Residents press Alamance commissioners on water, traffic and services risks from proposed 1,000‑home Morrill Mill development

Residents urged Alamance County commissioners on Monday to slow or reject a proposed roughly 1,000‑home subdivision near Morrill Mill Road, saying the project would strain wells, roads and public services.

Peter Childers, who gave his address on Morrill Mill Road, told the commissioners the project would draw "about 350 gallons per day per household," which he said would amount to about "10,500,000 gallons per month" for the development, and predicted "about 10,000 trips per day" onto a two‑lane rural road. He said neighbors were not notified and charged that the county's rules favor developers over existing residents. "Who is going to assure, even compensate existing homeowners if their relatively shallow wells run dry?" Childers asked.

Michelle Aronson, a vegetable farmer who said her family relies on well water, told the board that tests of her well showed nitrate readings "more than double the legal limit" and warned of health risks for infants and long‑term risks for adults. She asked what testing protocols and long‑term safeguards will be required to ensure safe drinking water for current and future residents.

Henry Vines urged the board to preserve rural character and noted property taxes, landfills and development would be key issues for voters in the coming months.

Commissioner Thompson and other commissioners responded that they appreciated the concerns and described the difficulty of local control when some permitting and reviews happen at the state or technical review committee (TRC) level. Commissioners discussed revisiting land‑use tools such as unified development plans; they did not adopt or direct a change in policy during the meeting.

The board did not take a vote on the proposed development during this session. Public comments were entered into the meeting record; commissioners said staff would continue to review land‑use processes and related permitting pathways.