rezoning hearing for Forestar Real Estate Group’s 61-acre Rigsbee property

[Amy McCarter]

Good morning,

I'm a 20 year resident of the West Brook Estates neighborhood off NC HWY 54 West and I want to voice my concerns of rezoning the Rigsbee property to allow denser development than currently allowed. 

I strongly oppose the developer’s request to rezone the NC Hwy 54 West property from R-1 to R-CD, because it would burden the surrounding community with impacts of massive water use, crowded septic systems, stormwater runoff along three creeks and seven wetland areas, and with increased traffic.

Having lived in this neighborhood for 20 years, there have been drought years as well as flood years. During drought years we all feel anxious about water usage and the health of the aquafuar our wells draw from. I understand a hydraulic study was conducted in July 2025, soon after the historic flood of Chantal. Given the timing of this hydraulic study, perhaps more thought should be given to what the aquaphor looks like during a more average rain season or even during drought times. The climate crisis has made weather unpredictable and the "feast or famine" style of weather seems more the norm than ever before. 

My children spent countless hours playing at our neighborhood creek, catching tadpoles, frogs and salamanders, throwing pebbles into the water and learning about their local environment. Over the years we have seen the small creek flood with increasing frequency and severity.  The last several years have brought the most dramatic flooding due to the intense rain events brought on from the climate crisis. With increased housing brings increased paved surfaces and the consequences of runoff, both volume and content (fertilizers, chemicals, etc). How will the nearby creeks and wetlands be protected from runoff? Given the increased frequency of flood events, this is a real concern. Allowing the rezoning of the property will increase the runoff and add more stress to the creeks, streams and wetlands. 

The proposed development claims to be a conservation cluster, but the development appears to undermine conservation. It would crowd twice as many septic fields along creeks and wetlands as current zoning allows.

Having hiked and explored some of the land that follows the small creek as it flows out of our neighborhood and into the woods that will become the new development, I can tell you the land is full of wildlife. From native ferns, to precious amphibians and birds, wildlife is abundant in that area. The rocky outcrops and the gentle flowing water of the creek is a treasure to protect. We hear the Bard Owls calling in the evening that roost in the surrounding woods. We see the various species of Hawks soaring that nest in the surrounding woods. These animals make their homes in the woods that will be destroyed for the increased housing if rezoning is approved. The salamanders that need seasonal vernal pools to reproduce will lose habitat. Box turtles that face daily struggles of car strike will have less safe habitat and more cars to crush them. Skunks, opossum, deer ... the list is long of animals that will have their native habitat lost to over development. Oaks and so many of the disappearing hardwoods will be felled. Habitat loss is occuring at a devastating pace, please help protect this habitat by not rezoning for more dense development. 

Lastly, the traffic on HWY 54 has increased dramatically over the last several years. The number of accidents along the highway have also increased, particularly on the stretch of road near our neighborhood entrance. Turning out of our neighborhood during high traffic times is difficult to say the least. Allowing dense housing development will increase the traffic. 

Without rezoning, the property could be developed into 20 lots of 40,000 sf each, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and with neighboring rural properties of 1 acre and larger. 

Please take all these concerns about the rezoning seriously. 

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Amy McCarter

9718 Leslie Drive

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

roxy...@gmail.com

[Jamezetta Bedford]

Ms. McCarter,

On behalf of the Board, you know by now that the rezoning was approved 5:2 with Commissioners McKee and Hamilton dissenting. I did not have time to reply to your email prior to the meeting that night. The BOCC did consider the issues you raise. 

Sincerely,

Jamezetta Bedford, Chair

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From: Amy McCarter <roxy...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 10:58 AM
To: ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK <OCB...@orangecountync.gov>
Subject: rezoning hearing for Forestar Real Estate Group’s 61-acre Rigsbee property

 

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