week of  2/6/02
 
 
 
Macon to revisit zoning ordinance
By Don Hendershot
Widespread and vocal opposition to Macon County’s proposed zoning ordinance has prompted commissioners to revisit the current draft. Reading from a prepared statement, at the commissioner’s regular meeting Monday, Feb. 4, Macon County chairman Harold Corbin stated that last week commissioners postponed a Jan. 31 scheduled public hearing at the Macon County Courthouse, “due to safety concerns and for convenience due to the number of people expected to voice their opinions and concerns.”

The statement went on to say, “...the delay has given the Board of Commissioners time to examine the proposed ordinance more closely in light of the numerous comments and reflect upon suggestions received from the many community work sessions and forums held by the Visions 2025 group in addition to those concerns communicated directly to Board members.

“Also the Board has determined that it is necessary to eliminate any possible confusion caused by the changes/modifications already made to the original draft plan but not necessarily noted in all of the draft editions.

“Therefore the Board of Commissioners will ask the Visions 2025 Committee to assist with a review of all the comments received thus far from the community meetings, forums, etc. and create a new revised draft ordinance for public comment.”

Corbin said no dates would be set for further public meetings on the ordinance until it was complete and met the satisfaction of the board. Quoting from Stephen R. Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, Corbin said, “The key is not to prioritize your schedule but to schedule your priorities. Do the important things first because where you are going is more important than how fast you’re going.”

Commissioner Janet Greene said she had attended many meetings and felt there was a lot of misunderstanding regarding the document. She said she felt it was, “the better part of wisdom to take into consideration the public’s input and concerns and rework the draft.”

She applauded the work of the board and the Visions 2025 committee. Greene said, “it takes courage to bring a document like this to the table, and it takes courage to revisit and review it. We are striving to do something good for the county.”

Some citizens felt the Visions 2025 committee was not representative of Macon County. Corbin responded that all 14 members of the Visions group were Macon residents and that most had lived all their life in the county.

Fred Crane of Crane Brothers Well Drilling said he had signatures of over a thousand people who opposed the ordinance. He and others in the audience suggested a public referendum comparing the issue to local alcohol sales. That comparison prompted county attorney Richard Jones to note that referendums on alcohol sales are mandated by state statutes and no such statutes address zoning ordinances. Jones said that according to North Carolina laws, county land use planning fell under the purview of county commissioners.

Corbin told the public he ran on a platform promising land use planning for Macon County and that he was the top vote-getter. He said that shows countywide support for planning and vowed, “we’re going to have a land use plan.”