Chatham County, NC - File #: 24-5273

• File #: 24-5273
• Version: 1
• Type: Agenda Item
• Status: Board Priorities
• File created: 4/22/2024
• In control: Planning
• On agenda: 5/6/2024
• Final action: 5/6/2024
• Title: Receive a presentation on Module 2: Development Standards Public Review Drafts and offer feedback about the proposed drafts
• Indexes: Comp Plan Goal 1: Preserve the rural character and lifestyle of Chatham County, Comp Plan Goal 10: Foster a healthy community., Comp Plan Goal 2: Preserve, protect, and enable agriculture and forestry., Comp Plan Goal 3: Promote a compact growth pattern by developing in and near existing towns, communities, and in designated, well planned, walkable, mixed use centers., Comp Plan Goal 4: Diversify the tax base and generate more high-quality, in-county jobs to reduce dependence on residential property taxes, create economic opportunity and reduce out-commuting., Comp Plan Goal 5: Conserve natural resources., Comp Plan Goal 6: Provide recreational opportunities and access to open space., Comp Plan Goal 7: Provide infrastructure to support desired development and support economic and environmental objectives., Comp Plan Goal 8: Become more resilient by mitigating, responding and adapting to emerging threats., Comp Plan Goal 9: Provide equitable access to high-quality education, housing and community options for all.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
5/6/2024	1	Board of Commissioners	received and filed

Title

Receive a presentation on Module 2: Development Standards Public Review Drafts and offer feedback about the proposed drafts

Abstract

Introduction & Background: The county entered into a contract with White & Smith, LLC to prepare a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The purpose of doing a UDO is to unify the County’s existing development regulations that are in separate ordinances into a single unifying ordinance. The intent is also to develop a new, user-friendly UDO that can be easily understood by the public, elected officials, appointed boards, and ensure that it provides clear development standards and more of a predictable development review process going forward. The project began in late 2021 and has included several meetings with the Board of Commissioners as they provided direction and input for this project. Additionally, the UDO Planning Board Subcommittee was formed that includes members of the Planning Board and Ex-Officio members from other Advisory Boards & Committees interested in being a part of this project. The Subcommittee has been critical in providing valuable and balanced feedback on early-stage drafts along with staff to ensure the UDO chapters are written in a way that is reflective of the County’s policy guiding documents that include Plan Chatham <https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-i-z/planning/adopted-plans/comprehensive-plan>, Plan Moncure <https://www.recodechathamnc.org/planmoncure>, & the Recode Chatham Health & Equity Assessment.  <https://www.recodechathamnc.org/healthandequity>

The consultants prepared a code audit <https://www.recodechathamnc.org/_files/ugd/1d382f_cffe6f3183844bafa1cf62e03d699abf.pdf> that served as a plan for preparing the draft revisions to the County’s land use codes during the early stages of the UDO process. Upon completion of the code audit in May of 2022, the consultants then began drafting Module 1, the Zoning Module. After several iterations of the chapters in this module being shared with staff and the UDO Planning Board Subcommittee for feedback and revisions, that module included release of a Public Review Draft that was followed by a presentation to the Planning Board and Board of Commissioners in March of 2023. Following that, the consultants then began working on the largest module of the project, Module 2: Development Standards. Over the past several months, the consultants and staff have been navigating the drafting of these chapters to be finalized for the Module 2 Public Review Draft that was recently released on April 15, 2024. The consultant team will be before the Board of Commissioners and Planning Board in May to present Module 2: Development Standards at the May 6^th and 7^th meetings. Following those meetings, the consultants will work through drafting and finalizing Module 3: Procedures and Module 4: Definitions mid-Summer. The UDO is anticipated to be in its final consolidated form in late summer to then be moved toward adoption through October to November of this year.

Discussion & Analysis: The White & Smith consultant team, with the support of County staff will be presenting the Public Review Draft of Module 2: Development Standards <https://www.recodechathamnc.org/documents-work-products> to the BOC. This Module includes eight chapters (Chapters 4 through 11) that address development, design, and environmental standards. The Public Review Draft incorporates input received from County staff and the Planning Board UDO Subcommittee over the course of its development. The presentation that will be given by the consultant team will focus on major changes proposed to the County’s current regulations. The meeting will include time for public comment following the consultant team’s presentation.

How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: The UDO is reflected in all aspects of Plan Chatham. The policies, goals, and vision of the comprehensive plan are being implemented through the land use regulations of the UDO.

Budgetary Impact: The budgetary impact of the UDO has already been accounted for and this agenda item has no impact.

Recommendation/Motion: Receive a presentation on Module 2: Development Standards and offer feedback about the proposed drafts.