HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 Maintenance Amendment -Updates Summary Packet Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment –
Updates
Code Sections Affected
Section 2.3,
Definitions and Terms
Section 4.3.2,
Residential Uses
Section 5.3,
Tree Retention
Section 5.5,
Exterior Lighting
Section 10.3,
Application-Specific
Procedures
Key Intent
Update existing standards to ensure ordinance provisions are effective and work
the way they are intended
Changes
• Modification of when staff has the authority to approve minor deviations to
a site plan administratively to limit the ability to modify changes in height
for taller buildings and to allow for non-substantive changes likely to occur
during the engineering and technical permitting phases of a project. (See
Article 10.3, Application-Specific Procedures)
• Codification of development review process timing for tree removal permit
related-landscaping plans and for lighting designs. (See Section 5.3, Tree
Retention, Section 10.3, Application-Specific Procedures, and
Section 5.5, Exterior Lighting)
• Incorporate a frequent reasonable accommodation request received by the
Board of Adjustment and increase the number of residents with disabilities
allowed in a group home from six to eight (See Section 4.3.2, Residential
Uses)
• Revise the definition of family to allow household types such as domestic
partnerships and civil unions not currently covered under the ordinance
provisions and those that include both related and unrelated people. (See
Section 2.3, Definitions and Terms)
Provisions updated per September 1, 2022 Planning Board public hearing recommendations are shown
in bold blue text or crossed out red, italics.
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
Article 2: Measurements and Definitions
Section 2.3. Definitions and Terms
FAMILY
One or more persons occupying a single dwelling unit, provided that unless all members are
related by blood, adoption, or marriage, domestic partnership, or civil union, living together as
a single housekeeping unit, no such family shall contain over three persons, but further
provided that:
A. Domestic servants employed on the premises may be housed on the premises
without being counted as part of the family residing on the premises; The family
contains no more than three unrelated persons in addition to related householder
members. and
B. A foster home as designated by the North Carolina Department of Social
Services for the care of not more than five children less than 18 years of age shall be
considered as family.
C. Any child less than eighteen years of age living with parent(s) or a legal
guardian is not to be counted as a person in the calculations.
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
Article 4: Uses and Use-Specific Standards
Section 4.3. Standard for Specific Principal Uses
4.3.2. RESIDENTIAL USES
B. Group Living
1. Group Home
[11-16-2020]
Group homes shall comply with the following standards:
a. Group homes shall be limited to eight six disabled persons with
disabilities, living together as a self-supporting and self-sufficient
household unit.
b. No group home shall be occupied or operated without zoning approval.
1. Group homes that are exempt from licensure pursuant to NCGS
§122C-22 must recertify their exemption status annually; and
2. Group homes for special needs persons must recertify qualification
of all residents as special needs persons annually.
c. Group homes shall not be located closer than 2,000 feet to any other
existing group home, measured by a straight line from the nearest
property lines, irrespective of jurisdictional boundaries. The distance
shall be reduced by the right-of-way of a major thoroughfare exceeding
100 feet, major topographical features such as a major watercourse, or
by major nonresidential or public uses such as a park, school, or
religious institution.
d. Reasonable accommodations shall be provided in accordance with
Section 10.3.13 Reasonable Accommodation.
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
Article 5: General Development Standards
Section 5.3. Tree Retention
5.3.3. TREE INVENTORY
Regulated trees existing on a site at the time of development application that are required to be
retained or replaced in accordance with this section shall be inventoried by a cover type survey
conducted by point sampling, fixed plot sampling, field survey or other method approved by the
Planning Director. Areas that will not be disturbed shall be delineated as such and do not require
inventorying individual trees.
5.3.5. TREE REMOVAL PERMITS
A. Unless a waiver, exemption, or exception applies in accordance with Section 5.3.1,
Applicability or Section 10.3.9.B.2, Waivers, Exemptions, and Exceptions, no person,
directly or indirectly, shall remove any regulated tree identified in Section 5.3.4, Tree
Retention Standards, from public or private property without first obtaining a tree
removal permit in accordance with Section 10.3.9, Tree Removal Permit.
B. Unless a waiver, exemption, or exception applies in accordance with Section
10.3.9.B.2, Waivers, Exemptions, and Exceptions, a tree removal permit authorizing
removal is required before any clearing, grading, or other authorizations may be
issued, including building permits. The portion of the tree removal permit approving
the required mitigation plan shall not be required until after construction plan
approval.
The removal of any specimen tree is prohibited on any parcel unless exempt according to
Section 10.3.11, Variance – Zoning and Subdivision. If a specimen tree is removed
without a permit, the penalty for this violation shall be twice the mitigation fee.
Section 5.5. Exterior Lighting
5.5.3. TIME OF REVIEW
Information about the exterior lighting for the site that demonstrates compliance with the
standards in this section shall be submitted in conjunction with an application for site plan
approval (Section 10.3.6, Site Plan) or zoning compliance approval (Section 10.3.8, Zoning
Compliance Approval), whichever comes first. approved no later than at time of
construction plan approval.
An administrative waiver for this requirement to allow submittal of the lighting plan no later than
the time of construction plan approval may be granted by the Planning Director, provided the
application is accompanied by a letter from the utility provider or lighting designer explaining why
the lighting plan cannot be submitted at the time of site plan approval or zoning compliance
approval.
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
Article 10. Administrative Procedures
Section 10.3. Application-Specific Procedures
10.3.3. CONDITIONAL ZONING
C. Conditional Zoning Procedure
7. Post-Decision Limitations and Actions
The post-decision limitations and actions in Section 10.2.10, Post-decision
Limitations and Actions, apply, in addition to subsections a through c below.
b. Minor Deviations
[05-03-2021]
Subsequent applications for development within a conditional zoning
district may include minor modifications from the approved conceptual
site plan, provided such modifications do not result in a change in the
permitted uses or density, specified conditions of approval, or and
otherwise have no material effect on the character of the approved
development. Changes in the following constitute minor modifications
that may be approved by the Planning Director:
1. Modifications in building or structure placement, provided the
placement complies with the setbacks of the corresponding base
zoning, and does not decrease the setbacks agreed to and
approved during the conditional rezoning process by more than 10
percent from what was originally approved;
2. Modifications in building, structure, or site configuration the
configuration of the building(s), structure(s), or site plan;
3. Increases to building or structure size and height the square footage
of a particular use category (e.g. residential, commercial) not to
exceed 10 percent from what was originally approved provided
all other applicable standards of this Ordinance are met;
4. Increases to building or structure height not to exceed 10 percent
or 10 feet from what was originally approved, whichever is less,
provided all other applicable standards of this Ordinance are met;
5. Modifications to structure floor plans;
6. Modifications to the driveway locations not exceeding 10 percent of
the length of the subject property line, or as required by the North
Carolina Department of Transportation;
7. Modifications to the proportion of housing type not to exceed 10
percent from what was originally approved; and
8. Modifications of internal circulation patterns not impacting public
safety.
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
10.3.4 MASTER PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
C. Master Planned Development Procedure
8. Post-Decision Limitations and Actions
e. Minor Deviations
[05-03-2021]
Subsequent applications for development within a master planned
development district may include minor modifications from the
approved MPD Master Plan and MPD Terms and Conditions
document, provided such modifications do not result in a change in
permitted uses or density, specified conditions of approval, or and
otherwise have no material effect on the character of the approved
development. Changes in the following constitute minor modifications
that may be approved by the Planning Director:
1. Modifications in building or structure placement, provided the
placement does not decrease approved setbacks by more than 10
percent from what originally approved;
2. Modifications in building, structure, or site configuration the
configuration of the building(s), structure(s), or site plan;
3. Increases to building or structure size and height the square footage
of a particular use category (e.g. residential, commercial) not to
exceed 10 percent from what was originally approved provided
all other applicable standards of this Ordinance are met;
4. Increases to building or structure height not to exceed 10 percent
or 10 feet from what was originally approved, whichever is less,
provided all other applicable standards of this Ordinance are met;
5. Modifications to structure floor plans;
6. Modifications to the driveway locations not exceeding 10 percent of
the length of the subject property line, or as required by the North
Carolina Department of Transportation;
7. Modifications to the proportion of housing type not to exceed 10
percent from what was originally approved; and
8. Modifications of internal circulation patterns not impacting public
safety.
10.3.5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT
C. Special Use Permit Procedure
7. Post-Decision Limitations and Actions
b. Minor Deviations
[05-03-2021]
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
Subsequent applications for development pursuant to an approved
special use permit may include minor modifications from the approved
special use permit, provided such modifications do not result in a
change in permitted uses or density, specified conditions of approval,
or and otherwise have no material effect on the character of the
approved development. Changes in the following constitute minor
modifications that may be approved by the Planning Director.
1. Modifications in building or structure placement, provided the
placement complies with the setbacks of the corresponding base
zoning, and does not decrease the setbacks agreed to and
approved during the conditional rezoning process by more than
10 percent from what was originally approved;
2. Modifications in building, structure, or site configuration the
configuration of the building(s), structure(s), or site plan;
3. Increases to building or structure size and height the square
footage of a particular use category (e.g. residential, commercial)
not to exceed 10 percent from what was originally approved
provided all other applicable standards of this Ordinance are met;
4. Increases to building or structure height not to exceed 10 percent
or 10 feet from what was originally approved, whichever is
less, provided all other applicable standards of this Ordinance are
met;
5. Modifications to structure floor plans;
6. Modifications to the driveway locations not exceeding 10 percent
of the length of the subject property line, or as required by the
North Carolina Department of Transportation;
7. Modifications to the proportion of housing type not to exceed 10
percent from what was originally approved; and
8. Modifications of internal circulation patterns not impacting public
safety.
The Planning Director may approve minor deviations in the location and size of
structures of an approved special use permit if the applicant demonstrates that
the deviation is necessary and would not cause or contribute to any of the
following:
1. A change in the character of the development;
2. A change of design for, or an increase in the hazards to pedestrian and
vehicle circulation, or
3. A modification in the originally approved setbacks from roads or property
lines exceeding ten percent.
2022-09 - Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Maintenance Amendment – Planning Board Public
Hearing Draft – Updates
10.3.9. TREE REMOVAL PERMIT
A. Purpose
The purpose of this section is to provide a uniform mechanism for ensuring all
development complies with the standards in Section 5.3.4, Tree Retention
Standards.
B. Applicability
1. General
a. Unless a waiver, exemption, or exception applies in accordance with
subsection 2 below, no person, directly or indirectly, shall remove any
regulated tree identified in Section 5.3.4, Tree Retention Standards,
from public or private property without first obtaining a tree removal
permit in accordance with this section.
b. Unless a waiver, exemption, or exception applies in accordance with
subsection 2 below, tree removal permit authorizing approval is
required before any clearing, grading, or other authorizations are
issued under this Ordinance, including erosion and sedimentation
control permits (see Article 8: Erosion and Sedimentation Control) and
building permits. The portion of the tree removal permit approving the
required mitigation plan shall not be required until after construction
plan approval.
c. An approved tree removal permit for new construction shall apply to the
entire site.