Local housing control under threat? Mills River, Hendersonville leaders speak out against proposed zoning legislation
Mills River Town Council joined other government bodies in the state Thursday in opposing bills before the N.C. General Assembly that could diminish the number of single-family zoned properties without local government control.
If passed into law, property owners would be able to develop middle housing – duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes and townhomes – by right on properties zoned for single-family homes without local planning and governing body approvals. Planning staff would approve the developments.
N.C. Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania), who is a primary co-sponsor of SB 349, told the Times-News the purpose of the bill is to address the state s severe housing shortage.