Towns united in opposing bills

Oak Ridge, Summerfi eld 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.

e proposed bill would require local governments to include residential duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses in residentially zoned areas, including those speci cally 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 desperately, then they should have pilot programs or they should have local bills that have it in their backyard,” King continued. “There shouldn’t be mandates coming all across North Carolina because a few legislators want to change how planning and zoning is done through our state. I think those powers should be saved for the local

Adobe Stock photo In their introductory language, HB 401 and SB 349, which were fi led March 25, state the proposed legislation’s primary goal is to increase housing opportunities in all residential zones in North Carolina. To accomplish this goal, local governments in North Carolina would be required to allow all “middle housing” types – duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhouses – in areas zoned for residential use, including those residential zoning areas currently defi ned as being for single-family homes only. ...continued on p. 20

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