Date: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:22:29 -0400
From: John Alderman
Subject: Chatham Park, Guns at Our Back
There has been a long history of land and water conservation in Chatham County. All totaled, there are more than 60,000 acres in conservation ownership in Chatham, much of which is associated with conservation of our water resources. This represents a tremendous multi-generational investment by the people of the United States, North Carolina, Chatham County, and our municipalities; federal and state agencies; conservation groups; corporations; and private conservation corporations. Through its various conservation ordinances, Chatham County provides significant protection of these areas and our county’s streams, rivers, and lakes.
However, the same is not true for Pittsboro and its ETJ (outlying lands controlled by Pittsboro). That’s why Chatham Park Investors purchased lands within Pittsboro’s ETJ. They wanted full use of and financial benefit from OUR GREEN SPACE, which is protected by most Chatham County citizens, without the same kinds of conservation responsibilities for Chatham Park Investors. It’s kinda like, “Cover our backs, and we’ll cover yours with our pistols.” Personally, as a Chatham County citizen, long-time taxpayer, conservationist, and sportsman, I don’t like these arrangement. I definitely won’t be asking the kind folks with Chatham Park Investors to go hunting with me.
John Alderman
Pittsboro, NC