As September starts I reminded myself to post two thoughts to the readership of Home In Henderson. This September the voters and land owners of Vance County are facing two significant changes. One change has permanent impact on land use in this county. One change will require 10, or 20 or 30 years to reverse.
On September 12, our County Commissioners will sit and listen to the groaning and crowing on zoning. Unless there is a moment of wisdom to touch at least three commissioners the de’facto money power of the county and the Section 8 land barons will successfully assume total control of all land in the county by instituting zoning. Zoning is little more than government control of private lands. The movement towards zoning reemerged in earnest when the de’facto money power reclaimed voting control of county affairs in last November’s election.
Following the zoning comes re-districting of the county’s voting districts. Two weeks ago the at county commissioner’s public workshop the county attorney presented new district voting maps to the commissioners present, certain county managers, two elected school board members and myself. The county attorney stated that this is the first re-districting of voters since 1987 and is the result of the growth within the county. After the workshop, I asked and was told we could not have all or some at large commissioners it is forbidden by a court order. If the county is not allowed that why is the city? I have been unable to find the specific rule or court decision that forbids the county from at large commissioners.
Following the re-districting work session I ask one commissioner, who I assumed was open minded and amenable to discussing zoning, if the voters should be allowed the right to establish zoning (government domination of land use). This commissioner said and I paraphrase, I know all that needs to be known about zoning and what is good for the citizens of my district. This commissioner had learned that their district experienced little change therefore assured re-election when the next vote is caste.
Zoning will impact landowners’ choices beyond the life times of everyone reading this posting. Re-districting of the voting districts will seal the fate of all voters for the next one or two censuses. In less than one month two major changes to our county could be enacted in the hallowed chambers of a commissioners’ meeting.
As we go placidly into this year’s summer ending holiday, give thought to how Louis Edwards would end his posting on HiH again I will paraphrase; we get what deserve through our own inaction.
Michael Bobbitt
We ended up with the sorriest commissioners and councilors in th entire state. T
The bywords of Henderson–and Vance County: We’ve always done it this way–well guess what–it ain’t workin’ folks.
In less than one month two major changes to our county could be enacted in the hallowed chambers of a commissioners’ meeting.
Thank goodness, they will both be good things for our county, especially the zoning. What SPECIFICALLY are you scared of, Micheal? That a bunch of new businesses will want to locate in Vance County and bring jobs?
Without propper zoning to protect them no major business is going to want to establish in Vance County.
Catfish, following your logic that with zoning businesses flock to an area why hasn’t that worked to Henderson’s advantage? Henderson has zoning; Vance County does not.
Another example of zoning vs. no zoning occurred when two similar sized Texas counties, Tarrant County and Harris County, were aggressively competing for new businesses and growth. One county has zoning and one county does not. The county without zoning grew faster and larger than the county with zoning. Houston is center piece of Harris County and Dallas is in Tarrant County. Zoning is not a great panacea you pretend it is.
In simple basic terms zoning establishes a quasi government to control the use of private lands. Such a quasi-government is subject to the insider dealings of the well connected to alter zoning a boundary for their desired outcome. Henderson has many historic examples of such outcomes.
Dagny, instead of seven elected officials making the decision regarding zoning, let the voters make the decision. Remember at least one commissioner has said they know more about zoning than anyone in their district. Does this mean they know more about land use and intentions than land owner do?
For the public good, very possibly.
Oh so zoning is going to protect these businesses from all the criminals exactly how?
I’m with Mr. Bobbitt on this one. I am against zoning but would be open to hear arguments for it if there was a good one. It definitely has not worked so well for the city. I mean how many jobs have we lost over the past 10 years? How many have we gained?
I have served on a zoning committee for several years that was very successful. Zoning is designed to serve a community for the best results for the citizens of that community and works very well if managed properly.
I am entertained by those comments made by the uniformed to sway their peers opinion to reinforce their own fears of the unknown. Zoning normally is designed to protect property values and to protect us fron the undesirables.
So Redit, are you going to zone out Section 8? If not, then it is doing NOTHING for Vance County. The CRUX of our problems are the Section 8.
Redit (post 8) you said you served on a zoning board and it was successful. Did you measure that success by the number of “undesirables” you kept away from your property? If your goal is to prevent “undesirables” from living near you, deed restrictions are a far better tool than zoning. Zoning ordinances are amendable depending on how much political power and money are thrown into the trough. Deed restrictions are not so amendable and can be far more restrictive than zoning thus better to prevent “undesirables” from your neighborhood.
Redit, you are correct to say, “that zoning is designed to serve a community for the best results for the citizens of that community.” Wikipedia paraphrased the US Supreme Court ruling supporting zoning saying that, “zoning is a government interest in maintaining the character of a neighborhood and in regulating where certain land uses should occur”. The caveat of both is your second phrase, “works very well if managed properly.” History is filled with examples of ill-managed zoning boards and commissions. Zoning boards are nothing more than a quasi-government body of political appointees serving at the behest of the wealthy, well connected, de’ facto bases of power.
Having observed the commissioners vote to allow public input on zoning before the five anoint the plan next Monday night, I saw first hand the ill management of a governing body. One commissioner said they did not understand the issue therefore they abstained. Weeks later I personally asked another commissioner about allowing the voters to choose or reject zoning. That commissioner told me point blank they knew more about zoning than anyone in their district. In my view that is another example of our ill-managed Vance County government.
Redit, I appreciate your perspective on zoning; although I disagree with the concept of zoning because it empowers an unelected politically motivated governing body. If you and I were empowered to do so would we put the question of establishing zoning in Vance County to the voter, the actual factual land owners of the county? I certainly would. I would like to think you to would also favor such a vote.
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH Bobbitt – lots of words but not a single concrete reason not to zone our community and improve the quality of life. Even the Commissioner who is the main opponent of zoning approves of all kinds of limits and restrictions, everything but zoning. Still waiting for ONE GOOD REASON and not some scare tactic.
It is apparent to me that Vance County will have zoning. So, it would make sense, at this point, to address the issue of who will be appointed to those boards. I believe that zoning can work for the vast majority of the people in Vance County if people of integrity are appointed. Mr. Bobbitt, please apply, in fact, at this time, at the public hearing, before it passes, submit yourself as wishing to be a part of the process to make sure it works as it can. Hopefully others will do the same. I will do my part to get civic-minded people of integrity onto these boards.
The zoning ordinance that the county commissioners is contemplating might as well be written in pencil. You might ask Harnett County residents who live in an area that is zoned residential. Within the last several years a business was granted two conditional use permits to dig a sand pit in the residential area. The sand pits are non-conforming uses that required the conditional use permits. Now, the business, which is a limited liability company, has asked for a conditional use permit to convert the sand pits into a for-profit landfill in the residential area. Waste may be dumped there from NC, SC, VA and beyond. The only restriction is that the waste may not be radioactive. Zoning is a means to allow wealthy persons to affect spot zoning anytime they can get a majority vote on the zoning board, board of adjustment or county commissioners. The Harnett County commissioners are in favor of the for-profit landfill because their transportation costs for garbage will be lower than carrying the waste to the neighboring county’s landfill which has storage capacity for the next thirty years. Good thing zoning protects property values!!
I think that there might be reasons, other then zoning, as to why more businesses don’t locate in Henderson, and until those issues are addressed, don’t expect droves of businesses to come knocking at the door of Henderson or Vance County..
The key words are “works very well if managed properly”…too often a foreign concept in these parts..
Wavers to zoning restrictions can be applied for, as “downandout” mentions, so does zoning really protect landowners?
I have mixed feelings on the subject. I don’t like to be told what to do with my property, but I also don’t want a junk yard or land fill setting up next door. Deed restrictions do go a long way to address that.
But is it enough for businesses to feel confident enough to set up shop?
In the end, as “downandout” notes…zoning restrictions might as well be written in pencil.
All, a zoning public hearing will be monday night, sep 12 at the commissioner meeting. sign up by 5:45pm if you want to comment.
DownandOut, good points, but my question would be, “without zoning, couldn’t that business put in those sand pits amyway?” It seems that without zoning, anything can happen. With zoning, there is the possibility of appropriately segmenting land uses. It seems that most anti-zoning folks just don’t like the movers and shakers, and gov’t “getting over” sometimes.
And Ziggy, I would agree too that we have so many other issues in Vance County that zoning is no panacea for job growth, but i think it is needed along with other changes.