The Holly Springs City Council has taken a step toward "a new era of good relationships" by approving a growth boundary with the Cherokee County government.

The council voted on Monday night 3-2, with Councilwomen Karen Barnett and Jacqueline Archer opposed, to approve the eight-year agreement. Mayor Tim Downing broke the tie, and Councilman Tommy Sanders was absent.

The map, which Downing worked on with county Commissioner Harry Johnston, now will go to the Board of Commissioners for approval.

Holly Springs had a growth boundary agreement with the county that expired at the end of 2006. The agreements, which are not legally binding, set boundaries within which city governments can approve annexations without opposition from the county.

The new growth boundary map approved by the city stops Holly Springs' growth eastward at East Cherokee Drive on Highway 140, northbound at Univeter Road, southbound at Toonigh Road and west to Marble Quarry Road.

The growth boundary expansion area in the new map is 4,969 acres.

"When it last expired, we wanted to renew," Downing said about the city's wish to have a growth boundary in place.

Downing said the expansion will "fill in gaps" in the city's current boundaries and includes new areas east of Highway 140.

"That is an important commercial corridor," Downing said.

Mrs. Barnett said she opposed the agreement because of the lack of time the council had to consider it.

"I would like to have discussed it better," she said. "I might can be led, but I cannot be forced."

Johnston said he would advocate for the adoption of the plan with the board of commissioners.

The map, he said, puts "reasonable limits" on the growth of the city and could lead the board to drop a related lawsuit.

The board challenged the city over annexations made three years ago in Hickory Flat. The suit challenged a group of annexations extending to Hickory and Morgan Roads the city made dating back to the late 1990s. One of the annexations was the property on which the Harmony on the Lakes neighborhood was built. The lawsuit still is pending.

"Hopefully, by having a growth boundary agreement in hand and possibly putting the lawsuit behind us, we will enter a new era of good relationships between the county and Holly Springs," Johnston said.