Holly Springs backs county land-bank creation after resident testimony on affordability

The Holly Springs City Council voted unanimously to support the creation of a Cherokee Regional Land Bank Authority, a county-level entity intended to preserve property for affordable homeownership.

Bridal Jones, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the council to participate in community land-bank efforts and described the model as one that removes land cost from home prices to keep units affordable. "If you take the land cost out of that $120,000, now you're down to $280,000 and that makes it possible for somebody who's starting out to be able to afford that," Jones said, arguing the authority helps beginning teachers, firefighters and police officers afford homes.

A presenter reintroducing the item told the council the resolution is limited to supporting the creation of a county regional land bank and does not obligate Holly Springs to participate. The presenter said the authority must be approved at the county level and requires at least one other municipality in the county to support it before moving forward. Councilmembers moved, seconded and approved the resolution by a 5–0 vote.

Supporters and staff framed the land-bank mechanism as a tool primarily for homeownership rather than rental housing; the presenter and speakers emphasized the authority’s structure is intended to prevent reliance on city or county tax revenues. The council's formal backing sends the issue to the county for the next step in the process.

The council also heard other public comments during the meeting and then returned to the agenda; the land-bank resolution was part of the "old business" docket and advanced with no recorded dissents.