considering an ordinance that would impose a moratorium for no more than a year. It cites concerns about "outdated" zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations, as well as future water needs of the village, as possible reasons for a moratorium.
Developers and builders say that stopping growth is bad for the village.
"The word moratorium is hurting us because when people hear that word they think they cannot build a house here," said Ron Jackson, a local home builder.
Densel Williams, chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Moore County Home Builders Association, said the community is not growing at a rate necessary to impose a moratorium while the ordinances are being reviewed.
"The economic impact of stopping growth, if you've never been there, is a very scary trail," Williams said. "You're adopting your moratorium for what? to handle your ongoing business? What we'd like to do is work with you. Forget this moratorium thing. Do business as usual, and rewrite your ordinances so they comply with your land plan."
Two residents who spoke during the hearing offered an opposing view.
"Saying growth is good and is going to hold down your taxes is a lot of BS, and anybody who believes that has to be a developer or a real estate agent," Don Lindsay said.
Richard Monroe added: "I am for progress that is well planned and well thought out. You don't have progress that is well planned and well thought out if you don't take the time to think and analyze what you are doing."
Council member Randy Saunders said there are plenty of available lots in the village.
"There are over 600 lots currently that can be built on," Saunders said.
He estimated that the village adds 25 new homes a year, which would mean there are 20 years' worth of buildable lots in the village.
"We don't have a shortage of lots to build on," he said.
Mayor Bob Zschoche said: "Strengthen our subdivision ordinances. That's my reason why I think a moratorium is in the best interest of the village."
Zschoche added that water issues were another concern.
"We do not have all the answers to this (water) issue in one neat book so the citizens of the village can read it and understand it," he said.
According to the ordinance, the moratorium would not affect the approval of final subdivision plats.
The village defines shopping centers as "a building or group of buildings, either connected or free-standing, under unified or multiple ownership of land parcels, that is designed and has been approved by the village as a shopping center with common parking, pedestrian movement, ingress and egress, and its uses are limited to banks, medical offices, public utility facilities, restaurants, personal service establishments, florist shops, retail stores, variety stores and financial institutions."
Under state law, the ordinance has to include four things:
• The reasons the council feels a moratorium is necessary.
• What steps the council has already taken to avoid a moratorium.
• How long the moratorium would last.
• What steps the village intends to take to address the problems during the moratorium.
The village has hired a consulting firm to review, revise and update the village zoning ordinances and help develop a land-use plan. The firm has been on the job for about a month.
Local developers and real estate agents have been the most vocal opponents of a moratorium.
At the first public hearing in February, nearly all of the speakers opposed a possible moratorium.
Moore County's Area A was under a moratorium for six months this past summer. Southern Pines and Aberdeen are also considering building moratoriums.
Also Tuesday night, the council reopened two other public hearings. One was on a proposal to consider giving the planning and zoning director the authority to issue a stop-work order on construction. The other was to consider amending village ordinances to increase penalty fees from a maximum of $50 to a maximum of $500.
No vote was taken after the public hearings.
Contact Tom Embrey at 693-2473 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.
