Commission agrees to move forward with land use talks

The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners took the first steps toward a land-use plan Monday night, agreeing to move forward with organizational talks.

To that end, the board agreed to meet at 8:30 a.m. on May 16 to discuss land use. The board was already scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. that day, a fact that would limit discussions to about one hour and a half. County Manager Don Adams broached the topic, noting that he wanted to “somewhat clarify where the board wants to go on this (and) recommend that we need to have some sort of organizational meeting.”

He then noted that the board needs to discuss land use plans and decide if that is the direction it wants to go.

“I certainly do, it’s long overdue,” said Commissioner Sandy Herndon. Looking over an earlier plan that failed to get the board’s approval, Taylor noted, “Since we’ve already passed a subdivision ordinance, a lot of this material doesn’t need to be in here.”

Chair Eldon Edwards then noted that he would like to have a consensus before moving forward with talks.

Richardson said he is in favor of moving forward with talks on the subject.

Blevins said he has heard mixed reviews from the public on land use. He also voiced concern about using a prior plan. “If we’re starting with a clean slate, let’s start with a clean slate,” he said. He later noted that he would agree to looking at the ordinance “in its infant stages,” noting he would prefer to seek public input on putting it together. Edwards noted that the former plan contains helpful information. Pointing to the former land use plan, Edwards noted that he was is favor of a plan, but “not necessarily that plan there.”

Blevins said he was in favor of holding the organizational meeting, but appeared to have reservations on moving forward with a zoning plan. Edwards noted that County Planner Amy Pardue would be in charge of formulating the plan.

Richardson also said he would like to look carefully at the old plan, even though many hours went into formulating it. “I don’t want to completely throw it out, but (let’s) look at every page of it.”

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