We are calling on the applicant, Fearrington Property Development, LLC to publicly answer three basic questions before any final county vote:

1️⃣ Full Disclosure of Business Relationships: Does Fearrington Property Development, LLC, or its principals hold any profit-sharing agreements, joint-venture structures, or success-fee arrangements with Vivus Viridis, LLC or Pokeberry Mitigation, LLC?

2️⃣ Credit Revenue Transparency: What is the anticipated commercial yield from selling stream and wetland mitigation credits on this property, and how are those proceeds divided?

3️⃣ Public Risk Allocation: If downstream stream structures fail or run into long-term performance issues from storm runoff caused by high-density construction, who assumes the financial burden for long-term repairs?

To separate developer PR from regulatory reality, The Briar Chapel Community Association, our coalition partner, has compiled a comprehensive public factsheet. It directly synthesizes and cites official public records, state and federal agency filings, and county advisory reviews.

About 250 North Chatham residents and supporters filled the main hall to hear 28 speakers, mostly opposing the developer’s submittal. Board members closed public comment and postponed deliberations and final recommendation votes until their next meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

When the June 2026 Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) was lifted, over 900 pages of internal environmental scientific reports were finally exposed. Comparing these scientific findings against managing partner Thomas Welch’s signed, legally binding environmental questionnaires reveals a troubling pattern of denied hazards, missing infrastructure disclosures, and material omissions.

As stewards of the Haw River basin, we know that responsible land use and rigorous watershed protections are essential to preserving our community’s water quality and natural heritage.

Currently, a major ~365-acre rezoning proposal, Fearrington Preserve (CD-CC), is under review in Northern Chatham County.

Having stood in the middle of Morris Road to block unsuspecting drivers from plunging into hidden, roaring floodwaters, I know firsthand how dangerous these events are. As Sheriff Mike once shared with me, "You never forget a flood." It is traumatic, deafening, and unpredictable. The build area for Fearrington Preserve has suffered two catastrophic floods in seven years—we cannot afford to ignore reality any longer.

With the critical September 1st Chatham County Planning Board hearing just around the corner, it’s time to make our community’s voice unmissable.

We are excited to announce that official Smart Chatham yard signs are available and ready to be placed across our neighborhoods!

The primary vertical builder and financial engine behind this project is NVR, Inc.—the multi-billion-dollar corporate parent of Ryan Homes. Ryan Homes is the exact same production builder whose high-density developments have plagued North Chatham with chronic infrastructure failures, major erosion, and private wastewater system spills.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners met on Monday to continue last month’s public hearing for Fearrington Preserve, a proposed mixed-use housing community located off of Andrews Store Road. While aiming to bring affordable housing north of Pittsboro, it has been met with continued scrutiny from residents and county staff alike.