City Council Defends Public Hearings for Schools

By Laurin Penland

Wilmington, NC – The Wilmington City Council has shutdown a proposal to amend zoning codes for schools in residential areas. The amendment would have eliminated the public hearing requirement.

Put forward by Friends School of Wilmington, the amendment would have streamlined procedures by also taking a vote by city council out of the zoning process.

The school says it's too expensive to go through the zoning process all over again when even minor changes are made.

Planning staff supported the amendment. But, Margaret Haynes and other council members voiced multiple concerns.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with being too careful and erring on the side of continuing to have the council have oversight."

Wilmington mayor Bill Saffo was the only one to vote for the proposed amendment, which came up for a vote at last week's city council meeting.

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