Photo by Jason Benavides
Dec. 10. By Dave Vieser. A controversial state law passed by Republican state legislators–it reduces the power of elected officials such as newly elected Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson–contains other elements which have raised concerns for local officials.
The matter arose at the Cornelius Town Board Meeting of Dec. 2, as commissioners were discussing legislative agenda priorities for 2025.
Details
The new state law, which also provided funds for storm-damaged areas of the state, could limit the zoning power of local municipalities.
Town Attorney Karen Wolter said it all happened “at the very last minute of the General Assembly.”
“They included behind closed doors a change in the zoning laws so that local government cannot downzone without the permission of the property owner. That’s a brand-new law, and nobody really knows but it could impact land planning such as comprehensive land plans. We really don’t know the impact of this new law because it was so quickly and poorly written,” she said.
Impact
Town Board members were concerned about Wolter’s comments.
Higgins
“It is important the Town continue to determine local zoning and land use,” said Mayor Pro Tem Scott Higgins. “Cornelius has so little land still available for open space and appropriate development. “
The law under question was vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper but GOP state legislators are hopeful that they can overturn his veto while they still have a veto proof majority in the General Assembly. The Senate has already voted to overturn the veto, and the House is expected to vote on the issue this week.
That veto proof majority goes away next year, primarily due to the victory by Democrat Beth Helfrich in the House 98 district over GOP candidate Melinda Bales.
Quotable
Mayor Woody Washam also expressed concern with the inability of state law to permit the payment of Impact fees by builders prior to major projects.
“If we were to put impact fees to a referendum I would expect it would pass overwhelmingly, certainly on the state level, and possibly, locally, too. However, the rest of the story is that’s just not going to happen in North Carolina,” Washam said.
So the city attorney thinks council should be able to downzone without asking the property owner? If I owned property in Cornelius, that would upset me
Posted by Bucky Dornster | December 10, 2024, 10:26 amDubbed “The Sore Loser Law,” the bill is really a power grab by NC GOP. It also does the following: Changes two Superior Court Judge positions from democratically elected to APPOINTED by the Republican-controlled legislature, PLUS Takes the power to appoint the State Board of Elections from incoming Governor Josh Stein and gives it to the Republican State Auditor
PLUS Requires that elections must be called by the third day after Election Day, whether all ballots have been counted or not, PLUS Shortens the time voters have to cure ballots that are filed incorrectly to just 60 hours
PLUS Spends $500 million in taxpayer money on private school voucher
Agree with vouchers or not, the bill undermines democracy. And, as was pointed out by the local board, takes zoning control away from local authorities.
Posted by Lisa Lippiner | December 10, 2024, 11:48 amIf you owned property anywhere in NC it should upset people But the bigger problem is we do not have impact fees and the referendum will never happen because the developers have huge, very well financed lobbyists who make sure developers do not pay for roads, schools, fire, police, etc. We the tax payers do. The people get poorer and the developers get richer.
Posted by Reta Berman | December 10, 2024, 11:50 amCornelius is busting at the seams, traffic is a nightmare.
Does downzoning help all of this? I don’t think so. It allows developer to take control without consideration of property owners or town residents.
Cornelius has turned into just another cement jungle which is sad. It is not healthy air quality any longer and only getting worse.
Posted by E | December 10, 2024, 4:36 pmThis! And things are only going to get worse.
Posted by ME | December 11, 2024, 6:41 pmTired of all the development. Our infrastructure is years behind. No development should proceed until infrastructure catches up. And toll roads were a terrible idea, thanks to local government!
Posted by Karen Asche | December 10, 2024, 5:31 pmSo, are local Republicans crying foul over what state level Republicans have done? No doubt in my mind that the local Republicans blindly voted for every state level Republican because … Well, after all they are Republicans. Don’t complain over what you created!
Posted by Donn Leppard | December 11, 2024, 9:56 am