Q. Why do we need to incorporate? I like living in Alexander county.

A. We will still be living in Alexander county and will still utilize the majority of the services from Alexander county.  However we are not happy with the county wide rezoning that was done in May , the comprehensive plan 2045, along with the new Land Development Code. ( posted)   It has invited and accelerated high density housing and planned developments not in keeping with our Community look and feel.

Q.  What are the different options for Bethlehem -Incorporating as a town?  Could we become a Village instead of a town? What offers the most protection to leave our community as it is? I know that Clemmons is technically the Village of Clemmons, which they did to prevent being annexed by Winston Salem.

A.  Great question but in North Carolina there is no legal difference between city, town or village. It’s just the name they choose.

Q.  What services are towns required to provide?

A. It may come as a surprise, but under general state law, there is only one mandated service for municipalities—enforcement of the State Building Code. Although municipalities are authorized to provide a broad array of services they are not required by state law to do anything but perform building code inspections. And even then, municipal personnel do not have to actually conduct the inspections; this function can be, and often is, contracted out to counties.  https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2011/04/required-municipal-services/

Q.  What services will the town provide?

A.  The new town of Bethlehem is required by law to provide 4 out of 8 services to recieve grants and other state funding.  The services that we are planning on providing are Planning and Zoning, Fire and EMS, Police and street lights.

Q. What do you mean by Planning and Zoning?

A.  That is the main reason and protections we are looking for to incorporate the town.  We would hire a planning director or contract the services.  Our goal is to revert back to the previous zoning and then develop a new zoning plan keeping our current community character and growth expectations.

Q.  What does it mean by street lights?  Do you have to put in new street lights?

A.  All that is required is that we take over the billing of current street lights from Duke Power.  As a town we can decide if we want or need additional lighting however it is not required.

Q.  There have been several questions about fire services and possible increases if we incorporate Bethlehem.

A.  Current residents of the Bethlehem fire district pay a separate fire tax already to the county. We are the lowest in the entire county and the fire department is requesting additional funds to remain compliant with new OSHA regulations and growth in Bethlehem They are currently working with the county administration to increase this rate. Incorporation should not change the cost of our fire services.

Q. Why was such a large area chosen in the incorporation proposal?

A. The group looked at the possible affected areas for the zoning up 127 and out rink dam road and west of 127, as well as the several county designations of Bethlehem.  We decided to use the voting districts and fire districts outlined by the county to ease the transition and allow a significant number of residents to benefit from the new zoning who already consider themselves to be in Bethlehem.

Q.  What specific zoning changes does the group see that need to be implemented/amended. 

A.  The zoning in May switched from a per acre zoning to a lot based denisty zoning.  We are proposing to go back to a minimum lot size zoning to reduce the density of housing. 

Q. How will incorporation stop future town boards from implementing the same high density zoning. 

A.  As the new commissioners will only be responsible for the Town of Bethlehem, they should be following the guidance and will of just our community which differs from the county.  Where as the county commissioners need to address what is best for the entire county and may not necessarily be what is needed or desired by Bethlehem residents.

Q. I have been asked several times about land on the outskirts of Bethlehem but inside the new town limits and how this will help them as land owners.

A. I would like to state that we are doing this process to protect them just as much, maybe even more. As some of you may be aware of the post by the farmers daughter's farm, where they have been lease farming on 30+ acres for years and the owners just sold to a new owner and will not allow them to lease for farming any more and may be looking for a developer. You do not need water and sewer to place over 140 homes on that 30 acres lot with the new zoning laws. I have scrolled through the Alexander County GIS and there a large amount of 10+ acre lots which are very profitable for devlopers to purchase even without sewer and water being available within Bethlehem town limits. R1 zoning allows 4 houses per acre/lot and 8 houses per acre per lot with sewer and water. 16 if they are connected homes. On a 10 acre lot that would be 40/80 and160 homes. That is why we are working this process so hard. Thank you for all your help and support.

Q. Can we get trash pickup?

A.  That is a service that the town can provide if the town so desires.  We are looking into the percentage of residents who receive this service today and will work with Republic and other trash haulers to see if it makes sense.  However that is currently not included.

Q.  Will I have to pay new taxes in the new town?

A.  The law requires every town to charge a minimum of $0.05/100 taxes to be incorporated.    There are 23 towns in NC who charge the minimum taxes and are proud of the fact that they have not raised taxes.  See the tabs labeled tax revenue and budget for estimates of the revenue and expenses required for the Town.

Q.  Will the $0.05/100 tax increase.

A.  Although there is no guarantee that the rate will not go up as that is with any taxes, that will be up to the town and commissioners that we vote in.  However as we have new responsible growth in Bethlehem the tax revenue will increase naturally and yet the costs should not expand as fast.

Q.  What will the new town structure look like?

A.  Our current plan as shown in the Charter calls for 3 commissioners and a town manager and a manager of  planning and zoning.  Other needed employees i.e. accounting, legal etc will be contracted out.

 Q.  I have a question… we currently have a satellite Senior Center of the Alexander County Senior Center two days a week in Bethlehem. Mt Pisgah has graciously allowed us to use their church. Now, if Bethlehem incorporates, will we lose that county facility? I am a senior who uses the Senior Center and DO NOT want it to go away as it provides a much-needed service for seniors. I have been a resident of Bethlehem for 52 years and serve on the Alexander County Council on Aging as well as the state District E Council on Aging. Thank you.

A.  It should not affect that at all. That is a service through Health and Human Services and provided through DSS.

Q.  What is the western Piedmont council of governments planning and zoning? This is the group that made the recommendations for zoning changes to the commissioners. Does Alexander County no longer have their own planning and zoning commission?

A.  Brian Burgess our previous Planning director who drafted the 2045 comprehensive plan left the position for another job. We currently do not have a planning director

Q.  Is it possible to file a lawsuit to stop construction due to the Esplanade plans not meeting the guidelines set up in the Bethlehem Community Plan?

A.  Based on our lawyers input, that would be a waste money and resources as they did follow all the rules. But if we incorporate Taylor Morrison/ Esplanade will have to come to us, the Bethlehem community for any changes or new requirements.