Resources

One of our members, Ralph Kohlmann, shared the thoughtful talking points he delivered during public comment at the Planning Board’s August 5th meeting. While the board deferred its ruling on the Flybridge proposal to allow time for new members to receive proper training and for the board to be fully staffed, which we are grateful to see, Ralph’s call to action remains timely and compelling.

We don't believe in just pointing out problems, we want to work towards solutions. We've summarized some of the critical issues that our community faces and the specific actions we are actively pushing our town leaders to pursue. 

NC League of Municipalities shared a positive update this weekend: SB 205 Swimming Pools/Housing Regulatory Reform, appears to have been shelved for now. This bill raised serious concerns among municipalities across the state, as it would have significantly limited local authority regarding growth and development decisions. 

Thanks to strong outreach from groups like Common Sense Swansboro, lawmakers heard directly from constituents that value local control. As highlighted in The Tideland News article about SB 205, both Rep. Wyatt Gable and Senator Michael Lazzara indicated they oppose the bill in its current form. While the issue may resurface in future sessions, this is a promising step in the right direction.

Thank you to everyone who joined our efforts. You can read more about our group and stay informed by following us on Facebook.

If you care about preserving Swansboro’s small-town charm, then I have a favor to ask of you. Please contact our state representatives and urge them to vote NO on SB 205.

SB 205 is a dangerous bill working its way through committee in the NC House that would strip our towns of the tools we rely on to shape development. Everything we’ve been working to promote - strong zoning standards, community input, and local decision-making, would be overridden. I’ve drafted this letter opposing SB 205 that you can personalize and send to lawmakers. 

You can also sign a petition (not made by CSS): Petition · Save Our State - STOP SB 205 - United States · Change.org 

Our representatives are as follows:

Representative Wyatt Gable - District 14 - Wyatt.gable@ncleg.gov

Representative Phil Shepard - District 15 - Phil.shepard@ncleg.gov

Representative Carson Smith - District 16 - Carson.smith@ncleg.gov