Sanford approves 25-year Chatham Park wastewater deal, land-use changes

Sanford approved a 25-year wastewater agreement with Chatham Park Investors (CPI) Sept. 1 and advanced several land-use changes that will facilitate continued development and expansion.

The council approved the CPI agreement to merge wastewater systems and services to meet rapid growth demands.

After the Aug. 25 workshop, when Attorney Mac McCarley asked the mayor about providing a presentation for the public’s benefit at the Sept. 1 meeting, and the mayor did not reply, McCarley and Attorney Catherine Clodfelter shared a brief oral review at the Sept. 1 meeting of the CPI wastewater agreement, a year-long endeavor.

“A lot of people behind the scenes do not know how tangled this can be,” Commissioner Charles Taylor said about coordinating the merger and drafting the agreement that clarifies the Pittsboro and Chatham agreements to match Sanford’s role.

Sanford will purchase the clean water treatment plant at $1.9 million, for a $4-million building, with permits and pay $1 million for the extra land for expansion, a water tower and “most importantly, customers,” McCarley said at the Aug. 25 workshop.

Chatham and Pittsboro receive sewer capacity to facilitate increased development, up to 100,000 gallons per day per year.

The cost for Sanford goes into Pittsboro’s rate base.

According to Hexagon’s Nov. 2025 article, rapid growth and inflation costs to repair aging water facilities will continue to cause more large water treatment facilities to merge with smaller facilities.

The council will set rates and system development fees, which may have to be adjusted, based on growth.

The CPI Agreement is a 25-year agreement, and the land transactions is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, according to Clodfelter.

CPI can use more wastewater than agreed in the agreement, in which case Sanford can be free of the agreement sooner, and CPI would be treated as any regular customer.

If Sanford can provide more than 100k per day in a year, it can, but it is not required.

If CPI does not use 80k per day in a year, they lose it. There is no accumulation.

“First come, first serve on needs over 100,000,” McCarley said at the Aug. 25 workshop about CPI wanting more. He suggested they have frequent meetings to negotiate needs.

For drought conditions, the agreement falls under policies already in place with TriRiver Water.

CPI will pay for some of the design costs for the Sanford facility, and the town can continue the same rate of payments, of which an estimated $900k is still owed.

Pittsboro’s and CPI’s agreements are either nullified or absorbed into the Sanford agreement.

Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) & Land Use

Zoning Director Thomas Mierisch reviewed proposed changes before the council voted.

Sanford planners supported several land-use changes, including allowing fire, sheriff and emergency-service facilities “by right” with a UDO amendment at the Aug. 18 meeting. The council approved the “by right” request and several rezoning requests on Sept. 1.

Lee County approved the emergency-service facilities “by right” change on Aug. 17.

Before, a special use permit was required for emergency service development in RA, RR, RN-20, R-20, SN-12, SN-9, UN-6, MF-12 and NC. Special use permits allow neighboring property owners to voice concerns of nearby developments.

At the Aug. 18 meeting, planning staff said the “by right” change would ease the financial burden on volunteer fire departments needing to expand and build new facilities, would expedite the process by eliminating meetings, that Lee County Government supported the change, that rapid growth caused the need for increased services so homeowner’s could meet insurance requirements, and Sanford planners acknowledged residential concerns about siren noises, lights and large trucks rushing to aid citizens, and during a conversation after the meeting, said residents who did not like them next to their property would eventually move.

On Aug. 18, planners said surrounding counties implemented the same “by right” land use.

After a quick public hearing, the board approved annexing 27-contiguous acres at 1601 Carthage Street in the ETJ for Rollingdale Investments, LLC to attain sewer service. Rollingdale Investment, LLC is a real estate development company tied to Josh Swindell of Raleigh-based Envision Homes, known for residential projects in Sanford and Durham.

The council held public hearings at the Aug. 18 meeting, and the planning board recommended each of the following, and the council approved each on Sept. 1:

Mark Lyczkowski of ML Consulting, Inc’s, request to amend the existing conditional zoning from 2024 to revise the design for removing a connection to Nixon Drive and add a single-family detached lot on Nixon Drive.

The original plans had two entrances for compliance with the UDO, which has changed. On March 3, 2026, the Sanford City Council unanimously approved a change to the subdivision rules that increased the threshold for requiring two entrances from 30 lots to 100 lots. The county also adopted this change.

The change was intended to make the local rules consistent with North Carolina Fire Code standards.

During the Aug. 18 discussion, Lyczkowski said he had “not figured out” how to create a buffer for Willard Meadows subdivision on the U.S. Highway 421 border because of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s fence. See the yellow indication.

On Aug. 18, Senior Planner Amy McNeil suggested planting a buffer of Leland evergreens between the townhomes and single-family homes, as indicated in green.

Lyczkowski said existing trees were ten to twelve inches in diameter, and McNeil said maybe he could leave the trees and fill gaps with evergreens.

Ali Java with Pine Cell Repair, LLC’s request to rezone from general commercial to general commercial conditional zoning District for a 500-square-foot apartment on the first floor of his commercial building constructed in the 1900s at 706 W. Pearl Street. Java attained dedicated parking across the street on Horner Boulevard with Glorious Community Childcare Center, LLC. The upstairs is storage only.

Sanford’s land use plan designates this parcel as Neighborhood Center, which encourages “upper story” residences in mixed-use buildings, but not first-story residences.

The second story “door to nowhere” is used for moving boxes, and the only access to the second floor is a pull-down ladder, no stairs, and the door has been secured and meets code.

Jones & Cnossen Engineering, PLLC, and property owner Golong Holdings, LLC’s representative, William Norton’s proposed plans for 10.19 acres of vacant land on Rose Street, and the planning board recommended rezoning from urban neighborhood to multifamily to allow the development of a multi-family apartment community. The property is between 706 W. Rose Street and 808 W. Rose Street.

The board discussed the impracticality of crossing the street for parking and Senior Planner David Montgomery said the parking agreement was a formality to meet compliance, and most people parked on Pearl Street.

Honor for Lifesaver Scott Peterson

The City of Sanford Public Works retiree, Scott Peterson, received recognition for his heroic act of saving Carson LaCarter, a construction worker who sustained a serious injury on July 20 while working on the Sanford and Broadway Road expansion. Onsite as a third-party inspector, Peterson’s immediate response involved providing emergency care, staying with LaCarter until FirstHealth EMS arrived, and relaying crucial information about his injuries to the paramedics. The council commended Peterson for his bravery and steady demeanor, highlighting how his actions shifted a dire situation into a narrative of survival and recovery.

Proclamation for Mary Ashburn

The council honored Mary Ashburn with a proclamation for her dedication to animal welfare.

The overcrowding at the local animal shelter in 2013 was the catalyst for Ashburn to found Lending Paws A Hand. For over thirteen years, she and her husband, Ed, collaborated with volunteers, offering everything from veterinary services to foster care, adoptions, and other vital support to animals and families throughout North Carolina.

Her dedicated efforts resulted in over 1,000 dogs and cats being rescued and finding loving forever homes. The local shelter’s success rate soared from a mere 20% to an impressive 97% at its peak, a testament to the collaborative efforts of Ashburn, the shelter’s dedicated staff, rescue organizations, willing volunteers, and the wider community.

Taylor said it was time for accountability after several animals were euthanized at the county animal shelter when communication with rescue groups faltered. He suggested an update from the public health director, William Heath Cain, at the next work session.

Sept. 2, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

Subscribe to Sandhills News and support this conservative journalism with advertising.

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.

Sandhills News is plain-English local government reporting that explains how decisions affect your land, taxes, schools and rights.