On April 14, 2025, the Town of Harrisburg Town Council unanimously passed a formal resolution opposing House Bill 765 and Senate Bill 688, two pieces of legislation under consideration in the North Carolina General Assembly that would significantly undermine local authority over zoning, development, and environmental regulation.
These bills propose sweeping mandates that eliminate public hearings on subdivisions, prohibit voluntary conditional rezoning agreements, and retroactively void local development ordinances. The proposed changes would allow dense residential and multifamily housing developments, without local government approval. Overall, these bills undermine the Town of Harrisburg’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the planning process.
“House Bill 765 will directly and negatively affect every municipality in North Carolina,” says Town of Harrisburg Mayor Jennifer Teague. “It represents blatant state overreach driven by special interest groups in the construction and development industry, pushing a false narrative that these sweeping changes will solve the affordable housing crisis. In Harrisburg, we are working diligently to protect our residents and communities to preserve our town’s unique identity. We refuse to become another Charlotte with out-of-control development and disregard for the very people that call Harrisburg home.”
Town Manager Rob Donham echoed these concerns, stating, “These bills are a direct threat to the self-determination of our community. House Bill 765 isn’t about smart growth, it’s about giving outside interests the power to dictate how we grow, without regard for the people who live here. In Harrisburg, we believe growth should be guided by a local vision, not developer-driven mandates from Raleigh.”
To foster regional unity and support, the Town of Harrisburg is sharing this resolution with neighboring municipalities and towns. The resolution is also being delivered to the following members of the North Carolina General Assembly:
Local North Carolina State Senators:
- Todd Johnson
- Christopher Measmer
- Joyce Waddell
- Mujtaba Mohammed
Local North Carolina House Representatives:
- Brian Echevarria
- Jonathan Almond
- Grant Campbell, MD
- Nasif Majeed
- Jordan Lopez
The Town is encouraging all residents to read the full resolution and take action by contacting their local representatives and senators to voice their opposition. You can find more information on the bills, the Town’s resolution, and information on how to contact your legislators on our dedicated website page.