Reporter – Leigh Hester – New Zoning Ordinance Passes 6-1
A near-unanimous vote instituted new zoning ordinances at a sparsely-populated meeting Monday night.
Commissioner Dan Brummitt asked that a parcel of land belonging to his parents be changed from an R30 (residential) property to an AG (agricultural) property and recused himself from a vote on the issue, which was passed by the Board.
Although Brummitt later tried to bring up objections brought to him by constituents and a letter he had been sent regarding the zoning ordinance, Chairman Eddie Wright stated that the time for objections and statements was passed. He did, however, allow the letter to be entered into the minutes without being read.
Additionally, the fee schedule for the ordinance was approved, with the lone objection coming from Brummitt, saying, “This will impose fees on small business and will increase the burden on the very people we are counting on to grow this county.”
Commissioner Deborah Brown asked those in the audience to contact Jordan McMillen with any questions regarding the zoning ordinance. His number is 252-738-2091.
Next, county water.
As a landowner in Vance county I am pleased the County commisioners have voted for zoning. A commendable step to bring Vance County into a much needed change for progress. Allowing our county and its citizens to improve our standards of living and encouraging everyone to respect their neighbor.
Dagny, Redit, and others congratulation on your victory over the other county land owners.
If history is the teacher of the future we have much to gain from the new zoning ordinance.
“Vance County in the year 2000 will be a county remarkable for its success in capitalizing on the strengths of its location, its size, and the talents of its residents. …. Vance County’s quality of life will be considered the best of any community within an hour’s drive of the Triangle area. By the year 2000, our economy will be diversified and will capitalize on the technological sophistication of neighboring communities. It will be an economy that attracts people to the community through developing opportunities rather than forcing them to leave due to lack of opportunity”. (Source for the above is the Vision Statement of the AdVance Strategic Planning Commission circa 1990.)
When the Executive Committee chaired by (guess who) started that strategic plan the original Vance County Zoning ordinance had been governing land use for ten years. Now 34 years later the political power has replaced the original county zoning ordinance.
Wonder what the new zoning ordinance will bring the county in the next 34 years.
Mr. Bobbitt Do you know how much of what was written in that plan was fully implemented.
Elmwood, you can read the entire plan here. http://homeinhenderson.com/2011/10/05/1990-advance-commission-strategic-plan/
Now is the time to define the guidlines for zoning that must be accomplished for zoning to be managed well as previously mentioned.
The ‘Zoning Board’ will need those guidlines to reinforce the goals required for everyones benefit.
The guide lines should be available for the public to understand.
Be aware of those darling “Special Use Permits” which pop up with frequency!
Who serves on the zoning board will be important.Maybe some of the Leadership Vance graduates would be good candidates.
Redit,
The guidelines for zoning are in the ordinance. How do you continue to support a document you have either not read or do not understand. Additionally, the zoning board, board of adjustment or the county commissioners can change any category in the ordinance by a majority vote without public hearings. Look for special use permits or zoning variances to place businesses where the ordinance does not permit that use. That is how a Harnett County residential/agricultural area almost got a for profit landfill. The zoning board will be a blend of the Henderson zoning board and county residents who know how to vote the “Wright” way when variances and special use permits come up for a vote. Have fun watching the county fill up with section 8 housing and spot zoning that puts businesses where the monied interests want them. The zoning ordinance is written in pencil and will be amended within a year by conditional use permits and variances. It will enable spectacular development in the county as it has in the city of Henderson.
D and O in Kittrell, help me understand. Couldn’t all those developments that you just defined be done already in the county, without zoning? Perhaps, without the special use permits, etc. and with less red tape?
Not if the existing zoning ordinance before Monday night’s vote had been enforced. Additionally, the monied interests in the county already received concessions in lot sizes before the ordinance was passed. Just compare watershed recommended lot sizes with actual lot sizes approved in the ordinance. Then, check property records and financial holdings in real estate companies and developers interests to see who benefited from the changes. County manager Ayscue did not accurately state the extent of the existing zoning ordinance. Remember that the county attorney did not offer an opinion as to whether the “old” ordinance was in effect for the whole county. I will offer that the commissioners repeal the “old” ordinance at the next meeting before they can proceed with implementation of the new ordinance. The “old” ordinance didn’t suit the current commissioners. Just ask yourself why the county would decrease lot sizes in the Kerr Lake watershed which is the water source for several counties when the watershed overlays call for lot sizes of at least one acre.
What is obvious to most of us was completely ignored by the Commissioners. Unless and until we throw the lot of them out we are bound to see more of the same special interest wishes granted–and that is my opinion.