Harnett County approves smoke shop rules, rejects Bunnlevel rezoning

On Oct. 19, Harnett County Commissioners approved Uniform Development Ordinances (UDO) for smoke shops and respected the Land Use Plan to preserve rural agricultural land by denying a rezoning request.

After the planning board voted four to two for a text amendment to the UDO in Article V, Sections 1.2 and 7.6.7 and Article XIV, Section 2.2, to add tobacco, vape, CBD, hookah and similar establishments as a use in the table requiring conditional zoning, the commissioners unanimously approved the changes.

The new UDO on smoke shops reads:

7.6.7    Tobacco, Vape, CBD, Hookah and Similar Establishments

A.           Shall not be located within 2,000 feet, measured property line to property line, from a school (public or private).       

B.           Shall not be located within 1,000 feet, measured property line to property line, from a church, childcare facility, community center, recreational facility, park, hospital, or another Tobacco, Vapor, CBD, Hookah, or similar establishment.

C.          Shall not be located within 100 feet, measured property line to property line, of any parcel used for residential purposes or located within a residential zoning district.

D.          The required site plan shall meet all applicable County standards and include all land uses within 2,000 feet, measured property line to property line, from the parcel proposed for hookah, tobacco, vape, and similar establishment use.

E.           All Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations must be adhered to in the operation of such establishments. This includes regulations pertaining to advertisements, age restrictions, and the legality of products sold.

F.            In accordance with N.C.G.S. § 160D-601(d), this provision does not apply to Tobacco, Vapor, CBD, Hookah, and similar establishments that are legally existing on the effective date of the enacting ordinance codified in this section and such uses may continue to operate, expand, and/or renovate, subject to the other requirements of this Ordinance.

The commissioners conducted a public hearing for a zoning change request from RA20R to RA20M for Anchor Properties of Raleigh for 17.32 acres on Sanderfer Road in Bunnlevel, owned by Haidar Shbeeb. There is no water or sewer, but water hookup is available. The compatible map shows it is in the RA20R community. The area is in an agricultural protection area.

Commissioner William Morris recommended denial of rezoning the 17.32 acres, and the board denied it unanimously.

The planning board had said rezoning the 17.32 acres in Bunnlevel would have a negative impact on the community and unanimously recommended denial.

Larry Mitchell spoke during the public hearing and said during his volunteerism that mobile home parks and manufactured home parks had a lot of violations, and they increased services. He was against more manufactured homes.

Eric Stevenson asked for clarity on the type of manufactured homes.

The planning board clarified that they could not base their approval of rezoning on the type of product, so no clarifications on the type of manufactured homes was offered.

During public comments, a representative for Campbell University Riverpark Coalition to save the 384-acre park with one mile on the Cape Fear River asked for help. The mixed wood and pine forest has trees that are about 200 years old. She said that the university plans to clear cut, use herbicides, plant loblolly pines, and she wants the county and conservation groups to work together to save the existing nature center park. She said students and faculty also want to save the park. Learn more and support saving the indigenous park here.

The next meeting is Nov. 2 at 9 a.m.

Oct. 20, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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