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Commissioners deny rezoning amid residents’ concerns over vape shops
Summary
Harnett County commissioners voted to deny a request to rezone 1.19 acres on Seabull Rosser Road to commercial zoning after residents warned that a conventional rezoning could allow additional vape/smoke shops; staff had recommended approval and the planning board had supported the change.
HARNETT COUNTY — The Board of Commissioners denied a request to rezone about 1.19 acres at 520 Seabull Rosser Road from RA-20R (rural agricultural) to a commercial zoning district after an extended public hearing and public comment focused on local vape shops and community character.
Sarah Arber, a development services staffer, told the board that staff’s evaluation found the request met the county’s rezoning criteria and noted that the planning board had recommended approval unanimously. The owner of record was listed as 1960 Properties LLC and the applicant as Chan Ho; the applicant was not present.
Multiple residents urged the board to deny a conventional commercial rezoning or require a conditional zoning that would limit uses. Nevaeh Johnson, a member of the North Carolina Tobacco 21 Youth Council, urged support for stronger vape-retailer rules and asked the board to back statewide reforms. Other commenters said vape and smoke shops frequently sell synthetic-THC products and that underage sales are effectively unregulated.
“By signing the Tobacco 21 resolution, you could send the message that Harnett County is dedicated to a future where the young people … won’t have to battle nicotine addictions,” Nevaeh Johnson said.
Commissioners questioned whether the county could lawfully deny a conventional rezoning based solely on a feared future use. Several members said conditional rezoning is the route to restrict specific uses; others argued the property sits in an area the county’s future land-use map designates as a rural center and that commercial development along NC 87 is likely.
After discussion and public comment, a motion to deny the conventional rezoning carried on a voice vote. Commissioners also directed staff to prepare options, including a potential UDO text amendment and a template for conditional rezonings, so the board can better limit certain retail uses if it chooses to do so in the future.
The board closed the public hearing and moved on to the next agenda item.
