By: Cara McDonough
PITTSBORO
-- Residents once again filled a Superior Court courtroom for Monday
night's continuation of a public hearing on the proposed development
Pittsboro Place.
Most were there to speak against the large retail development proposed
east of downtown, which could include a movie theater, bowling alley,
restaurants and retail.
Delivering carefully constructed speeches, many of the speakers
elicited loud applause, shouts and laughter from those on hand.
One even quoted a rock band's cover of a Joni Mitchell hit from the 1970s.
"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til
it's gone/ They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot," said 20-year
old Pittsboro resident Stuart Smith, who said he was reciting lyrics
from the Counting Crows' version of "Big Yellow Taxi."
He urged commissioners to oppose granting the rezoning request that would make Pittsboro Place possible.
"This type of development will kill our downtown area," he said. Smith
said he'd started a petition against the development with other
residents and already had more than 300 signatories.
Pittsboro Place Partners, a private group managed by developer William
Jackson, wishes to develop the mixed-use development on more than 120
acres on U.S. 64 East-Business, off Industrial Drive. The projected
build out is 12-16 years.
More than 70 people signed up to speak at the original public hearing
last week. When comments were still going at 11:30 p.m., the board
voted to adjourn and reconvene this week.
The continuation, like the first meeting, brought a steady stream of
Pittsboro residents who voiced -- sometimes shrilly -- a resounding
"no" to the retail center.
Resident Kathie Russell -- who said she was old enough to know the
Counting Crows lyrics were originally Joni Mitchell's -- said that
people don't go to overdeveloped spots like Apex and Cary to take in
the natural beauty.
"This is going to kill the one great opportunity that Pittsboro and
Chatham County have for real economic development. And what is that?
Tourism," she said.
Gary Simpson said the board could preserve Pittsboro's small town charm if they "don't sell to the gold diggers first."
Carol Hewitt said she'd offer to take commissioners or anyone else to
see the big retail centers in Cary and Raleigh, so they could
understand just how stressful they are.
But Commissioner Max Cotten, who asked at the outset of the meeting
that voting on the project be stalled because Commissioner Chris
Walker, was not present, said he wanted to remind the crowd that the
decision would ultimately be made on rules, not emotion.
"Our decision, no matter how we feel, will have to be made in
accordance with the laws of North Carolina and the town's zoning
ordinance," he said.
