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Commissioners decline to transfer special‑use permit review to Board of Adjustment
Summary
After a public hearing and testimony from the Person County Economic Development Commission chair, the board voted to deny a text amendment that would have assigned special‑use permit review to the Board of Adjustment, leaving review authority with the Board of Commissioners.
The Person County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 3 to not approve text amendment TA‑14‑25, which would have assigned review of special‑use permits to the Board of Adjustment instead of the Board of Commissioners.
Planning Director Margaret explained that state law allows different bodies to be assigned quasi‑judicial hearings and that the planning board recommended denial (vote 4–2). Scott McKinney, chair of the Person County Economic Development Commission, urged the board to retain review with elected officials, arguing commissioners are accountable to voters and better positioned to balance property‑rights and community interests.
Commission discussion noted concerns that the Board of Adjustment had only recently reconvened after a long hiatus and that commissioners wanted appointment authority over any board members if the change were to occur. The board voted to deny the amendment.
What happens next: Review authority for special‑use permits remains with the Board of Commissioners unless a future ordinance revision is proposed and adopted.
