Latest news with #BoardofCommissioners'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC House bill aims to reduce housing costs, but Mecklenburg County towns claim it would create opposite effect
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Huntersville joined other Charlotte-area municipalities Tuesday in opposing state legislation that they claim strips their ability to plan for growth. House Bill 765 would take away control from elected officials in the zoning process. In the town's opposing proclamation, leaders claim it would 'create a patchwork of state mandates and ban common-sense local land-use practices leading to unregulated and incompatible development.' Cornelius passed a similar ordinance Monday, and in Stanly County, Albemarle did so last month. Huntersville town leaders considering two residential zoning changes The goal of the bill is to make housing more affordable, but Huntersville Mayor Christie Clark argues that it has the opposite effect for fast-growing towns like hers. It proposes that cities with populations below 124,999 must allow subdivisions equal to 5 units per acre as of right and not by conditional zoning for subdivisions over four lots. 'It would probably contribute to gentrification in parts of town, we do not want that to happen,' she said. Monday night, Cornelius leaders cited the potential erosion of pedestrian-friendly streets. 'Cornelius currently has its own street standards for new development. The legislation requires all local governments to utilize NCDOT standards, which may be smaller cross sections and may not require sidewalks and/or bike lanes.' Commissioner Alisia Bergsman says the bill strips away the voice of local residents. 'Huntersville and towns across North Carolina deserve the right to plan for growth in ways that reflect local values, infrastructure capacity, and public input,' she said. 'HB765 is a threat to that basic principle, and we urge the General Assembly to reject it. Huntersville added the proclamation to its agenda at the beginning of Tuesday's Board of Commissioners' meeting. On Tuesday, the bill was re-referred to the state Committee on Finance. Filed on April 3, its primary authors are Reps. Jeff Zenger (R-Forsyth), Mark Brody (R-Union), Matthew Winslow (R-Franklin), and Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg). Part of Cunningham's district extends into Huntersville. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kent County has no intention of becoming ‘sanctuary'
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Kent County has again asserted that it is not a so-called 'sanctuary' county and has no intention of changing that. Dozens of people attended the Board of Commissioners' meeting Thursday to voice their feelings on the matter. County leaders emphasized the their role is to work within their jurisdiction, navigating rapidly developing federal policy on immigration to determine the best path forward. Commenters flood GR commission meeting to urge sanctuary city status A statement from the county handed out at the meeting said 'Kent County is not and has never been a sanctuary county' (emphasis included) and that it has a rule against nonbinding resolutions of the type that might indicate a stance either way on immigration. 'The board's role is to concentrate on matters within its legal jurisdiction, leaving policy decisions on immigration and other federal matters to those with the authority to make and enforce them. That is why the board does not adopt these types of resolutions,' Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg said. The statement said the Kent County Sheriff's Office met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in January. It said it will continue to work collaboratively with all law enforcement agencies as the local state and federal levels, including ICE, and that ICE 'considers the Sheriff's office cooperative.' Think tank takes Kent County off 'sanctuary' list The commissioners said it has received thousands of emails about immigration policy, with about 70% of those opposed to a 'sanctuary' county designation. More than a dozen people spoke during the public comment period, with opinions varied over concerns that hospitals and schools no long being safe spaces to by not cooperating. The meeting concluded with Board Chair Ben Greene, a Republican, thanking attendees for remaining civil and respectful. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
