.

But the town manager says the group is mistaken about the history and jurisdiction of the bypass work.

This past December, Pittsboro Matters and six adjacent property owners filed a lawsuit challenging the Chatham Park Master Plan approved early that month by the town board. An earlier plan approved in June was also challenged by the same plaintiffs.

Opponents contend that the master plan is neither in compliance with the Planned Development District plan, nor the Land Use Plan. A trial date is set for October.

But right now, Pittsboro Matters is accusing developers of starting construction work on the 64 bypass without meeting a requirement to clear the work first through a Development Review Committee.

“It’s as though the town either is completely oblivious or just ignoring what’s going on,” said Robertson.

An attorney for Pittsboro Matters wrote to Town Attorney Paul Messick that the group is prepared to go to court if the work isn’t stopped by April 6.

Town Manager Bryan Gruesbeck told WCHL that Pittsboro Matters is knocking on the wrong door.

“The public agency that has the exclusive jurisdiction over this project is the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Gruesbeck referred to a thoroughfare plan that was approved by the town in 1992. Then, about six years ago, the town adopted a resolution to ask the NCDOT to approve an interchange at that location, with use of private funds.

“Even more recently than that, in 2011, the town adopted a Comprehensive Transportation Plan, which identified the location of the bridge,” said Gruesbeck. “And that plan was included as part of the Chatham Park Planned District.”

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