Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council moves to remove planning‑board advisory review from special‑use permit process
Summary
Council approved staff’s draft ordinance to remove the planning‑board advisory step from special‑use permit applications, after staff explained the limited evidentiary weight of advisory hearings and members of the public urged preserving opportunities for input.
The Blowing Rock Town Council voted to accept staff’s recommendation to remove the planning board’s advisory review from the special‑use permit (SUP) process and to allow the governing body to decide SUP cases in a one‑step quasi‑judicial hearing.
Kevin Rothro, the staff presenter, told the council that many municipalities across North Carolina have moved away from a two‑step process because the planning board’s advisory comments are not considered evidence in the later quasi‑judicial hearing. Rothro said the draft ordinance had been presented to the planning board in April and that the board had unanimously recommended the draft ordinance to remove advisory review.
Members of the public asked whether eliminating the planning board step would reduce citizens’ ability to be heard. Rothro and councilors explained that members of the public with standing can still testify at the quasi‑judicial hearing and that the change primarily removes the informal 'sounding board' step that is not part of the evidentiary record.
One resident urged the council to favor openness and ensure ample notice and opportunity for input. After public comment and council discussion, a motion to approve the staff recommendations was moved and seconded; council voted to proceed and instructed staff to finalize cleanup edits in the draft ordinance.
