Holly Springs Councilman Womble’s motion to begin a moratorium on new residential development defeat in 3 to 2 vote.

September 5, 2007, Holly Springs, NC - Holly Springs Town Councilman, Parrish Womble introduced a motion to begin the process of placing a one year minimum moratorium on new residential development at the September 4, Town Council meeting. He called on the town manager and attorney to report back on what steps are needed, required, and should be considered in placing a “Moratorium on Residential Development” by the next Council meeting.

After briefly explaining his reasons for the need for a moratorium he closed his remarks with a call to action, “…We need to place a moratorium on new residential development for a minimum of a one year period. This will give the Town Council and Planning Board time to revise the Town’s 10 Year Comprehensive Plan and to have the time and opportunity to see the affect all this additional growth has on the Quality of Life of our residents. To me it’s a question of what’s more important the Quality of Life of our town’s residents or the interests of some developer?”

In Councilman Womble’s opening remarks he stated his reasons for calling for a moratorium, “The role of any Town Council member is to safeguard the Quality of Life of our town’s residents. Currently, within two years some 5,000 plus additional new homes will be built in Holly Springs. That means some 8,500 additional classroom seats will be needed for children in our already over crowded schools. That means some 10,000 plus vehicles on our already crowded roadways. That means some 15,000 plus people placing greater demands on our town’s water and waste treatment facilities, athletic fields, over crowded schools, and other town services.

Our town’s population has grown from 1,000 to 20,000 people; a 74% growth rate over the last six years. That is too much, too fast. With three new residential developments already approved our town’s population will grow from 20,000 to some 35,000 people in two years; once again, too much to fast.

Having been born and reared in Holly Springs, I have lived through and proudly played a part in our Town’s growth. Many of the 1997 goals stated in the Town’s 10 Year Comprehensive Plan have come to pass. I supported this growth and believe in balanced growth. However, we are now at a crossroad and must decide how much and how fast should our Town grow. We must take the time to be patient and wait to see how our Town can handle this growth while measuring this 74% growth rate against the Quality of Life of our 20,000, and soon to be 35,000 plus residents.

We need to place a moratorium on new residential development for a minimum of a one year period. This will give the Town Council and Planning Board time to revise the Town’s 10 Year Comprehensive Plan and have the time and opportunity to see the affect all this additional growth has on the Quality of Life of our residents. To me it’s a question of what’s more important the Quality of Life of our town’s residents or the interests of some developer?”

Town Councilman, Vinnie DeBenedetto seconded the motion to have the town manager and attorney report back on what steps are needed, required, and should be considered in placing a “Moratorium on Residential Development” by the next Council meeting. The motion was defeated 3 to 2 with Councilmen Womble and DeBenedetto voting in favor and Councilmen Atwell, Vanfossen, and Dickson against.

After the vote Councilman Womble said, “It saddens me that Councilmen Atwell, Vanfossen, and Dickson voted against the town manager and attorney providing information on what steps are needed, required and we should consider in putting a moratorium on new residential development. I wasn’t asking them to vote in favor of a moratorium, just get the information to make an informed decision later on. To me it’s a question of what’s more important the Quality of Life of our town’s residents or the interests of some developer?”