Appointed Boards

Bessemer City Appointed Boards Descriptions

ABC Board
The purpose of the Bessemer City ABC Board is to oversee the operations of the Bessemer City ABC Store. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission was created by the General Assembly in 1937 to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages in North Carolina after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition). The modern commission consists of a chair and two associate members appointed by the governor. Its duties include supervising local ABC stores for the sale of spirituous liquors, determining what brands of alcoholic beverages may be sold, maintaining the state ABC warehouse for the distribution of spirituous liquors, regulating the sale of wine and beer, and issuing permits for wineries, breweries, wholesalers, and retailers. The ABC Commission also sets standards and adopts rules for malt beverages, unfortified wine, fortified wine, and spirituous liquors to protect the public against beverages containing harmful or impure substances.

Bessemer City Downtown Development
The purpose of Bessemer City Downtown Development (BCDD) is to coordinate, promote, facilitate, and encourage downtown revitalization in Bessemer City.  BCDD is an affiliate of the North Carolina Main Street Program through the Department of Commerce as well as the National Main Street Center. Bessemer City was designated in 2011 as a Small Town Main Street Community.  Today, the Bessemer City Downtown Development Group works to revitalize downtown with the Main Street 4-Point Approach®:

1) Organization,
2) Promotions,
3) Design,
4) Economic Vitality

Planning & Zoning Board of Adjustments
The Planning and Zoning Board is a seven-member citizen advisory body appointed by the City Council. The primary duty of the Board is to give official recommendations to Council on land use, zoning, and development issues.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment is a citizen board of five members appointed by the City Council. The Board hears appeals of staff decisions as well as requests for variances from the zoning ordinance. The Board also has the responsibility to grant special exception permits for certain uses that may or may not be appropriate in certain zoning districts based on relevant factors and conditions.

Parks & Recreation Board Advisory
The Parks & Recreation Board is a seven-member board. The Parks & Recreation Department Mission Statement is: “Dedicated to Making a Great Community”. The Board is committed to providing safe and inviting parks and facilities, meeting current and future community needs through meaningful and diverse recreational programs, cultural activities and services.

The purpose of the Bessemer City and the Recreation Advisory Board is to help staff establish, improve, develop, administer, operate and maintain a public parks and recreation system, which provides participation opportunities for all Bessemer City citizens. This philosophy will be pursued in a professional manner and quality, always mindful of the public trust that this Advisory Board has been given.