100,000 more homes ????? - Chatlist Post 4-22-08

No, not 100,000 more homes, but rather a proactive vision for economic development …

The Chatham Coalition has been circulating flyers and emails slamming Patrick Barnes and Mike Cross for securing a 19MGPD wastewater allocation for Chatham County. Their flyer and email states;

"Imagine.....
Chatham County with 300,000 more people -- or 100,000 more homes. That's 10 times more than anything former Commission Chair Bunkey Morgan ever proposed or approved ... They didn't think to ask: Why would Chatham want a costly countywide water-and-sewer system that would promote sprawl wherever the lines are extended, before revising our land-use plan to limit its use to towns and concentrated economic development areas? How would we pay for it? What would happen to our schools, roadways, natural resources and way of life?"

So I figured I'd answer.

First of all, Patrick Barnes and Mike Cross never said they wanted a 'costly county-wide water-and-sewer system’. Despite the Coalition's attempt to tell you otherwise, no such system is in the works or even being contemplated. What they have said is that infrastructure, water and sewer, is essential for true economic development. And they are not alone in this assertion. This is highlighted in the adopted strategic plan, our land conservation and development plan, and the most recent economic development strategic plan proposal, http://www.chathamedc.org/pdfs/recommendations_april08.pdf.

As with our County's water allocation, we also needed the State's approval for a sewer discharge allocation. Without it, we would have no hope for infrastructure, for economic development, or for addressing the sewer challenges of our existing municipalities; Pittsboro, Siler City, and Goldston. Ask the municipalities if sewer isn't an issue for them as well.

The Coalition presumes that this allocation alone will lead to 100,000 more homes in Chatham ... or at least that's what they want you to believe. In simple terms, this allocation provides us a planning tool. Without it, we have no options. Planning will be based on our land conservation and development plan and our economic strategy. It will be targeted to municipalities and economic development centers, and it will (it must) involve our municipalities. Without infrastructure, there is limited economic development. Patrick Barnes and Mike Cross are envisioning Chatham County's future. The Coalition is still fighting the demons (and the fears) of the past.

Vote May 6th
Re-elect Patrick Barnes, www.Barnes4Chatham.blogspot.com
Re-elect Mike Cross, www.Cross4Chatham.blogspot.com/
Chatham County Commissioner