ZEBULON — A public hearing was held during Tuesday night’s Pike County Board of Commissioners meeting during which Planning and Development Director David Allen sought approval to offer a sliding fee for building permits, specifically for residences that are not completed within the duration of the initial permit.

Allen told commissioners that Pike County Planning and Zoning had voted not to recommend the change, but Allen countered by saying no one benefits when incomplete building projects simply sit unfinished and unoccupied.

Despite this, the issue of commercial developers taking advantage of any such change was discussed.

“I thought the intent of this was initially to help the individual who is building their own home,” said Commissioner Don Collins. I don’t know how we got here to the commercial end.”

Commissioner Roosevelt Willis countered, saying, “Most homes being built are being financed by a financial institution. If construction ceases, there aren’t many financial institutions that are going to allow it to sit there, so I don’t see a benefit to the residents to reduce these permit fees.”

The request from Planning and Development was then rejected by a unanimous vote of 3-0, with Commissioner Parrish Swift not in attendance and commission Chairman Doug Mangham not voting.

Pike County Manager Steve Marro then asked the BOC to approve the second reading of the transportation ordinance. This was approved unanimously, a step that Marro said will lead to the establishment of a Pike County transportation committee.

Despite continued advertisement for an opening on the Board of Appeals, there were again no applicants for the position, so it remains unfilled.