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By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

CLEMMONS — The village of Clemmons continues to explore all avenues to thwart what Mayor Mike Rogers called “horrible” changes to the local planning and zoning statutes now being considered by the N.C. General Assembly.

Rogers said in Monday night’s council meeting that he was scheduled to address CityVision 2025, the N.C. League of Municipalities’ flagship annual event the next day in Greenville, N.C., during the N.C. Mayors Association Membership/Business Meeting & Lunch.

Rogers added that council members Mike Combest, who has put together a lengthy, fact-filled presentation, and Randy Wooden will accompany him to speak “on the cons of House Bill 765, Senate Bill 688 and other bills that are trying to usurp our zoning and planning authority away from the village of Clemmons and municipalities.”

Rogers said that counties are joining the effort because they could also lose some of their authority in zoning and planning for the parts of the county that are in unincorporated areas.

“The N.C. Association of County Commissioners has sent a strongly worded document to the league and to the legislators in Raleigh opposing those bills,” Rogers said. “So if you know anyone that’s involved in the state legislature, call them and tell them you don’t want it. Mr. Combest has a very good presentation lined up. And we continue getting more information every day.”

The council first approved a draft resolution in its April 14 meeting to oppose the changes proposed by multiple bills and, in the words of Combest, “in according with our ordinance that we passed last February, charter our mayor to be our principal spokesman and hit the road and engage with other municipalities and towns around the state to generate a movement similar to what we did in 2023 to defeat those bills.”

The council had a special called meeting last Wednesday that drew a full house at village hall to hear more about the opposition effort and allow citizens to voice their concerns.

Rogers had an opening statement offering his appreciation for those in attendance and said “your engagement and commitment as we work together to help our representatives understand the consequences of this harmful legislation and allow local towns to determine the most appropriate course of action to protect their community.”

He then said there was only one item on the special meeting agenda, and that was Combest’s detailed presentation on opposition to the changes being proposed by the N.C. General Assembly.

After Monday night’s meeting, Combest offered a few other comments.

“I’m getting worked up,” he said. “I think we have a pretty good case. But I’ll tell you, it’s going to be disastrous for towns (if this goes through). What they’re saying about a housing shortage, it’s bogus. I can show you. We’re the fifth fastest growing state in the union and 24th in terms of housing inflation. That didn’t happen by accident. And this legislature, this was literally written by special interest for special interest.”

In the special meeting last Wednesday, there was also a discussion and Q&A.

Here are a few of them with responses from the village:

Imogene Ingle, Greenfield Way Drive, Winston-Salem: “Where do our representations stand on this bill? Have they weighed in? Are they for it or against it?”

A: “Actually, they are the ones to bring them forward. They are the sponsors of these bills.”

Q: “So when we email them and tell them our feelings on it, do we email them? Do we call them? Do we do it all?”

A: “Yes, everything, yes.”

Combest reiterated the introducing sponsor is “our representative” and there are 22 sponsors with folks in both parties.

Council member Michelle Barson emphasized that it’s not just to ask them to vote against it. It’s to ask them to withdraw it. “Withdrawing it is what kills it,” she said.

Kristen Russ, Bramblebush Court, Clemmons: “I see Jeff Zenger and Dana Jones on there. What about Kyle Hall, Donny Lambeth, Kanika Brown, Amber Baker, our other representatives and Paul Lowe, our other senator?”

A: “We concentrate on the first two. Numbers count. Do both. It can’t hurt to engage others.”

Bob Carr, Dunmore Lane, Clemmons: “Is Mr. Zenger here? No, so he can’t answer my questions.”

Amy Taylor North, Lismore Street, Clemmons: “So you’ve talked to us about the proposed bill taking authority away from local elected officials and municipalities. Can you tell us where the power will end up?”

A: “Basically the planning decisions were made at the state level, that those bills are essentially instructing ironclad, no flexibility, instructions that you will allow this type of dwelling, this number of dwellings in these locations, you will not regulate parking locations. So essentially, local planning authority and decision making elevates to the staff level.”

John Wait, former mayor, Armsby Road, Clemmons: “The question is why? What is the point? Everything is moving fine. The point is power. And if you really want to get at that, and there’s something that hasn’t come up yet that needs to be on everybody’s radar, it’s gerrymandering. There’s a reason why we have statewide democratically elected leaders, but then we have very close to a super majority for the General Assembly in the Republican Party. I don’t care what party you are, the most important thing is accountability.”

In other highlights from Monday night’s meeting, the council:

• Called for a public hearing for a zoning map amendment for Crescent Acquisitions for property owned by WW Properties & Rentals from RM-18-S (Residential Multifamily – Special) to RM-8-S (Residential, Multifamily – Special) for a property located on the northeast corner of the intersection at South Peace Haven Road and Harper Road, consisting of 21.62 acres (Zoning Docket SZMA-25-1) on Monday, May 12, at 6 p.m. at village hall.
• Approved an NCDOT offer of $24,300 to purchase a right-of-way easement at village hall and then a reimbursement of $35,300 from NCDOT for the clock relocation due to utility conflicts with U-6004.
• Heard from Lynette Fox, events coordinator, about last Thursday’s Transportation Summit at the Clemmons Branch Library, which included eight organizations and about 50 participants and “was very successful.”
• Approved a resolution declaring May as Historic Preservation Month and heard that there will be a historic marker unveiling ceremony for Clemmons Mill on Thursday, May 29, at 2 p.m. at 4010 Hampton Road.
• Received a quarterly stormwater report from Emily Harrison, stormwater technician II, covering the months from January through March with a total of 68 total projects, including 56 structure repairs and the completion of three major projects by North State Water & Sewer – 3538 N. Lakeshore, Parkdale and 4350 Bridle Path.
• Approved a contract with Gibson & Company to perform annual audit services not to exceed $30,975.