TITLE
A request by the Planning Department to schedule a legislative public hearing for January 21st, 2020 to consider amendments to the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance; specifically, Section 7.2 Definitions; Section 8.1 Relationship of Building to Lot; Section 10.13 Table of Permitted Uses; Section 17.1 Procedure; and Section 17.2 Plans.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
A request by the Planning Department to schedule a legislative public hearing for January 21st, 2020 to consider amendments to the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance; specifically, Section 7.2 Definitions; Section 8.1 Relationship of Building to Lot; Section 10.13 Table of Permitted Uses; Section 17.1 Procedure; and Section 17.2 Plans.
Introduction & Background:
Periodically the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance is amended to reflect the ever evolving needs of Chatham County. The Zoning Ordinance was last updated on September 16th 2019. Over the last year there has been an increase in concern for and the requested use of Recreational Vehicles as temporary or permanent residences within the county, along with other concerns related to storage and any occupation of RV’s. With such issues becoming more prevalent, Chatham County planning staff set out to develop a set of definitions and regulations relating to the use of RV’s in the county. Staff reached out to neighboring jurisdictions, as well as those with recent updates to their Recreational Vehicle regulations in order to formulate a set of best practices to implement in the zoning ordinance.
Additional changes to the Table of Permitted Uses are related to continued marketability of the Moncure Mega-site. In order to differentiate Moncure form the other mega sites in North Carolina the zoning ordinance needs to enable the development of life science projects. Edits to Section 17 are needed based on the continuing implementation of special study requirements and previous approved amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. The other proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance are minor revisions that largely deal with improving process facilitation and language clarification. The main impacts of proposed changes are listed in the attached table “Table Attachment #1- Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments”
Discussion & Analysis:
Section 7.2 Definitions of the Chatham County Zoning Ordinance requires amendments to reflect the addition of definitions for Recreational Vehicles (RV’s), Park Model RV’s, and Structure. Based on an increase in concerns from county residents and staff regarding the use and storage of RV’s within the county, and the nature to which RV’s are related to other structures and buildings, planning staff developed new definitions and standards for the regulation of Recreational Vehicles. The update to the definition of structure is related to the new RV definitions as well as the previous changes to the ordinance in September 2019. The height regulation changes included in the ordinance text amendment in September necessitated the need for an updated definition for structure.
Sections 8.1 is being amended to include the new regulations for recreational vehicles. The regulations for RV’s is added as number 4 of the 4 requirements of the Relationship of Buildings to Lot. Storage of RV’s will be permitted on residential lots within the county. Recreational vehicles are not designed nor intended for permanent habitation, therefore an RV cannot be considered as a primary residence. Permanent habitation is not permitted. In order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare, the use of a recreational vehicle for permanent habitation shall be deemed unlawful.
Section 10.13 is being amended to add five new uses and edit the wording of several others. A new use is being added for Government buildings and offices which will be permitted in all districts. Four of the additional uses are specifically added to enhance the viability of the Moncure Megasite.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive 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. Objective 7: Provide infrastructure to support desired development and support economic and environment objectives.
Recommendation:
Schedule a Legislative Public Hearing for January 21st at 6:00pm in the Historic Courthouse.