Board approves designation of parkland for Chatham Park

PITTSBORO — The town’s board of commissioners on Monday approved a resolution to accept the proposed Chatham Park Sports Complex as parkland. 

Commissioner John Bonitz was the lone commissioner to dissent in the 4-1 vote. 

“I don’t understand why we are in a rush to do this,” Bonitz said. 

The resolution states the sports complex would be classified as 50 acres of parkland, and count toward Chatham Park’s pledge to include parks and recreation spaces within its developments. 

Pittsboro Parks and Recreation Director Katie Keller said she reviewed the conceptual plans and approved of what Chatham Park was proposing. Designating the land as parkland would help Chatham Park developers start their process of surveying the land the complex would be on, according to Pittsboro Town Attorney Paul Messick Jr. 

But Bonitz said he wanted to wait until the survey was completed so the board would know exactly what parcel of land they were going to designate as parkland. 

“Why would we sign off on something if we don’t know where it is?” Bonitz asked the board. 

Commissioner Jay Farrell brought the motion forward to approve the resolution, with Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Baldwin seconding. 

Before the vote, Commissioner Kyle Shipp said he was in favor of the resolution since it had gone through several rounds of approval by town staff before coming before the board. 

“I think it’s important we place our trust in our town staff when these decisions come up,” he said. 

With the approved resolution, Chatham Park has until Dec. 20 to ensure the town receives the results of the property survey for the complex. 

In other business: 

• The board discussed adding new members to the Affordable Housing Task Force. Commissioners will continue discussions in upcoming regular meetings. 

Reporter Taylor Heeden can be reached at theeden@chathamnr.com and on Twitter at @HeedenTaylor.