Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews draft resolution urging state lawmakers to preserve local planning authority
Summary
Staff asked council to consider a resolution opposing several 2025 state bills (SB 495, SB 497, SB 499, SB 688) that staff said would limit local zoning and planning authority. Council asked staff to research parallel bills and edit the resolution for consideration at the May 27 meeting.
Town planning staff presented a proposed resolution asking the North Carolina General Assembly to leave planning and zoning authority with locally elected boards. Staff identified several 2025 bills of concern — SB 495 (accessory dwelling units with preemption of local setback and parking rules), SB 497 (mandating "middle housing" allowances), SB 499 (allowing residential construction in commercial zones by right), and SB 688 (limiting local planning authority and making inconsistent ordinances voidable) — and asked Council to adopt a resolution opposing such changes at the May 27 regular meeting.
Councilmember Joseph Starling noted that parallel House and Senate bills exist and asked staff to research and edit the draft so the resolution opposes all relevant measures. Staff agreed to prepare the edited resolution for the May 27 meeting. No formal vote was taken at the work session; the item was placed on the agenda for the regular meeting for formal action.
The proposed resolution, as presented in minutes, frames the issues as a loss of local control over setbacks, lot types and density, and the ability to regulate middle housing types without public hearings. Council directed staff to refine the language and capture opposition to all similar measures across chambers before bringing the resolution back for adoption.
