Harnett County hears 175-home proposal, approve $500K PFAS funding

On Sept. 15, Harnett County Commissioners heard the first conditional zoning proposal from the planning board since the commissioners adopted conditional zoning. Applicants want 175 single-family homes on 87.51 acres of rural agricultural land off Purfoy Road in Fuquay-Varina.

The public hearing to consider rezoning from rural agricultural 40 to CZ-RA-40 conditional zoning for a 175 single-family subdivision development is Sept. 21.

The black line (see image above) identifies the area the planning board consistently called a conservation area and indicates the wetlands area next to the planned 25% open area and was noted as a reason the planning board unanimously approved the proposal.

The planning board recommended the project unanimously because although the lots are small, they plan a large open space, which is adjacent to the wetland area where housing is not allowed.

“The open space is more than what we would typically get with a standard subdivision,” the planning board representative, who did not introduce herself and was not identified on the agenda said.

In North Carolina, building setbacks from wetlands vary by buffer protection, usually between 30 and 75 feet or more from the water’s edge.

The planning board offered a denial statement to the commissioners that read, “The requested rezoning is unreasonable due to the proposed development density of 1.81 units per acre, which is incompatible with surrounding agricultural and very low-density residential development that defines the neighborhood character.

The standards call for 1.83 lot sizes per home.

The property is next to a shooting range, and the owners have spoken with applicants, and they agreed on a buffer of trees and a fence.

The development plans a covered mail kiosk and bus stop for school children.

The planning board recommended the proposed development as low density “due to the availability of sewer service and the provision of 25% open space,” which is connected to wetlands.

Commissioners had no substantial questions about the proposed development.

The board will hold a public hearing on Sept. 21 to consider applicant Rodney A. Gregory’s proposed Unified Development Ordinance text amendment to allow covered porches on manufactured homes within manufactured home parks.

The planning board voted unanimously to allow the porches as Gregory proposed at a maximum of 100 square feet, but they must remain open and shall not be enclosed.

Commissioners honored Harnett County Veteran Hero Kenneth W. Williams.

During Action Items, the board approved a request to contract Synagro Central, LLC for $1,305,857 for two acres of sludge removal. Sludge is biosolids and wastewater.

Tommy Burns, the Harnett Regional Water Director, said this was in conjunction with the northeastern lagoon. The contract was originally awarded to Bionomics but they were “unresponsive.” 

The board approved $500k in Phase 2 funding for the PFAS system. The activated carbon system will remove much of the PFAS forever chemicals. There is presently no treatment standard, but by 2031 must have removal systems in place to meet the standard of four parts per trillion.

The State of North Carolina settled a PFAS lawsuit with Chemours Co., DuPont and Corteva on Sept. 10, 2026.

Harnett County faces an estimated $80 million PFAS treatment project, but the county is not among the 11 local governments receiving payments under the new $455 million Chemours settlement. Whether Harnett County could benefit from the state’s share of the settlement remains unclear.

Chemours Co., DuPont and Corteva have agreed to a $455 million settlement with North Carolina and 11 local governments over lawsuits involving PFAS and other historical discharges from the Fayetteville Works manufacturing site. The agreement also settles state claims about PFAS contamination from sources not linked to Fayetteville Works, including AFFF use.

Payment of the settlement will span 15 years. Chemours will pay 50%, roughly $227.5 million before adjustments, under an agreement with DuPont and Corteva, who will cover the rest. Chemours expects its share to be about $180 million in net present value, covered by funds already reserved. Chemours plans to pay around $50 million in the next year.

Approximately $18 million of the settlement relates to alleged PFAS contamination not linked to Fayetteville Works. The agreement requires formal dismissal of the covered lawsuits for the settlement.

The agreement addresses remaining duties from Chemours’ 2019 consent order with the state. Chemours stated it has heavily invested in cutting PFAS emissions from Fayetteville Works and tackling external impacts since the order.

The settlement includes 11 local entities: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Robeson, and Sampson counties.

According to Chemours, the agreement clarifies financial duties regarding legacy PFAS cases and permits continued operation of the Fayetteville Works facility. Funding and procedures address off-site and drinking water concerns in PFAS-affected communities.

During commissioners’ comments, they said they shared the public’s “screams” about taxes and rights and that last week there were many threats escalating on social media.

During public comments at the previous meeting, citizens demonstrated outlandish behavior, with profanity.

Commissioner Matt Nicol said he was the protector of his family and the board, gave out his address and said if anyone wanted to shoot them to be prepared to face the law and him. “I strongly, strongly suggest you don’t miss.”

This meeting did not include a public comments period.

The next meeting is Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.

Sept. 16, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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