City seeks downzoning ‘fix'
HIGH POINT — The city of High Point is seeking to restore its downzoning powers in response to a new state law that revoked this authority for local governments.
The city has enlisted state Rep. Amos Quick, a Greensboro Democrat who is part of High Point's delegation in the N.C. General Assembly, to draft and possibly file a bill that would enable it to initiate rezonings of private property in a way that doesn't run afoul of the new law.
The city is seeking clarity on this issue so it can proceed with its plans to enact a proposed zoning district in old industrial areas along W. Green Drive that it's seeking to revitalize.
'We have kept the option open where we do have special legislation that's specific to High Point. That's not necessarily our preferred method,' City Manager Tasha Logan Ford told the City Council in a briefing earlier this week. 'We want to support whatever statewide fix comes to mind, and that's the strategy that we're pursuing.'
The new law bars any local zoning change that would reduce the allowable uses or the density of what can be built on a property or that would leave a property owner out of conformity with the new zoning.
According to the city, this provision of the law could prohibit enactment of its proposed Southwest Mill District because the old industrial sites in the 171-acre area targeted for rezoning would be considered nonconforming uses under the changes being considered.
The new district would allow residential and other new uses to try to spur more redevelopment activity there.
The downzoning restrictions have drawn opposition from local governments all over the state and bills have been introduced in the legislature to address these concerns.
Fred Baggett, who works for the city as its state lobbyist, said the N.C. League of Municipalities is cautiously optimistic that a 'statewide solution' can be reached.
'It may not be repeal of what was done in the last session on downzoning, but something that cities could live with and something that the people who are proposing this ban on downzoning could live with also,' said Baggett.
Several local jurisdictions have filed bills seeking to restore their respective downzoning powers. High Point could follow with its own 'local bill,' and would have to submit it by March 3.
'It may be some slight insurance that something would be done for High Point in case a statewide solution is not achieved,' Baggett said.
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