TITLE
Receive recommendation from the Planning Board in response to the Commissioners request for alternatives to open use zoning in areas of the county that are currently unzoned.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Receive recommendation from the Planning Board in response to the Commissioners request for alternatives to open use zoning in areas of the county that are currently unzoned.
Introduction & Background:
During the February 2, 2015 Commissioners meeting a majority of the board voted to request the Planning Board provide an alternative direction on planning in unzoned areas. The Planning Board formed a subcommittee to consider options and the full board voted on a recommendation during their October meeting.
Discussion & Analysis:
In 2014, the Board of Commissioners and Planning Board reviewed different options to establish regulations addressing high impact land uses in unzoned areas of the county. Several reports were prepared during 2014 outlining the available options, which were provided to the Commissioners. In February 2015, the Board of Commissioners requested the Planning Board to consider additional options, which expanded the scope to include all land uses. A Planning Board subcommittee named Alternatives to Open Use Zoning was formed in February to provide a report.
The subcommittee met monthly through the spring and summer and in July provided a report outlining five options to the full Planning Board. Information from the subcommittee is provided on the following website - <ftp://ftp.chathamnc.org/Planning/Planning_Board_Subcommittees_2015/Atlernatives_to_open_use_zoning/> . The Planning Board discussed the report and five options over several months and in October made two recommendations, both of which are provided below. A map of the area to consider for zoning in the first recommendation and the reports referenced in the second recommendation are included as attachments.
Budgetary Impact:
The budgetary impacts will depend on the direction provided by the Board of Commissioners.
Recommendation:
Recommendation #1: The Planning Board (by vote of 6-5) propose that the Commissioners consider zoning areas that are not currently zoned east of NC 87 and that the Commissioners consider adopting a countywide ordinance that would regulate commercial gun ranges.
Recommendation #2: The Planning Board (by a vote of 10-0 with 1 abstention) recommend that the Commissioners review and consider the report and options prepared by the Alternatives to Open Use Subcommittee, as well as a supplementary report prepared by Stacey Curtis.