Back in 2024, the Court of Appeals ruled that the county commissioners wrongly approved Mason Farms, a 141 unit “conservation subdivision,” to be built in north Durham county. The county challenged the decision and the Court of Appeals withdrew the opinion. No one knew why the opinion was withdrawn. Today, 3/18/2026, the Court of Appeals issued a revised opinion. Nothing important changed. The good guys win again.
I will write a post describing the very questionable behavior of the county attorney and the planning director in misleading county and city elected regarding the conservation subdivision ordinance as it existed at the time. Electeds were duped into passing a new conservation subdivision ordinance which totally eviscerated the environmental purposes of the original law.
In the meantime, read my original post on this case and the Court of Appeals decision.
To read the Court of Appeals decision just google NC Court of Appeals and click on “slip opinions,” then scroll down to “Barefoot.” It’s near the top.