Kill Devil Hills commissioners adopt resolution opposing House Bill 765 and plan lobbying push

The Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners on April 14 adopted a resolution opposing House Bill 765, directing staff to monitor the bill and urging coordinated outreach to state lawmakers.

Planning staff member Meredith urged commissioners to oppose the bill and related measures, saying they contain multiple provisions that would limit local land‑use authority. "One of the issues that'll be an immediate impact will be the requirement for a fiscal note for every map amendment," Meredith said, adding that the bill's "affordable housing impact" requirement could create legal exposure for municipalities. She also warned the proposal would remove municipal authority to require parking, alter minimum lot‑size controls by moving to units‑per‑acre standards, and create new civil‑liability reviewability for zoning consistency statements.

Commissioners discussed next steps, including setting up a delegation to meet with state representatives in Raleigh and coordinating with neighboring towns and the county. The board speaker supporting the lobbying effort described the proposed changes as a serious loss of local control and urged municipalities to work together on public education and outreach.

The resolution adopted by the board expresses opposition to House Bill 765 and similar legislation (identified in the meeting packet) and calls for local coordination with other municipalities and county officials. The measure was approved as part of a package of resolutions at the meeting by voice vote.

What happens next: staff said they will continue to monitor committee activity at the General Assembly, share materials with other local governments, and return to the board with recommended outreach and advocacy steps. The board also discussed the possibility of a public information campaign explaining potential long‑term effects of the bills on local planning authority.