Alamance County Appoints Former Graham Councilor to Planning Board

Alamance County commissioners voted unanimously on December 1 to appoint builder and former Graham council member Lee Kimrey to the county planning board, filling the seat that had been held by Henry Vines of Snow Camp. Kimrey, who now lives on the outskirts of Elon, was chosen from eight applicants after a designated public comment period during the meeting.

Kimrey served two terms on the Graham city council from 2011 to 2019 before losing a bid for reelection. He emphasized the need for clear guidance about where industrial and commercial uses can be located, framing his view as balancing growth with preservation of rural character. “I think it’s important that the county designate industrial and commercial uses and where they can be located,” he said. “I think land use rights are something that’s important for all the citizens of Alamance County…By the same token nobody wants a landfill beside them. So, I think moving forward the county has a very delicate situation being able to identify these areas of growth for industrial and commercial [uses] while maintaining the rural setting that we now enjoy.”

Henry Vines addressed the commission during the same comment period and highlighted his recent experience on the planning board. Vines first joined the board two years ago to complete the unexpired term of attorney Julian Doby, and he told commissioners he has grown familiar with land use issues affecting rural residents. He said he supports some form of zoning in unincorporated areas as a means of protecting citizens. “This community needs some form of planned zoning in the county,” he insisted. “Without protection of you commissioners putting in place an ordinance to protect these citizens, we’re going to keep going into these issues over and over again.” Vines recently announced his intention to run for a seat on the board of commissioners in 2026.

Planning director Matt Hoagland identified the other applicants as Natalie Thacker, Jeffrey Stephens, Brandon Martin, Max Morgan, Jeff Throneburg, and Johnna Burkett. Commissioners offered no public dissent during the vote, signaling a collective preference for Kimrey’s approach as the planning board begins work on land use matters that will affect where industrial and commercial development may be sited.

The appointment has direct implications for residents in unincorporated parts of Alamance County where formal zoning does not currently apply. The planning board advises on ordinances and maps that can shape growth, environmental impacts, and property rights. Residents should monitor upcoming planning board agendas and commission actions to track how the county balances development pressures with the rural character many have sought to preserve, and to observe how land use debates may influence the 2026 commissioner campaigns.