Wake County to Consider Holly Springs' (NC) ETJ Appointments to Board of Adjustment and Planning Board, During Tomorrow's (2/2) County Commissioners' Meeting
The County will act on Holly Springs' Town Council recommendations for ETJ seats on the Board of Adjustment and Planning Board, two bodies that influence zoning decisions and growth.
Holly Springs, NC, Feb. 1, 2026 — The Wake County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider two appointments affecting extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) representation on key Holly Springs advisory and quasi-judicial boards, following recommendations approved by the Holly Springs Town Council on January 20th.
The actions involve appointments to the Holly Springs Board of Adjustment and the Holly Springs Planning Board, both of which include ETJ members appointed by Wake County rather than the town.
Why Wake County is involved
Both boards exercise authority that extends beyond Holly Springs’ town limits into the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the area outside Holly Springs’ town limits where the town enforces zoning and development rules, even though residents there do not vote in municipal elections.
Because those boards make or influence decisions affecting ETJ properties, state law assigns appointment authority for ETJ seats to Wake County, with the Town Council limited to making recommendations.
Board of Adjustment: quasi-judicial authority
The Holly Springs Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial board, meaning it applies zoning rules to individual cases rather than setting policy, and operates independently of the Town Council.
The board hears appeals of zoning and administrative decisions, rules on variance requests, and interprets the town’s Unified Development Ordinance when disputes arise. Its decisions are often the final local ruling unless appealed to the Superior Court.
Recommended appointment
At its January 20th meeting, the Town Council voted to recommend Cecelia Allen-Webb (LinkedIn profile), an ETJ resident, for appointment as a regular ETJ member of the Board of Adjustment.
If approved by Wake County, Allen-Webb would serve a three-year term from March 1st, 2026, through February 28th, 2029. Her application (document), submitted on October 10th, 2025, lists approximately 10 years of residency in the Holly Springs area, prior involvement with PTA and homeowners association boards, and no disclosed conflicts of interest.
The appointment coincides with the upcoming expiration of a term held by Herman Goldstein, who currently serves as an ETJ alternate on the board
Planning Board: advisory role to Town Council
The Holly Springs Planning Board serves a different function. It is a nine-member advisory board that reviews rezoning requests, development proposals, and changes to zoning regulations or the town’s comprehensive plan, then makes recommendations to the Town Council, which retains final decision-making authority.
Unlike the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Board has no judicial authority.
The board includes one ETJ representative, whose appointment is also made by Wake County.
Recommended appointment
The Town Council also voted January 20th to recommend Tanner Davis (LinkedIn profile), an ETJ resident, for appointment as the regular ETJ representative on the Planning Board.
If approved, Davis would serve a three-year term from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2029, filling a seat currently held by Roger Bess, whose term expires at the end of February.
According to his application (document), Davis has lived in the Holly Springs area for more than three years and works as a Water Reclamation Facility Operator for the Town of Cary. His background includes more than six years of experience in public utilities and public works across multiple Triangle municipalities, as well as state licenses related to water and wastewater systems.
In his application, Davis stated that he hopes to help balance development decisions affecting traffic, greenspace, and town services, and expressed interest in ensuring that ETJ residential areas are considered alongside in-town developments during rezoning discussions. He disclosed that he lives in the ETJ and would like to see the area incorporated, but reported no other conflicts of interest.
What happens next
Both recommendations have been forwarded to Wake County for consideration. County boards typically act one meeting cycle ahead of term start dates to avoid gaps in representation and allow time for formal notification. If approved by the Wake County Board of Commissioners, both appointments would take effect on March 1st, 2026.
Why this matters
While both boards influence land-use decisions, they do so in very different ways:
The Board of Adjustment makes binding, case-specific rulings that can directly affect individual properties.
The Planning Board shapes long-term growth by advising the Town Council on rezonings and policy changes.
Together, the two ETJ appointments determine how residents outside town limits are represented in both day-to-day zoning disputes and broader development planning.