On Living in Chatham County: What's Its Future? Pros & Cons of Population Growth

[randy]

Traffic is going to be the killer we all have enjoyed very little of.  I was in Apex during rush hour after work, it was very frustrating, even dangerous the way they drive over there.  Even the circle in Pittsboro at noon and  work evening is getting backed up.  I wonder if they'll have to put traffic lights in.  It will be like trying to get out of NWH when school is letting out, it takes 15- 18 min sometimes.  NWH needs another exit made off that property and extend that right turning lane back farther.
I still wish they would put a min of 3 acres per house ordinance for Chatham county while there still some time left.  It's the sensible way to control housing growth.

[VAHeel]

Another exit/entrance from NHS has been discussed before, it's not really very feasible.  We are doomed by poor planning, there.  However, I don't see why they couldn't widen the current one and make two left turn lanes into it, or something, as well as lengthening the right turn lane, like you suggest.

As for a three acre minimum, I can't agree.  That's a lot of land.  What if I don't want that much land?  What if I don't want to care for it or mow it or deal with it?  I have a hard enough time with my one acre, frankly, and I don't think it's reasonable to expect people to put up with three times as much trouble, or live elsewhere.

[randy]

Another exit/entrance from NHS has been discussed before, it's not really very feasible.  We are doomed by poor planning, there.  However, I don't see why they couldn't widen the current one and make two left turn lanes into it, or something, as well as lengthening the right turn lane, like you suggest.

As for a three acre minimum, I can't agree.  That's a lot of land.  What if I don't want that much land?  What if I don't want to care for it or mow it or deal with it?  I have a hard enough time with my one acre, frankly, and I don't think it's reasonable to expect people to put up with three times as much trouble, or live elsewhere.

then go live in Apes/Carey where the homes are either large or small, but the yards are small and homes packed in together.  I just take it for granite when you want to move to a rural area, your going to have some land to care for.  And there's always Ferrington you can still get a small home for $200,000.  But I might of said this already, homes under the $200,000 around here are moving fast, 3 homes in are association all sold within 30 days, two neighbors used a real estate, the other sold by owner on Craigslist.  The home next to me that sold was bought by a Hispanic family with several children, hope they are nice folks.

[VAHeel]

I have lived in Chatham County my entire life, why should I have to move to Apex just because I don't want three acres of land?  Why don't you go live somewhere that the houses are already far apart, if that's what you want?

Chatham is not all "rural."  Much of the NE is suburban, or at least moving that direction, and there's nothing wrong with that lifestyle, either.

[randy]

I have lived in Chatham County my entire life, why should I have to move to Apex just because I don't want three acres of land?  Why don't you go live somewhere that the houses are already far apart, if that's what you want?

Chatham is not all "rural."  Much of the NE is suburban, or at least moving that direction, and there's nothing wrong with that lifestyle, either.

well if you live here and your happy with what you got, what are you complaining about, I'm talking about incoming growth population keeping it done responsibly, not just creating these instant cities of homes, oh nether mind, I've been through this on another thread.

[VAHeel]

I"m simply trying to point out that limiting lots to 3 acres throughout the entire county is absurd, and, frankly, I feel overly invasive.

What I think may be a good idea, and what I have seen other counties do, is suburban service areas vs. rural/agricultural protection areas.  It limits the parts of the county where people can reasonably expect to be provided services like recycling, sewer, water, etc, and protects parts of the county with a history of agriculture, rural lifestyle, etc, from both development and industry.

[randy]

yes I hear what your saying, I just know how the little instant cities grow and the congestion they will cause.

[VAHeel]

yeah, I would just say that that's pretty much the way it goes.  absurd regulations, like requiring three acre lots, only create different problems.

[Silk_Hope]

Those of us in the NW voted down the county water a few years back. Our own way to slow growth and preserve our rural character.

The NE is and will continue to grow. If Goodnight builds the new RTP in Pittsboro we will all be living in the new Apex and Cary.

The growth pattern Chatham is experiencing has been demonstrated many times in many cities. The growth in Raleigh is not only to the West but to the East too. Smithfield is growing in Johnston County, in fact the new Hwy 70 bypass will be open soon from Smithfield to I-40.

We all can do our best to advocate reponsible growth but growth will occur none the less.

[natvrabit]

VaHeel, early on some of the lot size "requirements"  were due to perk abilities (septic systems) and as well as watershed protection (which is now a joke).  It was part of being rural. I hope options remain available for people...if they don't want connected condo walls, then there will be properties available that are not such. If someone wants and can handle MORE than a 10' side yard in regard to maintenance, so be it. If lifestyles needs change and need to live in an apt. or condo, I see plenty of ads in close by areas to take advantage of that choice.

[VAHeel]

I think you were smart to vote down county water.  I think that is one excellent want to control growth, and I think we should use appropriate means to protect the areas of our county that have a strong rural tradition, and want to keep it that way.  However, I don't think it's reasonable to hold the entire county to that standard.

native: certainly limitations on a case by case basis due to concerns like perking are necessary.  However, saying we only want 3 acre lots here in chatham, and if you can't afford it go the hell somewhere else just seems elitist, to me, and disrespects the lifestyles of many people who have been here for an awfully long time (like a lot of people in Bynum, for example, or even log barn acres, off the top of my head.)

[natvrabit]

Even with a vote for water lines...where's the water going to come from to run through them...that was a cart before the horse thing!
VaHeel, Randy promoted the 3 acres, not me. At times I wish I had a thousand acres and at times I wish I had NONE, like right now, need to mow and it's 105 degrees!  I have lived here my entire life and was thrilled when I bought my first piece of "dirt" here. It came a lot harder to me than some. I am not elitist as this economy churns on, quite the opposite! Not a transplant that found cheaper dirt in NC to capitalize on and now want to make it all become like where I escaped from.

[belle]

people are all each and every one different. every stage of life has different needs. I just wish all options were available. we need affordable, and condensed, housing. Fearrington on the cheap, maybe with less expensive landscaping.

we need to protect watersheds and ground water and even wildlife.

isn't that why there is a moratorium? so what do we wait for? it is a suspension of activity, I assume to evaluate solutions to...water treatment, county income, whatever.

in watersheds, 3 acre lots make sense, but it is not specific enough for traffic control, county-wide.

[VAHeel]

Yeah, well, regardless of who brought it up, that is the discussion, so that is what Im discussing.  Do you have an alternate proposal we could discuss, instead?  I did not mean to call anyone an elitist, even randy who actually said it, but I do think, when you start putting limits on the size of lots, that's the flavor that it has.

I am not a transplant either, and I would also like to protect the Chatham I grew up in, which, at least partially, involves people leaving me alone, as much as possible, and living my life the way I want, rather than telling me how much land I have to own. 

I'm sorry someone stole your gas, they make gas caps that have combination locks built into them, but its' pathetic if you have to get one.

[VAHeel]

I also want to mention that there is a LOT of middle ground between minimum 3 acre lots and CONDOS, and even between that an high density housing. 

The point is, making that decision for the whole county because its' what YOU want, rather than allowing growth to develop in various areas as it is demanded; within reason and properly planned, of course; is invasive and selfish.  Lets protect the history of rural and agricultural parts of our county, as long as there are people who want to live there and care for it, but let's not act like that's what the whole county has been for a good long time now, or what the whole county SHOULD be.

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