Keeping Emotion Out of Decisions

At the September 21 town council meeting, there was a proposal to amend the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to allow churches in light industrial zoned areas. The petitioner for this amendment was the Hope Community Church. For those not familiar with this church, it is a well financed institution located on Buck Jones Rd in Cary and also holds services at Holly Springs High School. This church makes a significant effort to share those funds with the needy in the community.

This church was the petitioner for this amendment request, since they wanted to rent a building in the Holly Springs Industrial Park. The people who spoke during the public hearing, however did not present evidence that supported the change in the ordinance, they focused on what a great church Hope was. The council could not use any of this in their deliberations.

Although the council was cautioned by the town attorney that they need to focus on the ordinance, not all the wonderful things that this church does, the advice seemed to be ignored. Although it would have been better to completely avoid any reference to this church and its work, Council Members Cobb, Sack and Williams did focus the basis of their decision on the ordinance and the impact it would have on the town. Councilman Womble , the dissenting vote, seemed to make his decision based on merits of the church's work, not the impact that such a change would have on the UDO and the town. The council's job with this issue was not to judge the merits of this church or what it can bring to Holly Springs, but to decide if religious uses are appropriate in a light industrial zone.

I feel that if the council (and the speakers) focused on the ordinance and not the church's work, the deliberation would have been much shorter and focused. Also, if the church supporters (actually UDO amendment supporters) had done their homework, properly prepared for the meeting and focused on the merits of changing the UDO, the results may have been different.

Overall, it is my opinion, that the council made the right decision to deny this amendment.