Weddington council unanimously backs resolution opposing state bill curbing local zoning

The Weddington Town Council unanimously approved Resolution R2025‑04 expressing opposition to House Bill 765 and related state proposals that, according to speakers at the meeting, would curtail local control over land use.

Union County Commissioner Brian Helms, invited to speak during public comment, described HB765 as an attempt to require higher by‑right density and to shift obligations for water and sewer onto utility providers and ratepayers. Helms characterized the bill’s sponsors as industry‑connected and said the measure “should be called the Developers Dream Act,” adding that it would “destroy local government authority over zoning, density, and utilities” if enacted.

Mayor Jim Bell and multiple council members urged residents to contact state legislators and monitor the bill’s progress in Raleigh; the council passed the resolution by unanimous vote. The resolution text cited concerns that changes would limit local ability to implement conservation policies in the town’s land‑use plan and would increase costs for existing residents.

What’s next: The council intends to use the resolution as an advocacy tool for contacting state representatives and senators, and encouraged residents to monitor and contact members of the General Assembly. The council also noted companion legislation in the state senate (Senate bill references were discussed) and urged coordinated outreach.

Attribution: Commissioner Helms’s description of HB765 and the council’s unanimous vote are recorded in the meeting transcript.