Boards and Commissions

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ABC Board
Board of Adjustments
PLA&RB - Formerly Blowing Rock Appearance Advisory Commission
Planning Board
Tourism Development Authority

ABC Board

The Blowing Rock ABC Board consist of three members, all appointed by the Town Board and reside within the town limits. Terms begin with the date of appointment and are three (3) years. Vacancies shall be filled by the Mayor and the Town Council for the unexpired term. The ABC Board shall have all of the powers and duties imposed by G.S. 18B-701:

Buy, sell, transport and possess alcoholic beverages as necessary for the operation of its ABC stores;
Adopt rules for its ABC system, subject to the approval of the State ABC Commission;
Hire and fire employees for the ABC system;
Designate one employee as manager of the ABC system and determine his responsibilities;
Require bonds of employees as provided in the rules of the Commission;
Operate ABC stores as provided in Article 8;
Issue purchase transportation permits as provided in Article 4;
Employ local ABC officers or make other provisions for enforcement of ABC laws as provided in G.S.18B-702;
Borrow money as provided in G.S.18B-702;
Buy and lease real personal property, and receive property bequeathed or given, as necessary for the operation of the ABC system;
Invest surplus funds as provided in G.S. 18B-702;
Dispose of property in the same manner as city council may under Article 12 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes; and,
Perform any other activity authorized or required by the ABC law.

Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes

ABC Board Members

Jerry Starnes - Term Expires: 2025
Susie Greene - Term Expires: 2026
Sylvia Tarleton - Term Expires 2027

Board of Adjustments

The Blowing Rock Board of Adjustments consist of nine members; five regular members, three alternate members, and one member appointed as the Watauga County extraterritorial area member.

Board of Adjustment members, as well as alternates, are appointed for three year staggered terms. Extraterritorial planning area members may vote only on matters pertaining to that portion of the extraterritorial planning area (Watauga or Caldwell Counties, respectively) that they represent.

Meetings of the Board of Adjustment are held the fourth Thursday of every month at the call of the chairman or vice chairman and at such other times as the board may determine. The board shall conducts its meetings in accordance with quasi-judicial procedures and must have a quorum for the Board to take official action. All meetings are open to the public.

The Board of Adjustments hears and decides on appeals from any order, decision, requirement, or interpretation made by the Zoning Administrator. They will also hear applications for variances, questions involving interpretations of the zoning map, and any other matter the Board is required to act upon by any other town ordinance.

Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes

Board of Adjustments Members

Eli "EB" Springs - Term Expires: 2025
Joseph "Woody" Hubbard - Term Expires 2027, ETJ
Jerry Starnes - Term Expires: 2026
Sarah Murphy - Term Expires 2026
Brandon Walker - Term Expires: 2027
Stephen Schiller - Term Expires: 2027
Paul McGill - Term Expires: 2025 (Alternate Member)
Brooks Mason - Term Expires: 2026 (Alternate Member)
Lee Rocamora - Term Expires: 2027 (Alternate Member)

Public Land Appearance & Recreation Board

The Public Land Appearance & Recreation Board (formerly the Blowing Rock Appearance Advisory Commission) consists of seven (7) members, all of whom are citizens and residents of the Planning and Zoning jurisdiction of the Town. Members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners for a term of three (3) years. Vacancies occurring for reasons other than the expiration of terms shall be filled as they occur for the period of the unexpired term. It is desirable that at least one member be a member of a design profession.

PLA&RB shall have all of the responsibilities and duties imposed by the enabling ordinance and shall promote and assist in the implementation of general community beautification in accordance with adopted Town plans/policies. This commission also studies the appearance characteristics of the Town and recommends standards and policies of design for the Town.

PLA&RB shall meet as needed. All board meetings are open to the public.

Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes

Public Land Appearance & Recreation Board Members

Bo Henderson - Term Expires: 2025
Whitney Brown- Term Expires: 2025
Alice Roess - Term Expires: 2026
David Goodson - Term Expires: 2026
Aidan Waite - Term Expires: 2027
Deborah Boyd - Term Expires: 2027
Carol Knapp - Term Expires: 2027

Planning Board

The Blowing Rock Planning Board consist of nine members, eight of which are appointed by the Town Board, and shall reside within the town limits. One member is appointed by Watauga County Board of Commissioners and shall reside within that portion of the town's extraterritorial planning area that lies within Watauga County. Board members are appointed for three year staggered terms, but members may continue to serve until their successors have been appointed.

The Planning Board meets the third Thursday of each month and is only an advisory Board to the Town Council. The Board obtains necessary information and promotes the full and free exchange of ideas. All board meetings are open to the public.

The Planning Board makes studies and recommendations to the Town Council regarding plans, goals and objectives relating to the growth, development and redevelopment of the town and the surrounding extraterritorial planning area. Along with this, they are responsible for developing and recommending pollicies, ordinances, procedures, and other means for carrying out plans in a coordinated and efficient manner. The Planning Board also makes recommendations concerning proposed Conditional Use Permits and proposed Zoning Map changes to the Town Council.

The Planning Board acts as the Watershed Review Board on proposed plats and land subdivisions, and hears major and minor variance requests related to subdivisions within the designated Water Supply Watersheds.

Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes

Planning Board Members

Bill McCarter - Chairman. Term Expires: 2026
Christopher "Chris" Squires - Term Expires: 2025
Thomas "Tom" Barrett - Term Expires: 2025
Greg Bergstrom - Term Expires: 2026
Lindsay Cook - Term Expires: 2026
Brooks Mason - Term Expires: 2026
Steven Cohen - Term Expires: 2027
Gasper "GK" Naquin - Term Expires: 2027
Joseph "Woody" Hubbard - Term Expires: 2027, ETJ

Tourism Development Authority

The Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority consist of five (5) voting members, all appointed by the Town Council and voting residents and/or taxpayers of the Town. The Authority membership is made up of two (2) lodging establishment representatives, two (2) travel/tourism business/non-profit attraction/organization representatives and one (1) at-large representative. At least one (1) member of the Authority shall be a Town of Blowing Rock elected official.

Authority members shall be appointed to three (3) year staggered terms. Initially, one (1) member shall be appointed to serve a one-year term, two (2) members shall be appointed to serve a two-year term and two (2) members shall be appointed to serve a three-year term. Any vacancy occurring in Authority membership shall be filled with an appointment by the Town Council for the unexpired term.

In addition, the Town Finance Officer and the Town Manager shall serve as ex-officio members and will serve as finance officer and secretary respectively for the Authority.

The TDA shall have all of the powers and duties imposed by the enabling ordinance and shall promote, solicit, and encourage tourism in the Town of Blowing Rock in accordance with adopted Town plans/policies and administers the appropriation of the room occupancy tax proceeds. This Authority also studies the impact of tourism on the Town and develops strategies to minimize any negative impacts of tourism on the Town.

The TDA shall meet at least quarterly or as needed. All board meetings are open to the public. The Authority typically meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in April, May, June, July, and October at Town Hall.

Meeting Minutes
Ordinance and Bylaws
Strategic Plan
Year-End Reports
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2023

Board Members

Dean Bullis, Chairman, (Tourism Representative) - Term Expires: 2027
Kevin Walker, (Lodging Representative) - Term Expires: 2025
Greg Tarbutton, (Lodging Representative) - Term Expires: 2025
Pete Gherini (At-Large Member, Council Representative) - Term Expires: 2025
Zika Rea (At-Large Member) - Term Expires: 2026
Tasha Brown - Finance Officer
Shane Fox - Town Manager

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