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…