Towns united in opposing proposed bills Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale all pass resolutions opposing proposed state House and Senate bills that would require local governments to include residential duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses in residentially zoned areas by PATTI STOKES NW GUILFORD – Sebastian King, a former policy advisor in the N.C. General Assembly who currently serves as a government affairs representative in the assembly, spoke at Oak Ridge and Stokesdale town council meetings recently about HB 401, which would assume more control over zoning in
small communities.
The proposed bill would require local governments to include residential duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses in residentially zoned areas, including those specifically designed for detached single-family dwellings. “It’s safe to say I have seen good legislation in the state and I have seen bad legislation in the state,” King said when addressing Stokesdale Town Council members at their May 13 meeting. “House Bill 401 would be a monumental mistake for the N.C. General Assembly to pass. This would attack local governments and attack local planning boards that normal citizens serve on to control the direction
of their town. I believe this is a separation-ofpowers issue that really redefines how we do zoning in small towns across North Carolina. “If the sponsors of this bill want the bill so Adobe Stock photo desperately, then In their introductory language, HB 401 and SB 349, which were they should have filed March 25, state the proposed legislation’s primary goal is to pilot programs increase housing opportunities in all residential zones in North or they should Carolina. To accomplish this goal, local governments in North have local bills Carolina would be required to allow all “middle housing” types that have it in – duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses – in areas their backyard,” zoned for residential use, including those residential zoning areas King continued. currently defined as being for single-family homes only. “There shouldn’t done through our state. I think those be mandates coming all across North Carolina because a few legislators want powers should be saved for the local
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to change how planning and zoning is
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