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Chatham County urges state lawmakers to preserve local planning and zoning authority
Summary
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution asking sponsors of several 2025 North Carolina bills to reconsider measures that county officials say would erode local authority over planning and zoning.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners on May 5 adopted a resolution urging sponsors of multiple 2025 North Carolina General Assembly bills to reconsider measures that, the county said, would limit local planning and zoning authority.
Commissioner Howard read the staff-prepared resolution on behalf of the board, saying the bills ‘‘threaten to undermine the fundamental authority of local governments over planning and zoning’’ and were proposed ‘‘without meaningful consultation with local elected officials, planning staff, or the communities they represent.’’ The resolution specifically calls on sponsors of HB 765, SB 495, SB 497, SB 499, SB 587 and SB 688 to collaborate with local governments and preserve local planning powers.
The resolution text, as read at the meeting, argues the proposed measures would ‘‘override Chatham County’s carefully developed planning and zoning ordinances’’ and ‘‘significantly limit or eliminate public participation in local land use decisions, undermining a core principle of democratic governance.’’ Commissioner Howard said the board adopted the resolution by consent.
County staff and commissioners noted the resolution was intended to highlight concerns about a ‘‘one size fits all’’ approach from the state that, they said, could produce unintended consequences for rural and small-town communities.
The resolution was adopted by consent; commissioners did not record a roll-call vote at the meeting. The board asked staff to keep monitoring the bills and to share the county’s position with state lawmakers.
The county will publish the resolution text on its website and staff said they would notify local officials and stakeholders so residents can also communicate with their state representatives.
Votes at a glance: The board adopted the resolution by consent (motion to adopt; mover/second recorded as moved/seconded during the meeting; vote recorded as “Aye” on the voice call). No roll-call tally was read into the record.
