STAFF REPORTS
Tuesday night New Bern elected officials – known as the Board of Aldermen – deliberated the initial zoning of two parcels recently annexed into the city limits. The property owner expressed a desire to build four homes on one parcel (750 Highway 55 West) and one single-family home on another (784 Highway 55 West). After a robust, almost two-hour public hearing, the board initially voted 4-2 to zone the smaller parcel R-20.
Mayor Jeffrey Odham voted against that decision. Odham later stated that R-20 would limit the property owner to just two single-family homes on the bigger parcel (750 Highway 55 West) – which the board was getting ready to consider.
Alderman Barbara Best, who represents the ward for these properties, suggested zoning the larger piece a different zoning. This recommendation clearly lacked logic considering the board voted moments prior to zone the nearby parcel R-20. After comments from the mayor, the board actually rescinded its earlier decision on the smaller parcel and eventually zoned both parcels R-10. This zoning was a compromise, which allowed the owner to develop both parcels for much-needed and affordable single family homes. The discussion and actions taken by the board showed the importance of having experience and knowledge in local government.
In an email to this paper, Mayor Odham wrote: “The discussion surrounding the initial zoning for those two parcels proved that even tenured board members can have a skewed understanding of the process. Fortunately, the board ultimately made a compromised decision that will allow the owner to utilize their property and not totally disrupt the harmony of the surrounding properties. I can’t imagine having a mayor, with zero experience, leading that discussion. There’s no telling what would have ended up happening.”
The meeting was broadcast live and was recorded for the public to review. Those who have any questions about the process or how the decisions were derived, may watch the recording on the City of New Bern’s Facebook page or the city website www.newbernnc.gov.
The mayor’s experience and leadership proved crucial in these often confusing land use matters. Without Odham’s expertise, the end result could have been two nearly adjacent parcels, zoned differently – a prime example of ‘spot zoning,’ which can be a potential nightmare for growing municipalities.
